The wild hare has struck again - I like the way that LED turn signals and brake lights go on and off so sharply.

However, looking at the site http://www.superbrightleds.com/1157.htm for super bright LEDs, I found a warning about the BFWS and brake light flasher not working since the LEDs have such a low current draw. Also, cruise control may be affected since it grounds through the brake lights.

They recommend a load resistor, wired across each bulb, to raise the load to make the BFWS work right. And - for the turn signal flasher - changing to an electronic flasher relay.

I checked the site, and cannot find the load resistors. Radio Shack has a wide variety of resistors, but I haven't a clue as to what size or wattage would work.

Any ideas?

Many thanks - even if you don't have an answer.

Bob

:>)

They're probably right about the BFWS - it detects a current imbalance between left and right side bulbs - if the LED's use only a fraction of an Amp, a dead one may not trigger the sensor. And a load resistor is very unlikely to ever burn out, so the BFWS would be none the wiser if an LED failed.

As for the turn signals, the flasher unit uses the current draw to tell it to cycle on and off. And I think the Volvo unit is already an electronic one, as it starts flashing at double speed if one bulb goes out, but flashes at the same constant speed for two bulbs or four (hazard). Having an LED on (say) the rear TS's would look like a burned-out bulb to the flasher.
--
Bob (son's 81-244GL B21F/M46, dtr's 83-244DL B23F/M46, my 94-944 B230FD; hobbycar 77 MGB, and a few old motorcycles)