turn signal issue

[DieselSpider]

Diesel - not true. Some flashers are still going to have an issue. The resistor fixes it - especially if you're running LEDs all round. On a turn signal - they don't heat up enough to worry. Mount them to metal and all is well.

An LED specific flasher with a timing circuit instead of a resistance heater should not require a resister to provide the load for the heater. That is the whole purpose of the LED specific electronic flasher.

https://www.superbrightleds.com/blog/bl ... lashing%29

[toplessexpat]

Yes, indeed that is the principle. The electrics on our spiders are not quite as forgiving. I'm just passing on my experience here, having only done this on a few spiders.

I note you use the word "should", not "will". Many things *should* work....

[spider2081]

An LED specific flasher with a timing circuit instead of a resistance heater should not require a resister to provide the load for the heater. That is the whole purpose of the LED specific electronic flasher.

I second that. And some are user adjustable so you can set the rate the signals flash. Just depends on how much you are willing to spend. For me "should" can be replaced with "and does"

[brackie1]

Hey Andy, just installed the electronic flasher. Works great without resistors. BTW aren't you the one I spoke with sometime back about making a tonneau cover. I did make one and it works great.

Gene

[DieselSpider]

Diesel - not true. Some flashers are still going to have an issue. The resistor fixes it - especially if you're running LEDs all round. On a turn signal - they don't heat up enough to worry. Mount them to metal and all is well.

I've only dealt with the ones that have a digital clock circuit in them so load resistance on the circuit does not come into play unless they have a fast flash or hold flash feature to indicate a burn't out bulb which could give a false indication of burnt out bulbs with LED bulbs requiring a resistor to fake a constant load making the fast flash feature a bit moot with LED's. Makes it seem like paying extra for that feature is not worth it since you probably will need to add a resistor to negate it if you are not running a mix of incandescent and LED bulbs.

These convenience features are becoming an inconvenience.

To me loading up the circuit with a resistor to fake the flasher negates to a degree some of the benefit of going LED.

[spider2081]

I would suspect the the term "electronic flasher" is loosely used. A true electronic flasher sold be LED light suppliers would have an electronically controlled timing circuit and would not need any resistors. This would be true if all LED lights are used or a mixture of LED and incandescent are used. I would verify this with the supplier before purchase.

The purpose of using LED lights is to produce more light, or the same light at much less current. Paralleling the LED with a resistor to fool a standard flasher means you are drawing the same current as the original bulb. It adds another component to fail.

If the signal light is also used as the brake light as is some cases, the resistor is in the circuit in that case also. This compounds the resistor's heat issue. The 1157 signal filament draws 2.1 amps at 12.8 volts. or close to 27 watts of power. It would be higher at 14.5 volts which is what many of our cars operate at. So if the LED were to be lit for an extended period of time. (foot on the brake) one would need a resistor capable of handling over 30 watts. That is a physically big device and fairly expensive. If the filament is used as a signal light only and only flashes short periods of time, a lower wattage resistor could be used but a safe wattage is difficult to calculate.


In my opinion cost of a true "electronic flasher" is worth the money and is the safest way to convert to LED signal lights. I am just not positive all electronic flashers have the capability to light the dash indicator as used in the Fiat Spider.

[brackie1]

The electronic flasher that I bought from AR solved my problem. It powered put the LED turn signals and allowed the dash blinkers to work again. Actually both the dash blinkers and outside turn signals blink better than ever.

Gene

[spider2081]

Thanks Gene
I have not converted to LED's yet but have read the specifications on some of the electronic flashers. I was prety sure they would function well with the signal lights but was questioning the dash lite.

[toplessexpat]

Hey ... glad all worked well. I'm running LEDs at the front too (headlamps and turn signals/parking lights), so get how frustrating it can be. Apart from the flashers, I've not needed to do any other modifications for LEDs, they simply draw less current. The only reason to do something is when you need that current (so either reduce the need by putting in the flasher you bought, or increase the current using resistors). Simple really!

Yep - we exchanged notes before on the Tonneau. Glad you got it done!

A