Turn signals and Burning fuses

[Natebat5]

So I passed my permit test today ! And I hit the open roads for the first time, it didn't go quite as well as planned... anyway lucky me my bike blew a fuse right as I was pulling into a gas station, unlucky me because at first I had no idea why. I had been riding the bike on some private roads and I knew it was working fine so I was confused what had changed ? Then I remembered the one thing I had messed with since the last time I rode it. The turn signal relay, I know such a little thing! I don't have functioning turn signals on the bike, well they turn on but don't blink so I ordered a new cheap little relay to fix the problem welllll nope nothing changed with it, still no flash blink whatever. Anyway it appeared that removing the wires from the relay had no affect on my electrical everything still worked except for the turn signals (duh). Well apparently it did because that's why my fuse burned out so a couple hours, and 4 fuses later and after many different ideas, burnt fuses and errors I finally got the bike home anyway so I thought hey this might be educational to someone on here apparently the signal relay is very important! I do have a question though, I am going to rewrire the signal relay tomorrow but if I want turn signals how do I do it? I surely can live with out them if it keeps me on the road rather than on the side of it. But for legal purposes how would I go about fixing my problem? Maybe a load resister will do the trick ? Anyway I'm pretty much out of ideas so give me yours -thanks. btw for those who don't know, my bike is a 1975 rd350

[Mr Fro]

I don't really know what you're asking/saying here.

You messed about with the flasher relay and now it's now working. Was it working before?

A fuse blew repeatedly after you hard wired the switch to the indicators. Which one?

You want to add a load resistor... Why?

Temporary solution to the problem - learn hand signals.

[TimR]

Also am i right in thinking your in USA and your turn signal system may be different to ours in its flash rate etc .

Plus your description is quite hard to follow

But if you've used the wrong type of relay it can have a drastic effect

Or if you have wired it wrong then that can cause issues

Same as if you have loose wires that can touch earth/live components

For fuses to blow generally means live and negative are meeting where they shouldnt

Check your wires

[JRH]

As said above, to blow fuses you must have a short between live and earth somewhere.

If you are ok with the electrics look at this.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=rd+350+wiring+diagram&rlz=1C9BKJA_enGB693GB693&hl=en-GB&prmd=ivsn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiEubn8iuXRAhUIKMAKHUxpCUoQ_AUIBygB&biw=1024&bih=653#imgrc=CcYktXATx_ObkM%3A

Not sure of the year but all the diagrams seem the same and this is for the USA.

You don't need a load resistor unless you have fitted LED indicator lamps. If they are led it would explain why they don't flash but not why the fuse blows.

A simple 2 wire flasher relay has the live on one pin and the other pin goes to the common terminal on the switch.

HTH

[Natebat5]

Sorry about any confusion. to clarify my turn signals were not working so I messed with the relay but I left the wires loose because I couldn't get my turn signals to work, that was before I went riding and because I didn't have a proper connection between the wires and the ground it blew a fuse. and yes my turn signals are led. I attached a picture the back tail light led strip is also a brake as well as turn signals.

[JRH]

Never ride with loose wires uninsulated or you will get blown fuses.

Generally led turn signals will need resistors, if none are fitted the turn signals will normally be on when the switch is operated and will not flash. This is because the resistance is too low and not enough current will flow through the flasher to make it work. Can't remember the value needed but Google will find it for you.

[Natebat5]

Never ride with loose wires uninsulated or you will get blown fuses.

Generally led turn signals will need resistors, if none are fitted the turn signals will normally be on when the switch is operated and will not flash. This is because the resistance is too low and not enough current will flow through the flasher to make it work. Can't remember the value needed but Google will find it for you.

I think resistors might do the trick but I'm not sure how I would install it does it go by the relay or do I need one for each turn signal? But I also tried the turn signal with my old stick filament bulb, it didn't flash either, but I only had one turn bulb wired up. would it require both front and back bulbs for it to work proper?

[JRH]

You need do have both turn bulbs in to make it work. The flasher works on the total load so to flash at the correct rate each circuit needs 42 watts (2x21w). So if one bulb fails the indicators do not flash so you know one has failed from the tell tale lamp on the dash.

So for the LEDs to work you need to wire in a resistor with each led lamp, or each circuit depending on the rating of the resistor. Have a look at this for ideas

http://www.getgeared.co.uk/core/media/media.nl?id=5225&c=731612&h=1df235767670d8f92058

If you can use 1 resistor per side and fit it at the rear where there is more room.

[Natebat5]

You need do have both turn bulbs in to make it work. The flasher works on the total load so to flash at the correct rate each circuit needs 42 watts (2x21w). So if one bulb fails the indicators do not flash so you know one has failed from the tell tale lamp on the dash.

So for the LEDs to work you need to wire in a resistor with each led lamp, or each circuit depending on the rating of the resistor. Have a look at this for ideas

http://www.getgeared.co.uk/core/media/media.nl?id=5225&c=731612&h=1df235767670d8f92058

If you can use 1 resistor per side and fit it at the rear where there is more room.

Thank you very much for the info! I think your right I guess I better start researching what kind of resistor I need