LED tail lights & fast signal flash?

TigTorch · Jul 2, 2008

I've read that installing LED taillights will caust fast turn signal flash. The light manufacture has instructions to cut apart the signal flasher, splice in a Radio Shack relay and rewire the flasher.

There has to be an easier way than this. Are there special LED flashers made? Can you add a resister to the turn signal circuit? Any one got first hand experience with this problem?

(Jeep Wrangler using Poison Spyder LEDs)

WHITE TRASH1 · Jul 2, 2008

Yes there are led specific flashers out there. If you are using standard incandesant front lights just grab an EL12 from napa its a electronic flasher that'll work fine with your rear led's. If you have led front you might need to pony up a few more dollars for a led specific flasher or for some resistors.

Glenn · Jul 2, 2008

http://www.superbrightleds.com/

This place might have something for you.

WHITE TRASH1 · Jul 2, 2008

Glenn said:
http://www.superbrightleds.com/

This place might have something for you.

They have both the led flasher and the resistors. Good place to get stuff, I just got a set of 61 4" taillights from them.

Lucky Jeff · Jul 2, 2008

my electronic flasher that's supposed to be used in Fords works well. I have LED's front and rear.

Wildman1 · Jul 2, 2008

TigTorch said:
I've read that installing LED taillights will caust fast turn signal flash. The light manufacture has instructions to cut apart the signal flasher, splice in a Radio Shack relay and rewire the flasher.

There has to be an easier way than this. Are there special LED flashers made? Can you add a resister to the turn signal circuit? Any one got first hand experience with this problem?

(Jeep Wrangler using Poison Spyder LEDs)

Part of this depends on what years TJ you have.

Here is one good place to look;
http://www.stu-offroad.com/electrical/led1/led-5.htm

And another;
http://www.mesa4x4.com/tech_articles.html

Moneypit1 · Jul 2, 2008

Just leave one of the side marker lights functional. They'll provide enough resistance to allow the LEDs to blink. With my bobbed fenders, I just tucked the side marker bulb and wiring into the engine compartment.

CrustyJeep · Jul 2, 2008

I have LED's front and rear, and in the dash. There is no such thing as a simple two pole flasher that will work with such little current to work with.

You need about a 10 Ohm resister on each curcuit (left and right). 14 / 10 = 1.4 amps. 1.4 * 14 = 19.6 watts. That means you need big resisters, rated to handle at least 20 watts. I found them in stock at Radio Shack. Simply wire them between each turn signal circuit and ground. Works fabby.

Uh mine are 15 Ohm apparently...

http://www.nw-wheelers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17728

JOOP · Jul 2, 2008

I put LED's on me jeep and didn't do anything but wire them up. No resistors or relays, works fine.

SUPAFLY · Jul 2, 2008

I just got the flasher from shucks. The only bad thing is you can't use your hazards or the flasher will blow.

CrustyJeep · Jul 3, 2008

JOOP said:
I put LED's on me jeep and didn't do anything but wire them up. No resistors or relays, works fine.

Are your dash indicators LED? If not, sit back down and STFU :flipoff:

WHITE TRASH1 · Jul 3, 2008

CrustyJeep said:
Are your dash indicators LED? If not, sit back down and STFU :flipoff:

Mine are. :flipoff: I just wired up the front corner/marker led's (one light pulling both duties) and the rear is next to be wired in. With the way I wired the front lights I can't use led rears even with a electronic flasher unless I have resistors....

Lucky Jeff · Jul 3, 2008

my front markers/turns are LED. My rear S/T/T are LED, my dash lights are LED. Never had to wire in any resistors. so :fawkdancesmiley:

JOOP · Jul 3, 2008

CrustyJeep said:
Are your dash indicators LED? If not, sit back down and STFU :flipoff:

My entire rig is LED, you douche. Never had to wire in any resistors or anything. You guys just dont WTF your doing :flipoff:

WHITE TRASH1 · Jul 3, 2008

JOOP said:
My entire rig is LED, you douche. Never had to wire in any resistors or anything. You guys just dont WTF your doing :flipoff:

As I pointed out in my last post I REwired the front to use only ONE light vs. the stock setup with separate lights for park and blinker. Even with incandescent bulbs in the whole rig they blinked super fast the way I wired them to work with only one lamp. So yes, I do know what i"m doing.. :flipoff:

Dieselbreath · Jul 3, 2008

www.flipflopled.com
Give them a shout they are local and great to deal with! I have put their lights on all my vehicles and never had a problem. Great warranty also!!! Customer service rocks.

japerry · Jul 3, 2008

there are LEDs that have built in resistors that allow them to act as regular old lights. I wouldn't use anything else.. .that is unless you like to soldier and pick up random parts from Vetco =D

dirk · Jul 3, 2008

TigTorch said:
The light manufacture has instructions to cut apart the signal flasher, splice in a Radio Shack relay and rewire the flasher.

After installing LED's on my girlfriend's 2000 TJ, I modified her flasher to blink normal. I just had to cut the red connection in the pic. Directions are located HERE

Sounds like you might have a 2001 or newer TJ? If so, you have to break out the soldering iron or buy new.

Look HERE for info on a drop in replacement flasher.

JOOP · Jul 4, 2008

WHITE TRASH said:
As I pointed out in my last post I REwired the front to use only ONE light vs. the stock setup with separate lights for park and blinker. Even with incandescent bulbs in the whole rig they blinked super fast the way I wired them to work with only one lamp. So yes, I do know what i"m doing.. :flipoff:

I was talking to rusty. I know you know what your doing :haha:

JOOP · Jul 4, 2008

japerry said:
there are LEDs that have built in resistors that allow them to act as regular old lights. I wouldn't use anything else.. .that is unless you like to soldier and pick up random parts from Vetco =D

BINGO...:awesomework: