LED gauge conversion

[Mekanix]

i

And one more year later, a resurrection.

I found this while researching for my current project of building a custom dash. I am ditching the factory idiot lights for LED ones (Thought about converting the illumination bulbs like was done in this thread, too, before I discovered this. Glad someone else has proven success, already.).
As of tonight, I have the LEDs mounted and so far all is going well, but then a question hit me: Am I going to have to do something about the turn signals and their flashing rate now that the indicators are now LEDs, much like when you convert to actual LED turn signals? Is my flash rate now going to be screwed up? I didn't notice this mentioned in here, but that doesn't mean it had to be addressed. I plan on conventional turn signals, just the dash indicators will be LED.
Any help is appreciated.

Will not change anything.

Those original lights draw very little power anyways.

You could just get an LED flasher to replace yours and have the option of using any lights you want and a constant flash rate no matter the load.

[Steve]

Am I going to have to do something about the turn signals and their flashing rate ... I plan on conventional turn signals, just the dash indicators will be LED.
Any help is appreciated.

Do you have a single indicator on your bike or do you have one for each side?

If you have one for each side, you should have no problems.

If you have a single indicator, you will have to add a couple of diodes and do just a little re-wiring.

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[Mekanix]

Do you have a single indicator on your bike or do you have one for each side?

If you have one for each side, you should have no problems.

If you have a single indicator, you will have to add a couple of diodes and do just a little re-wiring.

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There's mention of a 78, 750 in his previous posts.

[Steve]

There's mention of a 78, 750 in his previous posts.

That's nice, but I don't have one of those handy to know whether it has one indicator or two.

There is nothing in his signature for me to see NOW, and I'm simply too lazy to bother looking up "previous posts".

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[Mekanix]

That's nice, but I don't have one of those handy to know whether it has one indicator or two.

There is nothing in his signature for me to see NOW, and I'm simply too lazy to bother looking up "previous posts".

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Were in the same boat :P I was hoping you would say: hey yeah I know exactly what that bike has

Usually the first post anyone makes has the bike info.

Guessing its this type, Should be a nice and easy mod.

[Steve]

Were in the same boat :P I was hoping you would say: hey yeah I know exactly what that bike has

If I knew exactly what that bike has (or even what that bike was), I would not have asked the question.

Usually the first post anyone makes has the bike info.

And that is only if they do not already have it in their signature.

Guessing its this type, Should be a nice and easy mod.

It's a shame we have to guess, but I agree with you, it will be an easy mod.

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[Agemax]

If I knew exactly what that bike has (or even what that bike was), I would not have asked the question.



And that is only if they do not already have it in their signature.



It's a shame we have to guess, but I agree with you, it will be an easy mod.

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i think adding your bike in your signature should be compulsory when you join the site.you should not be able to complete the joining without filling in "all fields required!"

[Steve]

I agree, and it doesn't even have to be 'fancy', like some of us tend to have.

Location can be rather general (look at mine ). Even just a state or a small country is sufficient. Definitely don't need an address.

For signature, just say what the bike is. Definitely not rocket science.

And, it would also help if some of the forum defaults were a but more user-friendly, but that's another matter altogether.
Most newbies don't bother to set their reading preferences to older posts first and 40 posts per page.
(In all fairness, they probably don't even realize that it's an option. )

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[GateKeeper]

This is where good admin staff come in handy......ones that are in tune with the site, to either make the change or implement the change, general housekeeping, etc....

but it is what it is...

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[Road Rash]

Alright, alright! Bunch o' smartasses! I get it! Sheesh! hehe!

Yes, mine is a 78 GS750 with the dual blinkers. I tend to forget that not all of them had duals. I ALSO have forgotten to add my info in my sig, like you guys have so subtly and graciously pointed out!

[Mekanix]

Lol
Sarcasm is only one of the many servics provided here.

[Road Rash]

Oh, I can definitely contribute to the sarcasm! Hehe!

By the way, you'll notice I added a sig. And some pics in my profile.

[Steve]

I ALSO have forgotten to add my info in my sig, like you guys have so subtly and graciously pointed out!

Subtle??

Gracious??




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[Call Me Ahab]

Well, yet another inquirer is here to yank this thread back up to the top

I really like the way this project turned out - I was originally searching for some advice on LED's in general and stumbled onto this thread.

I see a LOT of stores online make reference to certain LED power supplies, some sort of BUS controller or some nonsense. I find some of these, and they're pretty expensive for what I want to do...

Are these controllers necessary, and if so - how do I determine which one I need for a mod like the indicator lights, gauge back lights etc?

Also, I'd like to replace my turn indicator bulbs with some Hi-Output LED's, but again, would I need some LED controller or power supply?

I see some bulbs that one of the kind forum-goers posted in this same thread ( http://www.superbrightleds.com/cat/s...mber,136,4622: )

Does anyone have experience with these? Do I just want to go with a 12v DC Bulb and damn the power supply? Will I need an LED Turn Indicator Relay?

I can't seem to figure out how some of these LED's work - some look like they're made to be plugged directly into a stock power supply!

Sorry to throw so many idiot questions out at once - I just want to be sure I have all the answers before I jump into another project and find myself way in over my head... again.

Thanks guys, looking forward to your input!
While I wait, I'm pondering using Red and White led's for the gauges... I'm gonna look into that some more, hopefully this works out and I can get this together for less than the cost of one of those damn LED power nodes


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I don't see any mention of these controllers or nodes in the original posts, OR in the directions - I just want to be sure before I cook something

[Mekanix]

Resistors.

That's all you need to drop the 12v to 3.5 needed for the led's.

You should get an led flasher. They don't care what bulbs you use and will apways flash at the same rate.

Some led's are brighter than others its a matter of trying them and seeing what you find is bright enough for you. Some colors of the same type of led will be dimmer than others.

You don't need a power supply. Just use the bikes supply and add a 1kilo ohm resistor in series with the led. You can fine tune the resistance to give the brightness you want but I find 1k is full brightness.

There are led' s purpose built to just drop in as replacements. Your turn signals for example could be replaced with 1156led bulbs. Same for the brake light.

Its realy easy and there is no magic to it.
Just buy some single leds and play with them

We'll be here to help once you get your feet wet.





There are some high power led's like the XML T6 that needs a conttoler and a big heatsink. But just one is brighter than most headlights. 3 is insane but the controler lets you turn the intensity down. With 3 you get more volume of light so you don't need it as bright anyways.
Resistors work here too but you need some big resistors because these lights take 3+amps.