Switched my bulbs; blown out dash lights are still blown out.

[E Double]

Hey folks,

     finally got around to taking apart the bike and installing the HID, heated grips, etc etc.  Two of my dash bulbs (center and tach bulbs and high beam) were out so I thought I would replace them with LED bulbs from Super Bright LEDs.  Pulled the dash, replaced all of the bulbs with LED equivalents, and then plugged it back in.  And of course everything worked.  Except center and tach dash and high beam bulbs.     Its no stretch to figure that some of the wires must have broken ahead of the harness.  The high beam indicator was never worked since I've owned it, but the entire dash lit up until the second to last time I rode, which was a few weeks ago.  Any suggestions?  Cheers for the advice. 

                                             Dennis

[pdxfj]

Get your multi-meter out and set it on continuity check.. work your way back from the socket down the harness to see where the possible break is.

If it's at a point where you can cut and splice the wires, you can repair the breaks yourself.  Be sure the key is off when poking around with the multi-meter. 

[racerman_27410]

.

did you check and make sure the bulb sockets were nice and clean before installing the new bulbs?

LED's are voltage sensitive too.. did you get the bulbs in there the right way?



Kookaloo!

[E Double]

Thanks for the replies.  I'm going to take the cluster back out and test all of the wires in the harness to make sure nothings broken.  As I said before, the high beam indicator has always been out, but the center to right side of the cluster went out recently.  And it went out oddly, or rather, not like a bulb went pop-more like there was an intermittent connection.   But what do you mean by "the right way" for putting the bulbs in the socket?  I don't see positive or negative indicators on either the incandescent or the led ( I didn't think in this wiring you would need it as long as the circuit was completed).  But I did firmly seat the bulbs.  I figure that I have a broken wire, or two.   After I get everything buttoned up I'll take pics of the HID output.  I went with the DDM 3000K 55watt setup.  I went with the warmer yellow color so that I would stick out a bit more  in traffic.  I was going to do before/after shots with my hella halogen and then the HID, but the bulb jumped off the work bench when I wasn't looking.  So I guess It'll only be "after" pics.

[RichBaker]

LEDs are polarity-sensitive, if they're 180* off they won't work. The panel sockets are NOT polarized, so it would be real easy to put an LED in backwards.....

[E Double]

That would definitely be a coup if I reversed only the sockets that had blown bulbs to begin with!  But I'll take the easy way if it presents itself.  Let's hope it does exactly that when I work on it tomorrow....

[simi_ed]

I think Frank meant polarity sensitive.  If they don't light, pull ou & reverse in the socket.

[E Double]

It appears it was a wire that was loose.  Thanks for the help guys!

                                  Cheers,

                                         Dennis

[racerman_27410]

well all right! 

[Pat Conlon]

Dennis, what LED bulb did you use for your dash lights?  Where did you get 'em?  TIA  Pat

[E Double]

Hey Pat,

I got them from superbrightleds.com.  These are the ones that I purchased;
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Fspecs%2FWLED-xHP5.htm

 I've replaced my taillight bulbs and wingrack turn signal bulbs with leds from these guys as well.  The tails are nice and bright, and the turn signals are going in this weekend.

                                 Cheers,

                                      Dennis

Dennis, what LED bulb did you use for your dash lights?  Where did you get 'em?  TIA  Pat

[simi_ed]

Pat, I have a few pointers. 
Get the brightest dash lights you can.  If you're doing hi beam & neutral lamps, get single LED models.  I put in 4 LED models an they're too bright.  I've bought single LEDs to replace them.  If you do the turn signal lamps they won't effect the cycle rate, so no worries there.  I did LEDs for the tail/stop as well.  I found some 5W 1157s on Fleabay that are NOOKular bright.  Sorry, I can't remember or find where I bought 'em.  If you do LED tail lights you also need to deal with a license light ...

[E Double]

That's the nice thing about the motorcycle tail light bulbs from SuperBrightLeds;  They have integrated license plate lights.  http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Fspecs%2F1157-R19W6_motorcycle_bulb.htm

[Pat Conlon]

I got them from superbrightleds.com.  These are the ones that I purchased;
http://www.superbrightleds.com/cgi-bin/store/index.cgi?action=DispPage&Page2Disp=%2Fspecs%2FWLED-xHP5.htm

Thanks Dennis, I assume that you went with the white LED's. These look like the 4 LED model Ed talks about (below) as being too bright for the indicator lights, do you find this true?

Get the brightest dash lights you can.  If you're doing hi beam & neutral lamps, get single LED models.  I put in 4 LED models an they're too bright.  I've bought single LEDs to replace them..... If you do LED tail lights you also need to deal with a license light ...

Thanks Ed.   I have a neat mod that I've done to my rear light which involves LED's.
Stay tuned, I'll post some photos in a couple of days.    It really turned out nice if I don't say so myself.... Pat

[E Double]

Good question pat.  I haven't had it out yet.  It's going over to my machinist's place to get new rubber on and to fabricate engine bars later this week.  Today or tomorrow I'll pick up a new battery and check it out.   If it those two are too bright I am only going to change the high beam indicator, as I don't often shift into neutral at lights.  I used to do that all of the time years ago, but after having been rear ended once while in college keeping a bike in gear gives me a little comfort of the possibility of an out, even if it is unlikely.  Hope springs eternal I guess.  I'll take pics.

                                                                        Dennis