Flasher Protector

[dabtl]

Some pics of my latest flasher protector install. The protector is, of course, courtesy of cranetruck.

The first shows the installed unit. The second is the unit being installed. The third shows the wiring connected and the shrink wrap on.

A great idea that I have installed on both of my deuces. Flasher failure should be a thing of the past.

 

[steelandcanvas]

Does this unit take the light load off the flasher?

 

[dabtl]

It simply stops the electrical surge. I am not sure it does anything about the light load, only it does not allow it to destroy the flasher.

 

[Crash_AF]

I did a quick search for Flasher Protector and could not come up with a post describing this item. Could someone please post me a link to the post describing it and/or provide instructions on how to make one myself?

Thanks,
Joe

 

[dabtl]

cranetruck made both of mine. Check him out.

 

[hulk31st]

Didn't know flashers were a big problem in Texas!?

 

[dabtl]

Didn't know flashers were a big problem in Texas!?

You just have no idea! If they do not quit, we will not be able to survive.

 

[bottleworks]

I believe his does remove the load off the flasher. The flasher controls the coil of the relay. The relay handles the load. Assuming this is the same setup as Bjorn did earlier. IMHO, it's another "must do" modification.

 

[cranetruck]

Looks like a good install, dabtl.

Some history may be in order, the first solid state flashers from the '60s featured an SCR design that could handle a short circuit load until the circuit breaker tripped. Later designs may or may not have any short circuit protection with its power transistor on line, which will blow like a fuse when a short circuit is encountered.
One flasher that I dissected had no safeguards against overloads and judging from the number of failed units, it's more like the norm not the exception.
Anyhow, a power relay is now part of the flasher circuit on my trucks, so that the flasher only "sees" the relay coil.
It's nothing complicated, dabtl is a busy individual and I supplied him with a couple of set-ups to make it easy for him (references above).
I use mil spec relays with ratings from 10 to 25 amps, whatever I can find as surplus.

My headlights are also on a separate relay circuit with their own circuit breaker, so that they won't shut down due to a failure elsewhere. The original design uses one circuit breaker for all lights (located within the 3-lever light switch).

 

[dabtl]

These are really easy to install, even for a lawyer. I liked the small butt connectors on this one as it made the shrink wrap look much neater. If I did a few more I could probably make them look much more professional. But, I kind of think two deuces is enough.

Thanks again Bjorn for taking the time to help.