LED Indicator Relay Safety Modification

[amb67]

About 3 months ago my indicator relay packed up and my indicators refused to flash. I had already decided that I was going to replace my indicators at some point with LED units so I replaced my relay with one that was LED compatible.

That was when the troubles all started, the LED relay was absolutely silent in its operation, hence no audible indication (Pardon the pun) that my indicator was flashing.

Being a seasoned biker of some 20 years plus I am well versed in what happens when a rider forgets to cancel the indicator, sorry for the image but this happens quite a lot.

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u144/amb67/LED%20Indicator%20Mod/AccidentImage.jpg

I did not want to become one of those statistics so I decided to make a minor modification to my indicator circuit, here goes:

Firstly I went to Maplins Electronics or you can use any good electrical shop, or even Flea Bay and I bought one of these.

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u144/amb67/LED%20Indicator%20Mod/12VBuzzer.jpg

Link to Maplins for relay Click Me (http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?moduleno=3213)

Buzzer specs are:
Type Voltage Impedance Frequency Output at 30 CM
12V 9 – 20V 480 Ohms 400 Hz 75 dB
Make sure you have some way of attaching it to the indicator circuit, it could be by Scotch Locks (Arggghhh!!) or by solder (Lovely!!).

Remove the front fairing to gain access to the wiring loom.

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u144/amb67/LED%20Indicator%20Mod/P1010022.jpg

Unhook the LED indicator relay from its mount so that you can access the loom easily.

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u144/amb67/LED%20Indicator%20Mod/P1010014.jpg

IMPORTANT!! If you have a diode in the indicator circuit then the buzzer must be fitted between the diode and the LED relay. If you add the buzzer to the circuit outside of this area it will not work correctly.

Best to attach the buzzer to the indicator loom as close to the relay as possible.

For those using Scotch Locks follow this:

Pop down to your local Auto store and buy yourself a soldering iron, some solder and a book on how to solder.

For all who do not know what a Scotch Lock connector is:

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u144/amb67/LED%20Indicator%20Mod/ScotchLock.jpg

For those soldering follow this:

Strip back a piece of the insulation about 10mm on each wire.

Attach the wires as so:

Black wire on the buzzer connects to the blue/black at the LED relay connector.
Red wire on the buzzer connects to the green at the LED relay connector.

Just twist them on to the main loom for now.

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u144/amb67/LED%20Indicator%20Mod/P1010017.jpg

Now test that when you indicate left and right that the buzzer sounds.

OK, if it works well than you need to solder the connections and make good the loom insulation.

If it doesn’t work then retrace your previous steps and make sure you have followed the instructions. If all is correct then reverse the electrical connections you just made, it may be that the manufacturer of the buzzer has connected the wires differently internally.

Locating the buzzer

I tried various methods and positions of locating the buzzer and decided upon this method and location (See images below). My reason for this was that the sound of the buzzer was distorted when it was connected to a hard surface, distorted even further when the vibrations from the engine were encountered.

Small cable tie threaded through the buzzer

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u144/amb67/LED%20Indicator%20Mod/P1010019.jpg

Buzzer cable tied to the loom to avoid vibrations

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u144/amb67/LED%20Indicator%20Mod/P1010021.jpg

http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u144/amb67/LED%20Indicator%20Mod/P1010020.jpg

You will need to decide what’s best for you on the location and connection method.

However, I would strongly recommend that you stay away from Scotch locks as it will inevitably end in grief somewhere along the line.

Rebuild the bike in reverse order and go for at least a 2 hour road test, tell the wife it’s mandatory. LOL

I know that a lot of you will be saying 'No fecking way am I fitting a buzzer' well that's your choice. All I can say is that a huge percentage of motorcycle accidents happen at junctions and many are caused by the rider leaving the indicator on.

Hope this helps save some lives!!

[Kiwi_rsvr]

Not only a top tip but an invaluable one !! :-)

[supertedlover]

excellent write up amb, its now on my list of jobs to complete over the winter, thanks mate :thumbup:thumbup:thumbup

[Sprocker]

Nice write-up amb, but if you can hear your indicator relay you need a louder can :nana

Got me thinking now, I wonder if theres a self cancelling relay available, one that times out after ## seconds ?

[amb67]

Nice write-up amb, but if you can hear your indicator relay you need a louder can :nana

Got me thinking now, I wonder if theres a self cancelling relay available, one that times out after ## seconds ?

My can is well loud but you kind of hone in on the click, don't you?

Self cancelling indicator, hmm!! now that's a thought.

Would be impossible to create such a thing for a bike as you can steer without actually turning the bars that much.

Timer relay would be impossible either, how would it know that you have negotiated the corner??

[Sprocker]

My can is well loud but you kind of hone in on the click, don't you?

Self cancelling indicator, hmm!! now that's a thought.

Would be impossible to create such a thing for a bike as you can steer without actually turning the bars that much.

Timer relay would be impossible either, how would it know that you have negotiated the corner??


I was thinking on the lines of an indicator that only works for a few seconds....my car does three flashes if you just nudge the lever, then it stops :dunno do you think that could work on a bike...

[amb67]

I was thinking on the lines of an indicator that only works for a few seconds....my car does three flashes if you just nudge the lever, then it stops :dunno do you think that could work on a bike...

Your talking about the lane change function, I have it on my Mercedes-Benz.

Hmmm! I think that may be a little too much for the Aprilia wiring looms and switchgear.

Suppose you could add in some kind of delay relay circuit that would activate the indicators for a set three flashes. I would imagine that this would have to be operated by another switch as I cannot see how the function could be incorporated in to the existing switchgear. (Without affecting the usual functionality)

[AREESSMILL]

Yeah i reckon looking at the aprilia electrics, we are lucky to have any form of lights etc