LED Lighting with resistors

[mickphatmac]

I'm working on putting LED lights in for rear brake lights. They are just LED bulbs, not the big fancy LED computer board style.

In the diagram, it shows me how to hook up the resistors but my question is - do I put it on the truck side with the three wires or the light side with only two wires?

Here are some pics to go with my babbling...

PS - i'm not concerned with the back up light which is the 2 into 1.

[Viperwolf1]

Why don't you just get a couple electronic flashers and not worry about the resistors.

[Digger]

Why don't you just get a couple electronic flashers and not worry about the resistors.

Came to post this.

IMO it is preferable to drop in some solid-state / electronic flashers and not tear up the wiring.

[mickphatmac]

What exactly do you suggest?

Meaning, what else do I need to buy and where do they go?
Thanks!

[mickphatmac]

Maybe something like this?

Let me ask you this? Does it matter if all of my outside lights (minus headlights)blinkers parking lights brake lights are all LEDs but interior speedometer lights are stock with this flasher?

Sorry I don't know Jack about electricknicity!

[Viperwolf1]

Doesn't matter if you mix and match. The correct flasher has 2 prongs. They go near the steering column.

[Digger]

You can mix LED and regular bulbs. The resistors are used on the blinkers because the old bi-metal flasher units require a certain amount of electrical load to flash at the correct rate. LED are too efficient and cause the blinkers to flash quickly. The resistors are to add load. It's a bit of a waste.

Here is a 2-prong flasher that says it's rated for LEDs

http://www.amazon.com/CEC-Industries-EF32SS-R-Flasher-Compatible/dp/B00K00RKGM

[mickphatmac]

Terrific!
That looks simple enough. Thank you both for taking the time to reply and doing some legwork for me, I really appreciate you Both!

I saw a thread on CB.com and I almost ordered the wrong one, they were saying it was the one with three prongs and a ground!

[mickphatmac]

I think the light blue one is actually labeled flasher, and the silver one has paint on it so I can't tell what it says.
I only need to replace the one, with the electronic LED flasher though?

[Jesus_man]

Just following as I'd like to do something similar someday!

[Viperwolf1]

I think the light blue one is actually labeled flasher, and the silver one has paint on it so I can't tell what it says.
I only need to replace the one, with the electronic LED flasher though?

The one with the light blue connector is for turn signals. The other is for hazards. I would think you want both working.

[Aztec77Bronco]

Definitely get an LED Flasher! my new truck doesn't have an actual flasher so I had to get resistors (Full LED's & HID driving & Headlights). On the older rigs there is no reason to fight with the resistors.

Just turn your signal on & grab the flasher, that's the easy way to tell which one is which in regards to flasher for turn signals or hazards. Here's a total kit : http://www.cjponyparts.com/led-light-ki ... 7/p/LEDK2/

[mickphatmac]

I think the light blue one is actually labeled flasher, and the silver one has paint on it so I can't tell what it says.
I only need to replace the one, with the electronic LED flasher though?

The one with the light blue connector is for turn signals. The other is for hazards. I would think you want both working.

Roger that! 2x!

[mickphatmac]

Definitely get an LED Flasher! my new truck doesn't have an actual flasher so I had to get resistors (Full LED's & HID driving & Headlights). On the older rigs there is no reason to fight with the resistors.

Just turn your signal on & grab the flasher, that's the easy way to tell which one is which in regards to flasher for turn signals or hazards. Here's a total kit : http://www.cjponyparts.com/led-light-ki ... 7/p/LEDK2/

Thanks for the reply, I have all the LEDs in place and I was about to install resistors on all four turn signals but now I'm going to can that idea and install two flashers instead of four resistors.

[mickphatmac]

Ok, so I only bought 1 Flasher, so far. I replaced the flasher with the new LED flasher. The one in the picture is the one I bought… Thanks Digger!

All the lights work when you turn the light switch on.

Only the turn signals on the right/passenger side blink.

The driver side blinker is super super faint and only turns on at about 2% of its total power and doesn't blink it all. Just stays very, very faintly lit when it is supposed to be blinking.

Any thoughts or comments?

[Jesus_man]

A hammer?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xsVX6029rU

[mickphatmac]

A hammer?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xsVX6029rU

I guess I should have bought me a Beamer!!!

[Viperwolf1]

Check grounds on the left.

[Aztec77Bronco]

Check grounds on the left.

I 2nd Phil on ground check.

The turn signal cam will direct current to the flasher for either left or right side, so if one side works fine the flasher isn't the culprit. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you did a full LED swap, right?

If the ground checks out & is correctly attached and the problem isn't solved, you may have one bad LED bulb (Happened on one of my license plate lights on my super duty) shorting out. Try swapping one bulb at a time from good side to bad. If stuff starts working, you'll have the issue licked.

Also on the park/running side of your light system, there will be no ill effects by running LED on everything except your dash lights. It just lightens (pardon the pun) the overall draw of the system.

[mickphatmac]

Yes, all the outside lights, minus headlights are all LEDs now.

I did find that on both front blinkers, the ground wires were not attached!
I used a dremel to sand where the grounds attach to the bare body.

Then I went to the back and replaced the rear lighting wiring with some old, unchopped stock harness I had. I finally added New license plate light (stock bulb non LED) I had not put in since paint. All connections are tight, all grounds are grounded.

I switched the new flasher with the other and it still doesn't work right.

Only the Right brake light works when I push the brake. I just ordered another LED Flasher.

I'm just about 2 WTF's and a GDMF-er away from bagging the whole deal.

[Viperwolf1]

Flashers have nothing to do with brake lights. If the hazards or turn signals work on both sides the problem is in the turn signal switch.

[mickphatmac]

With the new flasher in place and I get nothing or like I said before about 2% of a dim glow when I turn the left or right signal on.

When I switch both flashers, I flip the turn signal right or flip left and either side stays on, but doesn't flash.

[mickphatmac]

Before I started... EVERYTHING WORKED. (with stock bulbs)

I have converted to LED's and replaced 1 stock flasher.

NO TURN SIGNALS- ONLY RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT.

No front left fender marker & no right rear quarter marker.

Sofa King frustrating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Aztec77Bronco]

Sofa King frustrating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've been there!!!! Right next to Mother Fudruckers!!!!

I'm with Phil, sounds like a bad turn signal cam. Have you messed with your steering column at all recently?

[mickphatmac]

Yes I did...viewtopic.php?f=5&t=8231


BUT... everything worked just fine after I installed the new cam into the "new to me" column.

All I changed was the light bulbs for LEDs + 1 Flasher.

Is it possible the flasher isn't really LED?

[Aztec77Bronco]

if the one side is flashing normal then the likelihood is the flasher is fine. So the $64 question is, do they flash normal when you run the hazard lights, or at least flash in unison with the same amount of light on each side?

Something is definitely going on with the continuity in the circuit. My next question is did you attach the ground wire on the flasher? The pic you showed has a ground wire. I sometimes get in a hurry and overlook such stuff is why I ask.

[mickphatmac]

When I installed the new turn signal cam and wiring, I didn't hook up the 1 wire to the hazzards.(or the horn)

I bought the Black one, NOT the Blue one with the ground wire.(as per the suggestions listed above)

[Aztec77Bronco]

http://www.cecindustries.com/attachments/flashers/new_products/EF32SS-R.pdf

There may be a possibility the +/- are switched. I read a couple forums where they said they had to swap the input of the prongs from the flasher. A quick check might be to run a test light into the plug and switch the turn signal to the side that is working, then check which point is hot against their schematic to see if the load/battery iare on the proper side. Again I'm not sure how this effects the brake light because only the column switch controls the brake lights, not the flasher. Have you tried swapping the bulbs from one side to the next to see if it's a shorted bulb? I'd start with the back since that's the only side the brake feed goes. Also this flasher works with LED or standard incandescent bulbs, so maybe pop an old bulb in it and see what happens.

[mickphatmac]

Thanks for the help! or at least trying, kind of hard over the computer.
This will be my plan of attack...

1) I'll double check that all the connections from the 8 prong column harness are secure and tight.

2) I'll swap rear Rt/Lt tail lights to make sure they are each working.

3) I'll try and swap the in/out on the flasher

4) I'll cuss like the SOB wants me too

5) I'll shoot out the eFFing tires!!!

6) I'll change it all back to the incandescent bulbs...

7) I'll go to the liquor store and forget about this till Monday!

8) Monday I'll list all my LED CRAP for FREE on Craigslist!

[Eck]

Thanks for the help! or at least trying, kind of hard over the computer.
This will be my plan of attack...

1) I'll double check that all the connections from the 8 prong column harness are secure and tight.

2) I'll swap rear Rt/Lt tail lights to make sure they are each working.

3) I'll try and swap the in/out on the flasher

4) I'll cuss like the SOB wants me too

5) I'll shoot out the eFFing tires!!!

6) I'll change it all back to the incandescent bulbs...

7) I'll go to the liquor store and forget about this till Monday!

8) Monday I'll list all my LED CRAP for FREE on Craigslist!

At least you got a plan! Good luck.