Wiring flasher relay

[littleblackflash]

I recieved yet another new flasher relay from ESM and I connected it tonight and to my shock,,,,, it worked. For the first time in 5 years my indicators always flash and at the correct speed.

However, the small light on the end of the indicator stalk is not flashing at all now. The wire to this light is conected onto the relay but is only getting 3-4 volts. If I connect it to another connection on the relay, the light stays on all the time, but blinks when turning.

How can I get this light to flash at the correct time?

[mike.perry]

Have you got a 3 pin flasher relay and is the warning light connected to the P terminal?

[littleblackflash]

Yes. It is a 3 pin flasher.

Will Check tonight which pin the flasher is connect to. I know it is the middle one, but don't know what the marking is.

Is it possible that I have the other 2 the wrong way round?

[mike.perry]

According to the manual B = green and L = green/brown. Some flashers have different terminal markings.
You should have a 42W or 2x21W flasher unit.

[littleblackflash]

Perfect.
Will check them later when I get home. (late tonight, Stupid Company German lessons)

[mike.perry]

I have a flasher marked X, P & L, presumably X = B. Rating 12V, 21Wx2 + 5W

[littleblackflash]

Thanks, I did have X,L and P

It's all wired up correctly but I still have no signal out of the "P" for the indicator light. If I connect it to "L" it flashes in time but in the central position it stays on. I guess this is why we have the 3rd pin on the relay.
So all my wiring is correct but yet again I have a duff relay. Do I order a 3rd relay or can I open this relay up and fix it. Has anyone opened one before?

[PSL184]

New relays are all rubbish - search ebay or autojumbles for a new old stock (NOS) item....

[mike.perry]

I have had trouble with new relays. Go somewhere else to buy one although chances are everyone supplies the same rubbish

[bmcecosse]

If you open it - you won't get money back - send it back!!

[littleblackflash]

too late I opened it.

As expected, it's very simple inside and not very well made. The biometalic strip part was working but the little armiture on the end was bent and not touching the terminal for the indicator stalk when clicking in.

I repositioned it (bent it back) and now it is all working fine. For the first time I have fully working electrics.

Jobs left.
Fix rocking pedals.
Underseal the front wings.
Seat Belts

[bmcecosse]

Great success!

[WGH]

Further to the above, I got fed up with failing flasher units, bought a Nagares electronic flasher unit from Auto Electric Supplies, and fitted it to my 1968 traveller in September 2016 - see https://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/ ... ategory/35
The indicators and the stalk light all work, and I even get a clicking noise. It's a straight plug in replacement. With delivery and VAT it cost £14.11. The only connection I have with AES is as a customer.

[MalcolmD]

Presumably - the flasher unit has correspond with the polarity for the vehicle wiring. I presumed that my Traveller was Positive earth as to the handbook wiring diagram but after burning out a replacement flasher I delved further to realise that the polarity had been changed to negative earth presumably because an alternator had ben fitted. I therefore now presume (presume - what a terrible word) that this has cause the flasher relay to take up smoking. Ordered a new dual polarity flasher relay from ESMM hopefully arrives before Saturday as last MOT needed (1971 model).

[ManyMinors]

I don't believe that flasher units are polarity sensitive anyway. I changed the polarity on one of our Minors years ago and the indicators & warning light still worked in exactly the same way as before.

[oliver90owner]

Very old ones were not - they relied on bimetal contacts, so a mechanical (?) switch.

Later ones (when electronic ones were introduced) where introduced most were initially polarity conscious, but soon all were usable on either polarity.

Modern ones should not be polarity conscious (unless a really cheap chinese import?).

[Pucketsport]

When we say that the flasher units are not polarity conscious, does that mean I must connect the X terminal to earth regardless of polarity or does that mean I can use the flasher with a positive earth car but must swap the X and L terminals ( so L goes to positive earth )

[panky]

I swapped from positive to negative earth on my '71 traveller and had no issue at all with the indicators, didn't touch any of the wiring associated with them so I guess they are not polarity sensitive.