Indicators turn on as hazards randomly

Coffeelandy said:

Guess what? I'm attempting this diode fit and I'm struggling. Here's where I am,
I've located the left and right indicator wires that go into the tell tale. I've loosley attached a diode to one to see what happens. The powerstill goes through, I turn it the other way, nothing goes through.
Can you draw me a diagram please??? Do I need to make an earth go somewhere and use one side of the bulb for both indicators? Interestingly, if I remove the bulb, the indicators work perfectly!

Click to expand...

cowasaki said:

You need both diodes before it works as they stop the flow of current in each direction. Add the other one and it should be fine. Let me know

Click to expand...

Coffeelandy said:

Cracked it! I'm well chuffed and the tester thingy you told me to get is perfect. I used it to connect to the earth of the bulb and then touch surrounding wires to find another earth to piggyback. The handbrake light earth is next to it so perfect! Thanks for sticking with me Mate, this is a minor victory for a massive idiot!

Click to expand...

cowasaki said:

Brilliant..... But be careful locating earths using the light in this manner as you might find an earth that is actually a signal earth from a sensor. This would create some rather weird effects if you connected them wrongly e.g. using an earth you find behind the dash that is actually the handbrake sensor..... This is then used for the relay of your spots........ Your spot lights only work when you have the handbrake on

Electrics are something that just suddenly click. You think you don't understand them for a while then suddenly realise that actually they are really simple and you do.

Click to expand...

Coffeelandy said:

You are a genius! Just taken her out for a test spin and that is exactly the earth I found, handbrake which works when it's engaged, doesn't when you're driving, doh!!!! Any ideas or shall I make an earth on a bolt to the body?

Click to expand...

cowasaki said:

I have fixed so many faults by remote control it comes as a knack......

My suggestion would be to make your own ground point. If you are possibly adding a few items then a grounding block is a good idea.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/White-Bri...912413?hash=item2c9f85e19d:g:c1kAAOSwgApXAQJq

Just drill a hole and attach a black wire with a ring crimp on the end using a self tapping screw. Now you have your ground wire which you can use now. Order the above and when it arrives connect the ground wire to this block and one of the other connections to what you are using now. You will then have 8 extra ground points......

Good luck.

Click to expand...

Coffeelandy said:

Awesome advice Mate, make sense now too. I'm fitting a load of relays and switches and definitely going to need it as well as a multiple relay console. It's a very rewarding feeling to be able do do this myself, thanks again Mate.

Click to expand...

cowasaki said:

Have you seen the section on relays in my tutorial? Relays are very useful devices and can be used for all manner of logic circuits too

If say you wanted a lights left on alarm you could do it like this.......

Take your live from the side light circuit and the ground from the door negative - This will click the switch IF you open the door with the lights on
So now connect the - of a buzzer to one side of the switched circuit and connect a ground to the other side of the switched circuit and then connect the buzzer's + to a permanent live - This will now sound the buzzer when you open the door with the lights on.
If you don't want the buzzer to sound if the ignition is on connect the ground to the ignition live instead because ignition live is GROUND when the ignition is switched off - So now we have a buzzer sounding ONLY when the lights are on, door is open and ignition is off.

12v buzzer off ebay £1, relay £3 - never flattening your battery again... priceless

Click to expand...