289 Single Taillight Flasher Issue

[Zots]

I installed the converter for the single taillight and:
- turn signals and indicators work front/rear
- flashers work front and indicators
- flashers work in rear if only one side is connected. If both rt/left rear are connected the rear does not work (front and flashers still work)
- 60950 flasher unit

Ideas?
Thanks

[PeteH]

There were a few of us that went thru this issue a few years ago during our builds. The converter supplied didnt work for any of us, CNutting found some diodes that worked. Search in the archives and see if you can find those threads, as I've forgotten the brand. The only issue I still have is the rear flashers stop flashing when brake lights are on, but all flashers work otherwise.

[Zots]

Well...that's crazy! I think these are the diodes that supposedly work. I will give them a try tomorrow.
hazard lights.png

[Vspeeds]

Zots
Those are the correct diodes. However, like Pete said, the rear flashers stop flashing when the brakes are applied. Search my thread, I have a powered trailer converter that solves the problem. But that converter burned out within the first month. I went back to the diodes

[Big Blocker]

Kinda jumping in on this thread late but, using a single bulb in the rear for both brake AND turn signal requires some way to "isolate" the two circuits - diodes or relays. There are actually three circuits active in the bulb(s); Tail light, Brake light and Turn Signal. Two are connected together (Brake & TS) - the Tail lights are a seperate circuit and NOT connected to the Brake and TS other than the common ground. I have found that relays work the best as they [actually] switch sides when activated, diodes are always a gamble, never knowing if you have the right style of amperage blocking capabilities. Pick wrong and they burn out and/or still allow backfeed. Relays don't have the backfeed issue as they are a switch.

FWIW, I have my two rear lights wired as one and don't have issues with backfeed or the TS stopping when I step on the brakes - I'm running two relays that run all the functions (no diodes). Both upper and lower come on for brake or TS, TS side selected does not effect the other side at all, even with brake applied.

The circuit is shown below:



( Can be used with or without a Russ Thompson column mounted TS switch )

Doc

[Zots]

Thanks for all the input. I ended up putting in the 2 diode units pictured above - directly replacing the vendor provided converter - and all works now. Non-LED tail lights worked with the converter but the LED tail lights would not...must be some amperage issue with the LED lights?

[cnutting]

Glad it worked. Not perfect, but simple. Meets my, close enough for gummint work standard. Open up the converter and you'll see why it doesn't work with the LEDs. Looks like Apollo era technology.

[Big Blocker]

Zots,

You are correct, LED's don't draw enough amperage to activate most, if not all, "thermal type" flasher. Switching to an "electronic type" will allow LED's as they don't work off of a thermal bimetallic strip needing to "warm up" to function.
Some have added resistors to help but that hit-n-miss too unless you know what Ohm rating is required to heat the thermal unit.

Doc