LED indicator relay problem. [Archive] - SV650.org

DJFridge

13-06-12, 09:52 PM

OK, I've just replaced the stock 7 pin relay with one that will cope with LEDs. I checked it with the ignition on and I checked it with the engine running -worked perfectly. Finally got out on the bike today and when I indicated the lights come on about for 10 or 12 flashes then stopped. I assumed a wire had come loose but at the next junction the same thing happened. At the third junction I had to actually wait before turning right and the indicators kept flashing while I waited but as I moved off, stopped again before I got to cancel them.

I had a play with the throttle as I sat, confused, on the drive and, basically, when the engine is idling or below about 2k anyway, the indicators work. As soon as the revs get up closer to 3k, the indicators stop working. If you let the revs drop again the indicators start working again.

I've got standard bulb indicators at the front and newer LED ones at the back. The relay is the only other non-standard bit of electrics - any ideas?

NedSVS

14-06-12, 09:24 AM

I could be wrong but I thought you couldn't get a relay that handled mixed bulb/LED's, ie it's for bulbs or it's for LED's.

MJC-DEV

14-06-12, 11:21 AM

They all do - its just a relay with an electronic timer rather than a heater strip

NTECUK

14-06-12, 11:58 AM

Oh what volts you got at the relay @ 3000 rpm. Check live and ground.
Maybe fulty unit overly volts sensitive.

DJFridge

14-06-12, 02:43 PM

Oh what volts you got at the relay @ 3000 rpm. Check live and ground.
Maybe fulty unit overly volts sensitive.

Cr@p, that means finding the multimeter! It's in the garage, somewhere......

Your theory, I'm assuming, is that it doesn't like too many volts any more than it would like not enough

Epic Monkey

14-06-12, 03:51 PM

I'm not sure how any company selling these "fit for any purpose" relays can claim so. I've replaced all my indi's with LEDs yet the first replacement relay I was sent failed to work. Second failed to work too. 3rd works, but needed the inline resistors to get the right flashrate. By that point I was annoyed with all the back and forth so stuck with that one.

SoulKiss

14-06-12, 03:54 PM

OK, I've just replaced the stock 7 pin relay with one that will cope with LEDs.

Details on that Relay please - where you got it, pert number etc.

The "standard" mod (as I did on my K6) is to get any aftermarket relay (which is 2 wires, and then disconnect 2 wires from the Flasher relay (light blue and brown from memory) and connect the other relay into those points - my aftermarket relay was from Halfords and had Honda on it - there was no Suzuki specific unit when I did it.

NTECUK

14-06-12, 04:10 PM

The relay can as stated be fulty.
If the volts see fine then you know its that.
Why not stick with resistors .

DJFridge

14-06-12, 04:27 PM

OK, the relay is this (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Suzuki-SV650-S-99-02-Indicator-Flasher-Relay-Unit-714175-/150668471127?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item23148a6b57), which claims to be a replacement for the standard fit relay for pretty much all Suzuki bikes since about 2000. It certainly fitted in the same place easy enough.

Oh and thanks Mods for re-wording my thread title:notworthy:

SoulKiss

14-06-12, 04:44 PM

DJFridge

14-06-12, 04:55 PM

Ignore me - I'm talking Pointy, you're talking Curvy :p

Ha ha! Ignore you, SK? Never.

A quick brainstorm at work brought up faulty reg/rec as a possibility - relay running happily on battery at low revs but getting either too many volts or AC with engine power - any thoughts?

Toooldtodie

14-06-12, 08:02 PM

DJFridge

14-06-12, 08:12 PM

Maybe not much help after buying them, but... Powerbronze LED indicators worked as I simply replaced OE lights. No relay swaps, resistors, nothing. Correct flash rate, etc. Nice and bright too!! That's on a K5 mind you.

Interesting. That must mean that, either the K5 has a relay that copes with bulbs or LEDs, or those indicators have resistors built in to make them behave like bulbs.

Toooldtodie

14-06-12, 08:16 PM

Yeah, I seem to remember that older SVs can cope. But I had issue in that only 3 out of 12 LEDs lit until I replaced old battery. So maybe sensitive to voltage after all?

Mrs DJ Fridge

14-06-12, 08:32 PM

What ever the answer, it will keep him happy out in the garage trying to sort the problem.

Toooldtodie

14-06-12, 08:38 PM

Bless 'im! Has he caught Tourette's Syndrome yet? I find that swearing repeatedly at a problem often helps me find a solution. Get someone in who knows WTH is going on!!

DJFridge

14-06-12, 10:34 PM

Swearing DEFINITELY helps. Especially when trying to free stuck bolts.

Mrs DJ Fridge

14-06-12, 10:42 PM

Yes he has had it as long as he has had Marylin, I have to say as long as he swears that much about the other female in his life I have nothing to worry about.

Djgary

15-06-12, 08:23 AM

I have the same relay mod as you, purchased from the same retailer, it works fine on my k3 with all round led indicators. Sound like you might have a faulty relay, either voltage sensitive (can't see this is as the relay is solid state so pretty robust) or it has something loose inside that is loosing contact with the vibration from Reving the bike.

DJFridge

15-06-12, 09:54 AM

If I can find the receipt I might give them a bell then. I tend to assume I've done something wrong before I blame faulty parts!

Geodude

15-06-12, 10:08 AM

You running both normal bulbs and leds off the one relay DJ? I thought you could only run leds all round with that kind of relay not both, im not 100% though. Dont know if this thread helps any http://forums.sv650.org/showthread.php?t=176713

Edit: Just noticed ned asked the same question d'oh, i still wonder though.

NTECUK

15-06-12, 11:29 AM

If the voltage and grounds good then you can be safe in the knowlege you have a fulty part .

DJFridge

18-06-12, 08:11 PM

Phoned LM Spares today and the guy couldn't have been more helpful. To quote, almost verbatim, "That doesn't sound right, I'll send you a new one." He's even sending a postage paid bag so I can send the faulty one back. I'll update again when it arrives.

DJFridge

25-06-12, 08:42 PM

New relay arrived end of last week and I've finally had a spare 10 minutes to fit it. It works, so faulty one going back in the post with a thank you note!!

Geodude

26-06-12, 01:18 PM

Nice one :)

SoulKiss

26-06-12, 01:21 PM

Now theres a lesson for ya :)

If you buy something that doesn't work, don't assume that you did something wrong, just contact the vendor.

You have any idea how many pixels died for this issue?

:p

Good to hear you got it fixed?

Fozzy

26-06-12, 02:11 PM

Had a couple of dealings with lm spares good guys.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

DJFridge

24-04-13, 04:33 PM

Holy thread resurrection, Batman! OK, just an update for anyone still interested. The replacement relay did exactly the same causing much head scratching, swearing and general unhappiness. I was riding it so little in the excuse for a summer last year that I put the stock Suzuki relay back and put up with the strobe effect flashing on the odd occasion I went out. Got a bit more inspired this spring and checked the wiring through, checked voltage out from reg/rec etc and decided that last resort was to buy another relay but this time spend a bit more money (and not from ebay). Bought a BikeIt relay from sportsbikeshop at about 20 quid.

IT WORKS!!!!!! Bike sailed through MOT yesterday. All is well with the world.

Toooldtodie

24-04-13, 07:32 PM

Good to hear you got that sorted, albeit you probably could have raised money for charity via a swearathon.
After what I said about battery (true) being knackered affecting the flash rate, I then had a wind blowing over incident and replaced front (as well as rear) with LEDs and guess what? Yep, flash rate all wrong, lucky I kept the original resistors, fitted them and all's well.
So for you Johnny the winter is over, get out there and enjoy!

Vinc

25-04-13, 09:10 PM

I just noticed my indicators flash quicker than they usually do, about 50% - 100% quicker, and sometimes they flash like they used to. I have not found any correlation yet. I have been riding the bike a lot more lately, so maybe the battery is becoming too charged. Is that even possible?
This has been happening for 2 days now. It seems to become an issue at the end of my trip, or maybe I am just so tired at that point that everything else seems to go quicker.

I have bulb fronts and led tail light+indicators. I have not changed anything.
I did wash the bike last week, but there doesn't seem to be any loose connections as all lights work, and everything else works as expected.

I could get a relay as you guys mention. but I don't understand why it would have worked before, and then not anymore?
I have no understanding of electrics, I am a programmer by trade, electrons are my slaves, it's usually not the other way around :)

DJFridge

26-04-13, 10:23 PM

My best guess would be a dodgy connection somewhere. Check all four bulbs are sitting tightly and check none of the connections is loose. I had one joint that didn't go together properly when I put the LEDs in - I ended up soldering it

Vinc

27-04-13, 08:05 AM

I looked in the bike last night and I do have a custom relay, which doesn't look too expensive so I guess it could need a replacement. For now I have just moved it a bit to make sure it stays cool.

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk 2

Vinc

29-04-13, 09:32 AM

It seems to work now that I have moved further back up towards the tail light!

DJFridge

30-04-13, 08:50 PM

And you'll never know if you've made a bad joint good by moving it or it was overheating. I hate electrics

Vinc

16-09-13, 09:48 AM

It started acting up again.. So you were right DJFridge.. My latest hypothesis is that it either has to do with the charge on the battery or the temperature

Toooldtodie

16-09-13, 05:32 PM

Oh dear God! Have become some sort of electrical nerd with these things!
Here goes. Using "normal" OE flasher relay, put one W22 6RB 5% resistor in parallel into one of the indicator circuits front or rear (looks like you are "shorting out" the circuit with the resistor) and worries are banished. No rev issues, no overheating, just Zen-like peace and an hypnotic steady flash rate. Will let you know if electrics melt and bike explodes in a ball of flames the next time I'm waiting to turn right and indicating smugly!