Blinking too fast

Fountainhead · 06-06-2013, 01:48 AM

The reason you need the resistors is the turn signal is controlled by a bi-metallic strip, that is, two different metals welded together, when current flows thru them (the correct currrent for incandescent) two pieces of metal heat up and the stress between the two metals (one gets hot faster than the other) causes the metal to bend (until cools off) so you get light on till hot, light off till it cools off, then the cycle repeats endlessly causing the turn signal to blink. Very old school and very ingenious, actually.
The problem with LED's is that they don't draw enough current to heat the strip enough make it stay open long enough, so the strip opens and closes very quickly. Adding the resistors increases the heat so that the bi-metallic strip works correctly.
I'm not sure if our Z's have front and rear Turn signals in parallel, if so then one resistor may suffice, but if not in parallel (or if two lamps needed to heat the strip enough for correct off/on/off timing) then you may need a resistor for each light anyway.

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06-06-2013, 01:48 AM	#9 (permalink)
Fountainhead Track Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: FL Posts: 834 Drives: 2019 Civic Type R Rep Power: 15	The reason you need the resistors is the turn signal is controlled by a bi-metallic strip, that is, two different metals welded together, when current flows thru them (the correct currrent for incandescent) two pieces of metal heat up and the stress between the two metals (one gets hot faster than the other) causes the metal to bend (until cools off) so you get light on till hot, light off till it cools off, then the cycle repeats endlessly causing the turn signal to blink. Very old school and very ingenious, actually. The problem with LED's is that they don't draw enough current to heat the strip enough make it stay open long enough, so the strip opens and closes very quickly. Adding the resistors increases the heat so that the bi-metallic strip works correctly. I'm not sure if our Z's have front and rear Turn signals in parallel, if so then one resistor may suffice, but if not in parallel (or if two lamps needed to heat the strip enough for correct off/on/off timing) then you may need a resistor for each light anyway.