Do "load balancers" wear out?

[XV1100SE]

I replaced my rear signal lights with Custom Dynamic run/turn/brake LED's in 2011 (used their load balancer) and my signals recently started flashing fast when I use the turn signals...left and right. I figure since both sides flash fast it might be a bad ground on the load balancer so I checked my wiring and everything looks good. I ordered a new load balancer from Custom Dynamics and temporarily connecting it, my signal lights returned to normal flashing.

 

Four way flashers work normally with the old load balancer. Would imagine this is normal even if you have a burned out incandescent bulb.

 

Do load balancers wear out?

[Flyinfool]

The "load Balancer" is just a power resistor, unless you have one of the "smart" balancers. There is nothing in them to "wear" But if you are running them right at the limit for their power rating they could overheat and degrade over time.

 

Custom Dynamics has a lot of different types of load balancers, which one do you have?

[XV1100SE]

http://www.customdynamics.com/loadequalizer.htm#Universal Turn Signal

GEN-7.5-30

Universal 7.5 Ohm Metric Turn Signal Load Equalizer w/ connectors The load equalizer produces and equivalent load of a 7.5 ohms (1.9 amps @ 14VDC),

 

I'm going to continue to go thru my wiring tonight and change it so that the load equalizer will use a butt connector instead of the way I have it soldered in. That way it will be easy to test with the new one (confirm it is working) and then put in the old one. I'll also put a meter on both and compare resistance.

 

[Flyinfool]

Judging from the pic on that link, they should have a resistor bigger than 27 watts. what is in the pic is NOT a 25 or bigger resistor. That is why they even say it will get very hot in use. Then they covered it up with heat shrink so it can not get cooling air which will make it even hotter.

 

Getting the correct Resistor that will not overheat would actually cost less that the one from CD.

http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/UAL25-7R5F8/696-1293-ND/3886585

[bongobobny]

...could be your flasher is on drugs!

[XV1100SE]

According to the Service Manual...turn signals blinking quickly could be a faulty flasher relay. Further down it indicates that the flasher relay is a Denso FE246BH but doesn't show the Yamaha part number.

 

Looking at the parts diagram (Electrical 2) it shows two "Flasher Relay Assembly" parts :

#23 4NK-83350-00-00

#24 3GM-83350-01-00

 

I searched online for the two parts and found a parts vendor that shows the Denso FE246BH as #24.

 

Is anyone familiar with the difference between the two parts? I went thru my electrical connections last night and both signals still flash quickly. Do I need to replace both or just one?

[XV1100SE]

Okay....I've ordered part number #24 .... a whopping $100 CDN. Figured I'd start with the cheaper of the two as part #23 is $140 !

 

My thinking behind this is that all four signal lights work. Front are incandescent and rear is Custom Dynamics run/turn/brake. The rear lights work in each function. I have attached the new load balancer and still get fast flashing signal lights. I disconnected my trailer isolator to rule that out as impacting the system.

 

The part is "out of stock" in Canada so it will be 2 weeks to get the relay.

[bill4you502]

I installed a kuryakyn Run-brake-turn module years ago and after several years the turn signals were erratic and the Dealer and I never figured it out! Went back to stock and added a LED strip under the rear trunk (Sold by one of the member vendors). Plenty of light and the turn signals work as they were intended.

[winston66]

From my understanding the purpose of a load balance resister is only to duplicate the original load a device would see when some other component is used to replace an original component such as an incandescent light bulb. In this instance the load balance component would be wired in parallel with the new component ie. the new led or the low power demand component that is used to replace the higher current demand light bulb. This means that there will not be any power savings to the system by the use of a new substitute component as the addition of the load balance resistor does exactly as its name says . in other words the current draw through the operating circuit ,in this case the flasher unit remains the same as before so therefore it follows that the signal flashing rate will stay the same.

It is my opinion that the wiring connections to your original load balancing resistor or the resistor itself has become open circuit.

However as I do not know as to what type of flasher unit is used in your situation , it is possible that if it is a bi metal type, if the load balancing resister should fail by becoming less of a resistance, (short circuit), because of overheating or for some other reason , then the circuit will show less resistance to the supply voltage and the flasher unit, in which case there will be more current draw through the bi metal flasher unit and then it will operate more rapidly thereby causing the lights to flash more quickly.

I guess that all of the foregoing will be as clear as mud.

Cheers to all,

Winston66, Northampton,

Western Australia

Edited August 30, 2015 by winston66
explination gange

[XV1100SE]

Makes sense.

Since I redid my wiring and put in a new load resistor and still get the same issue.... has to be the signal relay. Service manual also says that if signals flash fast, replace signal relay.

I'll know for sure in a couple weeks once the part is in.

[XV1100SE]

Update on this issue....

I replaced the signal relay in the fairing and the issue didn't go away. I didn't want to go ahead and replace the second signal relay (inside right side cover) since I'd already put out $100 for the first one and the second one would be $140 from Yamaha.

 

I contacted Custom Dynamics and they suggested putting the old bulbs back to see if they flashed fast or not. They worked normally which indicated that the signal relays were fine. What they suggested after this was to have both the old and new load balancers connected. Having both fixed the issue.

 

I documented my wiring and had them review it and they said it was correct. System must just need the extra load. So, issue resolved.

 

From the wiring diagram, there are two signal relays and a hazard relay. I've located the signal relays in the parts diagram but not the hazard relay. I don't need to change it, but does it exist?