Final electrical issues HELP!

[bill in okc]

Did you put in a LED bulb for the turn signal indicator?

[Coyote]

Did you put in a LED bulb for the turn signal indicator?

All the gauge lights are LED's. The turn LED works fine. It just doesn't light up on a right hand turn. Works as it should -- left.

[Alan H]

An LED only works in one direction powerwise, not both directions.
The indicator bulb for the indicators is connected to both sides and uses the larger watt bulbs on the opposite side to the ones that are flashing as an earth path. That's why it only works in one direction. You need a standard bulb here for the system to operate properly. Or a bidirectional LED bulb like this pic shows.

[Coyote]

I would agree if it were 2 separate circuits. However in this case the same 2 wires light the LED regardless of which way you are turning.

[Alan H]

No they don't, as the current flow is reversed when you use the other indicator.

[Suzukidave]

deleted

[Alan H]

No it doesn't.
Both diagrams show a light green from the right indicator to one side of the small bulb and a black from the left indicator to the other side of the small bulb. That bulb is not earthed.
If the indicators all went to one side of the small bulb and the other side was earthed, all the indicators would flash together.
The small bulb acts as a current limiting resistor and does not allow enough power to go to the main indicators on the side you don't want to flash, to allow those bulbs to light.

Please bear in mind that I have been working on motorcycles and general electrical equipment since 1967 when I started my career as an apprentice electrician and eventually worked up to Commissioning Engineer which I still work as.

[bill in okc]

I put LED bulbs in my H1 and my turn signal indicator only worked in one direction. A regular bulb fixed it. There was a wiring mod on the H1 forum that would allow a regular LED bulb to work but it was just easier/cleaner to put a normal bulb in that one spot. If I knew where a 2-way LED bulb was available I would sure get one.

[Coyote]

And they say " ignorance is bliss ". That bums me out. That means I need to remove the entire assembly (and all it's wires) so I can remove the bottom cover just to change a silly lamp. I am going to leave it like it is. Bill, I wonder if you could find that post again? OR maybe you remember what is involved.

[Alan H]

Sorry. It's an easy thing to do if you aren't familiar with the characteristics of changing things.
I had a look for a suitable led bulb, but it would have to be the same size as the small bulb in the binnacle, and double the circuitry in it. I don't suppose they'll want to make the effort unless they can sell a million or so.

Hopefully you'll still be able to turn right without the indicator indicator Coyote.

[markush]

Hi!

That means I need to remove the entire assembly (and all it's wires) so I can remove the bottom cover just to change a silly lamp.

Not, if you aren't afraid to make little changes at the wiring.

Then you only have to open the front lamp bucket and disconnect the lines to the indicator lamp, -black+lightgreen-, and connect them to the lines coming directly from the flasher-relay, -orange+lightblue-, with indicator-lamp-positive to orange.
The LED-indicator lamp then will work when using both left and right turn signal. The indicator will then light up alternating with the turn signal lamps.

Tested! It works with original flasher-relay and normal light bulbs as turn signal lamps.

Markus

[Alan H]

Good idea.
Never thought of that and it's quite obvious when pointed out!!

[Coyote]

Markush, excellent Idea. I will be looking into that for sure. Alan, once I remembered the socket it external, I pulled ot the led and installed a regular bulb. Flashes both ways now, just like you said it would. Those little bulbs don't have much candle power, so It's dull by comparison. Markush has his thinking cap on. Gonna see how much trouble that will be.
Thanks guys. I learned a lot through this thread. That's one down and two to go. I still have a non functioning horn and that goofy problem of the neutral lamp staying lit with the ignition switched off, but only if the kill switch is in the off position. If the kill switch is in the run position, the neutral light turns on and off properly with the key.

[bill in okc]

Can you ohm out your ignition switch - looking at the wiring diagram and make sure that the connections are made when the switch is on and the connections are disconnected when the switch is turned off.

[markush]

Hi!

I thought again about the LED-Indicator-Lamp while sleeping...
Some LED-Lamps with standard lamp socket have a build in bridge rectifier for polarity independant and AC use. (maybe called: LED bulb, Ba9s socket, 12V/AC)

You can use them like a light bulb and don't need any change at the wiring.

Markus