Tech prob - tail & instrument lights dimming/blinking

[corvus2606]

12V bulbs will not work. they will be so dim there wont be any point. same goes for LEDs, its easy enough to get 6V LEDs but AFAIK they dont make car/bike units with them. they use 3x 4V LEDs in series with a resistor, that drops the voltage over the circuit to 4V per LED and the resister stops it being a short.

get a better battery, or lower wattage bulbs. If the current bulbs use almost the full capacity of the battery then you know the problem, and just need to fix it with the simplest fix possible. check the manufacturers spect for what wattage they should be.

[snakeyez82]

Hi all, we're back, sorry for the late reply, we've been busy with work! We've checked out all ur answers, & here is an answer from the hubby:

- from my experience with electronics the LED would either be really dim or not on at all, but i guess that'd all change depending on how the light was internally wired/setup.

- have had a look at Jaycars online cat & the dimensions screw us up with a larger capacity battery, they have a 6V battery but its too long, the battery we have only has 3 2V cells which makes it pretty small, it measures about 97mm(L)x55mm(B)x110mm.

- That'b be awesome to try the LED tail light, how much do u want for 'em Mick?

- I've made a flashing cct b4 which flashes @ ~2hz, thinkin of implementing this into the existing circuit, this would reduce costs so i dont have to buy an electronic LED relay. I've also checked out the specs on the bulbs & they're all correct according to the workshop manual.... so im determined to get it workin just to pass, but in doin so if the LED scenario works out we'll be happier in the long run cause we wont ever have to replace a bulb again!! If anyone knows where to buy BA15S blinker lights, plz let us know!

p.s. i worked out the current draw of only the bulbs (i.e. excl the relay) & compared, original bulbs (parker (5W) + 2x indicators (34W) + dash bulb (3W) ) = 7A in theory, LED (parker (300-400mA?) + 2x indicators + dash (760mA) = ~1 to 1.5A total. Seems like the logical way to go...

p.s.s He took a pix of one of the bulbs, hopefully the pix will attach to this post properly!

[snakeyez82]

Hi all, we're back, sorry for the late reply, we've been busy with work! We've checked out all ur answers, & here is an answer from the hubby:

- from my experience with electronics the LED would either be really dim or not on at all, but i guess that'd all change depending on how the light was internally wired/setup.

- have had a look at Jaycars online cat & the dimensions screw us up with a larger capacity battery, they have a 6V battery but its too long, the battery we have only has 3 2V cells which makes it pretty small, it measures about 97mm(L)x55mm(B)x110mm.

- That'b be awesome to try the LED tail light, how much do u want for 'em Mick?

- I've made a flashing cct b4 which flashes @ ~2hz, thinkin of implementing this into the existing circuit, this would reduce costs so i dont have to buy an electronic LED relay. I've also checked out the specs on the bulbs & they're all correct according to the workshop manual.... so im determined to get it workin just to pass, but in doin so if the LED scenario works out we'll be happier in the long run cause we wont ever have to replace a bulb again!! If anyone knows where to buy BA15S blinker lights, plz let us know!

p.s. i worked out the current draw of only the bulbs (i.e. excl the relay) & compared, original bulbs (parker (5W) + 2x indicators (34W) + dash bulb (3W) ) = 7A in theory, LED (parker (300-400mA?) + 2x indicators + dash (760mA) = ~1 to 1.5A total. Seems like the logical way to go...

p.s.s He took a pix of one of the bulbs, hopefully the pix will attach to this post properly!

[Ratmick]

Combined brake and tail light, bayonet fitting with offset mounting pins.

Mine have wires poking out the bottom and no metallic base like yours.

They are a wedge/blade type of arrangement where you push them into the bulb holder which grips them like a crocodile clip. As such they may be ok for jury-rigging up as you can just solder to the wires.

The bulbs look a bit like this: http://www.sporttruckdirect.com/Pics/MATRIX/MTX_3157_LED_SW_Bulb_Red_01-319_Big.jpg

You can have them for nix, PM me your address and I'll pop them in a postbag.

Mick

[mouse_zzr600]

Hi Just reading your post re dimming
I had a simmiler issue with my old Z650D (yes granted 12v system ) however i reduced the wattage value from my indicator bulbs and it did fix my issues.
I just had a look at all the manuals i have ( car and bike 6 volt vw only had 10 watt ) They show indicator bulbs to be no greater than 21 watts max across the board.
JMO i think your indicator bulbs ( 34 w ? ) are to high rated. This will cause and unusually high voltage drop across a 6volt battery, thus caussing your dimming effect.
My 2c Mouse

[snakeyez82]

Hi all, have an update at last!

Well, we did try 10w globes, but they didn't work with the relay, they didn't blink.
Then we tried Ratmick's LEDs he sent to us (thanx mate!) but they wouldn't work on the 6v, so we then designed our own flashing relay & made up some LEDS for the indicators (using 10mm LEDs) & tail/brake light (combination of 5mm & 10mm LEDs), based on the idea of Ratmick's LEDs that he sent us, & used a couple of high-bright 5mm LEDs to shine on the number plate. All this mounted on an original lightglobe base & plastic. Have attached some pix to show u our handiwork (well, hubbys, I didn't do anything but watch, )

After finishing the lights & they tested ok, we took the bike in for the blueslip & it thankfully passed, about 3-4 days later everything was done & the bike was FINALLY registered, & last friday i went for my FIRST licenced ride, went to a local industrial estate & i rode up & down the road for a while, it was soooo fun! Then yesterday was my first big ride, went from one end of wollongong to the other, & back, but at night, so there wasn't much traffic, but it was soooo good, i loved it & i had a ball! Will go for another shorter ride 2day after work, yay!
Thanx everyone for ur ideas & info & stuff, it was great, & we tried everything, i'm just glad that the bike is now finally up & running, & on the road legally!

Thanx again everyone, from us!

[seiko1]

WoW
Looks intricate and I bet the terrorist recruiters are watching with interest too
Well done