Austin Cafe Racer » relay

Adding an ELFR-1 Flasher Relay

admin — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 02:07:13 +0000

After several weeks of trying to get my LED turn signals to work, I finally succeeded this past weekend. The problem I was having was the signals weren’t blinking. The controls would activate them correctly, but they just stayed lit, no blinky blinky.

I tried using an LED relay from Harrison Specialties. It didn’t work.

I tried replacing the stock thermal flasher with an electronic one. Still no blinky.

I returned the electronic flasher for another. Nope.

I finally decided to buy a ELFR-1 from customled.com and still nothing.

It dawned on me that my problem had nothing to do with the flasher or relay, it most likely was my wiring in the headlight bucket.

So, I decided to take it apart and put it back together again.

I cut every wire. I cut for two reasons:

1. I wanted to shorten the wires to make a little more room in the bucket. The excess length was from installing the clubman bars.

2. I wanted to replace the bullet ends.

My process began with stripping the thick black plastic harness, then cutting around 6 to 7 inches off each wire. Oh, I decided to remove the turn signal buzzer also. Now I wonder if removing it contributed to my LED signals working.

All wired up with new bullet connectors. I also cleaned the ground connections.

Custom LED electronic flasher relay ELFR-1.

Two prong. Plug and play. Red on flasher goes to black on the bike. Black on flasher goes to grey on bike.

My new ELFR-1 sitting nice and cozy in the stock rubber mount. My new front signals, also LED, should arrive by the end of the week. I’ll take some video of all the signals on friday. I’ll post soon.

Wiring Woes

admin — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 23:52:09 +0000

My lovely led turn signals are all wired up. I made everything as neat and tidy as I possibly could without the use of heat-shrink tubing. Curious that I couldn’t find any at AutoZone or Radioshack. I’ll have to look elsewhere for the tubing and then rewire the signals sometime later.

This morning I picked up two electronic flashers. One 2 prong, and one 3 prong. Neither of them worked. When activated, the turn signals just remain on, they don’t blink. This is because both flashers are load sensitive. They require the lights to pull the correct current before shutting off and then turning back on. Since LEDs draw less current they will never trigger the load sensitive flashers.

The relay I got from Harrison Specialties didn’t help either. So, since I have no intention of changing out my beautiful LED turn signals, I will have to resort to purchasing a true LED Flasher Relay that is not load sensitive and is built specifically for LED turn signals.

This is the one I’m thinking of.

http://www.customled.com/PRODUCTS/FLASHER_RELAY/flasher_relay.htm

$19 bucks is worth it to keep my turn signals.

New Signals

admin — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 00:42:00 +0000

Gorgeous lights. Heavier than I thought they’d be. All aluminum. I had to make the bolt holes in the frame slightly larger. It took a minute to drill them out. A perfect fit. Harrison Specialties make a fine product.

I haven’t wired them up yet. It definitely looks like I’m going to need two relays. One for each light. The turn signals have three wires. White = ground. Red = light. Black = parking light, not needed.

Rear Turn Signals Purhased (LED)

admin — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:22:39 +0000

After much research and poking about on the web, I finally decided on a pair of rear turn signals. I chose them because of their casing. Tiny and anodized black. It just so happens that they are LED lights. I never intended to use LEDs. In fact, I think LEDs kinda clash with the vintage aesthetic of caferacers. But I really do feel like there was no alternative. Everything else was either chrome, cat eyed, huge, or made for sport bikes and Harleys. I went with the black anodized aluminum because they will compliment my seat.

They certainly won’t pass inspection, but easily swapped out temporarily when inspection time comes.

Since they are LEDs and draw less power, a new relay will need to be installed as well. If not, the bike will think a dual filament bulb has gone out and blink the lights twice as fast. The bike actually may require two new relays. I’m not sure. I’ll play it by ear when they arrive.

http://www.harrisonspecialties.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=HS