Common electrical query

[wymple]

On my GS850, can the turn signal flasher quit for only one side? I was rewiring changing from the windjammer to a shield, everything worked as is supposed to. Suddenly the right side won't flash. Both lights work, front & rear, they just stopped flashing. I thought the flasher would kill both sides?

[rustybronco]

If the resistance in the circuit is high, the lamps may not flash on that one side. Check the connections and grounds first before condemning anything.

Do the lamps have the same brilliance side to side? Did you do any bulb type substitution?

[wymple]

Everything is equal all around. I don't quite get it. I'm not into worrying about factory stock, so I am not afraid to go to the root & stick in an automotive flasher. I have minimally basic wired a few bikes, it ain't rocket science. I've not run into a situation where all lights are good, and one side flashes & the other doesn't.

[hannibal]

Switch the bulbs from one side to the other. If the problem follows, get new bulbs.

I thought they won't flash if the resistance was too low aka LED bulbs.

[rustybronco]

I thought they won't flash if the resistance was too low aka LED bulbs.

The other way around.

[wymple]

No LED involved, but I also thought resistance too low prevents flashing, as the flasher doesn't get hot enough to momentarily break the current.

[Gorminrider]

No, low resistance passes more current and gets hotter...as in your electric stove. Try it with a piece of copper wire across your battery's terminals..(NO, I'm just kidding......thing is, it would burn out while tungsten in lightbulbs (and "nichrome" of stove elements? well I'll have to look it up...) does not.

[wymple]

So today, it's decided to work. I have no idea why, I did nothing. In fact, I can't make it not work. No bad connections or bulb problems. They just work. I'm not going to trouble myself with it unless it quits again. End of story in my mind.