Load Equalizers Harley Ignition & Harley Electrics Discuss Load Equalizers in the Harley Tech & Harley How-to forums; Hey guys Why do some of the LED replacement bulps call for load equalizers, and what the heck is a load equalizer. In my effort to make the bike easier ...

[03fxst]

Hey guys
Why do some of the LED replacement bulps call for load equalizers, and what the heck is a load equalizer. In my effort to make the bike easier to see i traffic I want to swap the 1157's up front and 56's in the back with bright LED bulbs. The dealer actually has the 1157's on sale for 8 bucks but the packaging is all in an asian script so I don't know if these ones want the equalizers or not.

Still in the dark.
03FXST

[HarleyCruiser]

LEDs do not use as much current as a incandescent bulb.
Much less.
The Turn signal module, (TSM) monitors the current to see if one of the bulbs is burnt out or not working right.
If the current is low, then it lets you know by flashing your lights and after the signal is on flashes real fast.
The equalizer has a relay and a resistor in it that replicates the 1157 voltage, and at the same time triggers the relay to light up the bulb.
You can make a equalizer real easy, like I said it is just a relay and a resistor, and in all honesty you don’t need the relay, just the resistor.
Just find the ohm rate of a 1157 and the ohm rating of the LEDs that you are running and subtract the difference. Add the resistor in the line some place.
That or buy a pack of different size resistors and play around untill you get the one that works best.
That is what I did on my set up in my fender, I used enough LEDs; restores; and relays so the system does not notice.
I also made up a set of LEDs on a circut board that fit inside of the stock bulit style turn signal, worked great, cost about ten bucks to make two.

[03fxst]

Thanks HC
I feel brighter already.....


03FXST

[evoKENevo]

Originally Posted by 03fxst

Thanks HC
I feel brighter already.....


03FXST

Uh-Oh,guys another freak'n punster !?!

[unclepsycho]

Originally Posted by evoKENevo

Uh-Oh,guys another freak'n punster !?!

The world needs more punsters.....

[03fxst]

Punny perhaps but bright I am not. Should have figured those lights were crap. Clearence bin, the low price at the dealer, no english on the packaging...yep the hints were there but genious here ignored em. It put them in and it looked like a couple of old wooden matches lit behind the smoked lenses. And HC you were absolutely right, the blinker flashed like a pervert on Viagra...fast as hell just not that bright.

03FXST

[HarleyCruiser]

LED come in many brightness. The ones you get from Radio shack and a lot of them that I have seen are very dim.
They are rated in mcd’s I buy the 12,000. They are real bright, they warn you not to look in the beam, but at a distance they are fine. This is what they use in the small LED flashlights.
I have bought them here on e-bay and another place that stopped selling them.
I buy them one hundred at a time, and use at least twenty five in a turn signal.
(100) 5mm Red LED 12000 mcd SAME DAY USA SHIPPING! - eBay (item 260359757225 end time May-10-09 05:27:01 PDT)
Then I get pre-drilled circuit boards and cut them round to fit the light.
Then put the led leads through the holes and then wire them all together, with the resistors in series.
This eliminates the plug and the bulb altogether.
This makes a real bright light, brighter than any plug in light, that I have seen, you can also wire them with an extra resistor and diode so they glow to be used as a running light and bright as a turn/brake.
Or you can wire them five running and twenty brake/turn.
And when you wire them like this you do not need the equalizers.
If you want any more information on how to do this, let me know and I will take some photos, do a how to.

[03fxst]

Absolutely HC if you have the time. I'd love to take a shot at making myself a set.

03FXST

[HarleyCruiser]

I’ve been real busy last couple of days, but will put together a how-to as soon as I get the chance, I want to make a set for the front, and will get back with you.
It really is not that hard to do and is kind of fun doing it.

Originally Posted by 03fxst

Absolutely HC if you have the time. I'd love to take a shot at making myself a set.

03FXST

[roadhog06]

sounds good to me any thing to make it brighter.looking forward to you your photos up. i`m in need of a project