Making turn signals from scratch

Ok so I have an 82 kz550 that has been stripped down and bobbed out. There are no factory parts left from the turn signals at all. I have already created a turn signal circuit that I thought would work but it unfortunately does not This is the best diagram I can give of the circuit I created:

Battery(+)--12V Flasher--Switch--LED Strip
Battery(-)--LED Strip

The 12V flasher is one with only two prongs(not the three prong ones used for dimmers and such) and the switch is a simple on off switch but instead of flipping one way or the other it has a left, right, and center position(center being off). Both were picked up from autozone.

The circuit is complete. I know this because when I flip the switch left the left LED strip comes on and when I flip it right the right LED strip comes on, the problem is they arn't blinking. After some research I found out that the flashers needed a certain amount of power to make them flash and thought the LED's might not be drawing enough power but the guy told me when I went back that isnt how flashers are made anymore and the newer ones didnt have a minimum of power that needed to be drawn through them to make them flash.

Im not very knowledgeable about circuitry but Im a quick learner and I have figured out the rest of the electrical issues the bike had. Just need some help. Any suggestions?

test with a non led bulb

The LED's do not have enough current draw like a regular bulb does to make the flasher work.

Most auto parts stores sell LED rated flashers(that might work for both type of bulb/led circuits).

Ok thanks guys, I will test it with a normal bulb when I get home. Also I was just talking to a guy who said something about getting "resistors"? I used the "" because im not 100 percent thats what he said, that would make them draw more power, or atleast trick the flasher into thinking more power was being drawn? Does that sound like it might be a possible fix for it?

Adding resistors will increase the curent draw also lowering the light output, so if you want to test the circuit in a mock up to see if it's workable, you can do this without adding wiring and other work to the bike.

A 12 volt power source, the 4 turn signals,flasher relay, directional switch and wiring might be all you'll need to prove out the circuit.

Ok guys so this is where im at, I went to an advanced auto parts and an autozone and neither had resistors for sale.. -__, BUT, while I was at autozone I was looking around and found a TRIDON EP27 electronic flasher that says "LED Compatible" right on the back. Just got home and tried it, and no luck.

Here is a schematic of the connection terminals on the flasher:



L = Lamp
H = Hazard
E = Negative
I = Ignition
B = Positive

(The same schematic was on the back of the package and listed what each letter was)

The flasher is between the battery and a simple on off switch (that has left right and center, center being off) which the goes to the left/right LED lights.

I have tried all of the following once with the negative hooked to the battery and once without:

-positive to battery, lamp to switch
-positive to battery, hazard to switch

I have also tried these combinations with ignition hooked to ignition (with the key on of course)


The back of the package's description reads:

Electronic Flasher
For Turn Signal or Hazard Warning
DOT Approved
Variable Load-2 Turn-6 Hazard
LED Compatible


Like i said it is a TRIDON EP27 11-15v DC 5 Terminal

Am i missing something?

I'll give it a go.
Now that relay pin arrangement is very familiar, but the operation looks a bit different.
L= Lamp
H= Hazard
E= Negative, ground
I= power from Ignition through your turn switch
B= ignition feed 12v, if direct to the battery it may have key off draw. Looks like it is not needed in the schematic I posted.
Have tried it like this? Also the wire coming from your switch, hook it directly to your Lamp, then Hazard wire. Lights on one side turn your switch, lights on other, then Hazards, without flashing. That way you know the circuits are fine, just the flashing relay part to work out.

Oh Radio Shack has resistors if you want to go back to the OEM relay, wouldn't cost much.

@ Motorhead:

Im sorry but I left out a BIG detail. The bike was stripped of all factory lights and light circuits so im literally building the circuit from nothing. I have nothing except two strips of LED's (being used as the turn signals), a simple on off switch from autozone that can go left or right, and the two flashers described above (one regular 2 prong 12v flasher and the other flasher described in my post above with the schematic.

I have no hazard lights or anything, I just want to make the two LED strips blink when they are on.

SO are you saying I shouldnt have positive going to the battery and instead just run it to the ignition?

Also the start button and controlls that were on the handlebars are completely emptied and disconnected,the ignition was a generic one that came with two keys i bought from autozone.

I think I found a schematic for you from one of the web sites:http://superlumination.com/images/auto_bulbs/ep27_cross_reference_wm.jpg



So hopefully this will set things straight.

You should go back to your profile and add some info to your signature so everyone can see what you got, real easy.

Right, the way that schematic is layed out is the same way I have everything ran, of course without the hazard switch and hazard lights. But im still getting the same problem, when i flip the switch left the left LED's come on and when I flip it right the right LED's come on, they just dont blink.

Well I would have to wonder about the wattage rating of the relay vrs the watts of your LED's. Have you tried with both sides of the bike hooked up, so that all 4 corners are through the relay and switch? This will increase load, and maybe it will flash. Or is it possible when trying to get it to work, a wiring mistake burned out the relay?

Oh and I just bought a 5pk of resistors from radioshack and have NO idea how to use them. Any suggestions? Im going to look around google now