How to Install Load Resistors for LED Turn Signal Lights

Why are installing load resistors necessary for LED turn signal lights? If you don't install load resistors (also known as equalizers) with LED turn signal bulbs, you will experience the notorious hyper flash issue. Hyper flash is exactly what it sounds like, where the turn signal light flashes rapidly and is almost headache inducing. Not only is this ugly, but you may also attract the police who think your bulb is burned out. This sounds completely unnecessary and a huge hassle to boot.

You will need 50W 6 OHM load resistors and tap the load resistor to the stock harness in parallel. Load resistors also have no negative or positive, making it easier for you because you wouldn't have to worry about which wires goes to which side.

Step 1:

1156, 3156, 7440 are single filament applications so there are only two wires (one positive, one negative). This is very straightforward as you need to simply tap the load resistor wires between the two wires.

Step 2:

1157, 3157, and 7443 are double filament applications which have three wires (one shared negative, one positive dim mode, and one positive brighter/blinker mode.) There is a little more trial and error involved with the wiring. We recommend you tap the load resistor between the most vivid wire color (usually the brighter/blinker) and the least wire color (usually negative). In this tutorial, we are going to try to tap the resistor the red and black wires.

Step 3:

Test the turn after the wires are tapped. If the turn signal still hyper flashes, take the wires out and tap it to another wire and try again. The most times you will try to tap the wires is three times. We are going to assign each wire with a letter for easier reference: Red-A, Green-B, and Black-C. We originally tried A and C and tested it to see if it works. If not, try and C. If that still doesn't work, try A and B.

Step 4:

If you have tried all three ways and the hyper flash issue is still there, then perhaps the issue causing this is the connection. Many people install load resistors with a T-tap because it sounds easy, but we definitely don't recommend this route. T-taps are sometimes unable to cut through wire and causes a loose connection or intermittent function. We recommend you directly merge the load resistor to the stock harness. Actually, my professional stereo installations have installers merge the wires instead of using T-taps.

Step 5:

How to merge the wires: We recommend you use a wire stripper to expose the copper wire in a small slit without damaging anything. If you don't have a wire stripper, you can also scrape through the plastic using a knife or scissors. Don't forget to use electrical tape to cover it after you connect the wires. An awesome thing about merging wires is that they have a 100% success rate every time. You won't have that intermittent working/not working issue like the T-taps. Don't forget to mount the load resistor to the metal using zip-ties and not double-tape.

Step 6:

Summary:

1. Merge wire instead of using T-taps for a perfect connection.

2. Always try different wire combinations for double-filament bulbs.

3. Mount the resistor to metal so you can prevent heat damage.

Comments

[grebolkram]

I've found the simplest and quickest, most completely sensible solution to this hyper flash problem created by the installation of LED turn signal bulbs. The fix was so obvious and was right in front of me the entire time, I can't believe it took me long enough to order a set of resistors and for them to arrive before I realized this solution.

INSTALL INCANDESCENT BULBS.

Now, how easy was that. Sheesh...

[morrisonfrank975]

Is it ok if the led shares the same ground wire with main lite

[lisarturner1]

Brake, parkers and reverse all work fine until indicator wire is attached and then all lights start flashing and indicator does not work....Any suggestions appreciated

[JasonB306]

Well I've been doing commercial and residential electrical work for 20+ years with no real education but self education and over the years of all the burnt up devices and connections that I've came across were do to bad connections as far as loose wire nuts and loose crimps. I have never came across a burnt joint on a solder joint. I would definitely prefer a solder joint over a crimp joint or wire nut joint. Only as long as it's been done properly. Wires heat and cool and extract which will also cause connections in crimps or wire nuts to become loose over time. But that also depends on how good the joint was to begin with and the load on it. Just saying.

[kfuhrman]

What if you use the t taps and it works but stops working when you turn on your headlights

[khconst.kh]

Do you have to put load resistors on all four corners of your vehicle before they will stop hypro flashing

[Wo1fMane]

1 resistor on each LED bulb that used to be incandescent. "Corner" is irrelevant.

But you're way better off replacing the flasher if that's possible. It's easier, cheaper, totally non-invasive and reversible.

[Been there done that]

Yes. Each bulb should have its own resistor.

[gilligan8]

No you only have two circuits... left and right.

[JosephC337]

I have a 1979 Cb750f and I changed to LEDs. Originally it all worked, but soon after I get the 4 way static light if I turn one way and nothing if I the other.

I have LEDs at all lights and in the instrument panel

Any ideas?

[Wo1fMane]

I would try swapping the flasher for one made for LEDs. If that bike still has the original flasher, it's more than likely a reed type that isn't set up for the hyperflash error and the LEDs just won't pass enough current for it to operate properly.

[viruz1124]

My front tune signals are 7444 leds. There flashing normal but the dash is blinking fast and I got error message on dashboard “turn signals out”! 2017 grand Jeep Cherokee limited.

Question can I install the resistor on the rear turn signal that carries factory halogen bulbs or do I need to install the led resistor on the front turn signal that have the leds?

[Wo1fMane]

The resistor has to be on the lamp that you swap from incandescent to LED. But that might not be your problem. You might need to get CAN-Bus compatible LEDs units. Resistors won't fix that.

[Caradame123]

So I purchase some sockets that already came installed with the load resistors and it has 2 resistor on them so adds up to 4 2 on each side but I only have the two front then signal lights on and it still hyper flashes what could be wrong in this situation and it stays turn on in the dashboard when my headlights are on.

[TonyS309]

I have a 2018 Chevy Malibu LT. i have converted all interior lights to LED then tried my reverse lights. They stay dimly lit and my reverse camera does no turn off. Will a simple resistor fix this? Also will I need resistors for all flashers and break lights as well or do I just need to install one for each lighting system. Example ( 1 in front for blinkers, one in rear for blinkers, and breaks and finally one for reverse lights? Thank you for any help.

[Been there done that]

I have a 2016 GMC Canyon and just did the same, inside and out. Lights with a single function, such as a reverse light, usually don't require a resistor, however lights with a dual function, (marker/signal light, or brake/tail light), will require a resistor.

First of all, pull each bulb out, turn it around and reinsert it. It could be as simple as the wrong polarity.

Each bulb will require its own resistor. Get a 50w 6 ohm and you can't go wrong. Make sure you connect both leads to the wire harness that is closest to the bulb socket. (I did mine about 3 inches down from the bulb socket). One end attaches to the negative (black wire) the other goes to the coloured wire that sends current to the part of the bulb that flashes (signal light), or turns on (brake light). (this wire usually has faint stripes, like a candy came).

If you've connected the resistors further back into the system, and/or tried to use 1 resistor for more than 1 bulb, that could cause the camera to stay on and your reverse lights to dim, as the wire colours often change. What you thought was a signal wire could actually be a ground wire, or a wire for another function, causing a mixed signal, at the point you made the connection.

What I mean is, the wire harness for the tail lights, reverse lights, etc, is a separate harness from the main body wire harness that goes to the front. All the bulb sockets lead back to a single connector, where it then plugs into the main body wire harness near the backseat and it continues on to the front of the vehicle. At that connection, a green wire from the tail light harness could connect to a blue wire on the main body wire harness.

One resistor for each dual function bulb, attached as close to the socket as possible, and you can't go wrong.

Note: this does not apply to headlights. I used Novsight H11 and 9005 LEDs (6000 lumens per bulb), I got for $59.99 CAD on Amazon and they work great. They come with a metal box that tucks inside the headlight assembly which eliminates any CANBUS issues. Just make sure that when you connect the socket from the wire to the socket on the headlight, you line them up POS and NEG. There's a + and - stamped into the head of the connector on the Novsight harness, just make sure the NEG lines up with the black wire on the heaamp harness and you're good to go.

[WParrav]

Here is a good one. I have installed led brake/turn/tail lights and resistors on my 2012 F-150. Everything works fine (no hyperflash). However, if I have my marker lights on and activate my turn signal, the signals hyperflash. Turn off the lights and the go back to normal. How do I correct that?

[Been there done that]

Before you start, put the OEM bulbs back in and activate both signals. If it's all good, take one out and replace it with your led bulb and do it again. If it works fine, the other side is where you would start.
The second thing is to make sure you have the correct bulb. If it's a dual mode light, (marker light and turn signal), it should have 4 metal "tongs" at the base of the bulb, 2 on each side. If it only has 2 tongs, 1 on each side, then you have the wrong bulb. This is not uncommon, as the numbers are very similar and bulbs are interchangeable, but often only interchangeable in one direction, (you can use a dual filament 7444 or 7443 as a single filament 7440, but not the other way around)

4 Possible causes of your problem:
1. Resistor connected to the wrong bulb socket wire.
2. Using 1 resistor to service more than 1 bulb.
3. Defective resistor.
4. Bad connection from the resistor at the bulb socket wire.

1. Wrong wire connection.
>If your marker lights also serve as your turn signal lights, there should be 3 wires going into the bulb socket. You should have 1 end of the resistor attached to the negative wire of the bulb socket, (black wire), and the other end connected to the bulb socket wire that sends the current to the signal part of the bulb, (the part that flashes).

Note: In many cases, the wire that sends the signal will have stripes going around the wire.

1. Wrong bulb wire connection
>Leave the resistor wire that's connected to the black wire alone. Unattach the resistor wire from other bulb wire it was attached to, then reattach it to the 3rd bulb wire.

2. Using 1 resistor for more than 1 bulb.
>In some rare cases you might get away with it, but in most, you can't. They don't cost much and only adds a few more minutes of your time to install them, but once it's done, it's done. Each bulb that requires a resistor should have its own, no sharing.
>I'm not going to explain the reasons why, you'll just have to trust me. (It's like when someone wants to know the time, you don't need to tell them how to build a watch) .

3. Defective resistor
>The wire where it connects at the resistor itself could be bad. Try using a continuity tester, or just remove it and install a new one.

4. Bad connection at the bulb socket wire.
>If you know you have the resistor connected to the right socket wires and you know the resistor is good, check to make sure the connections are good.
>Don't use T-taps, always physically merge the wires as shown above, and remember to put electrical tape over them.

Hope this helps.

[ArturoG67]

Hi, I want to intall this resistor for a motorcycle led headlight, because "Ligth Out" signal is prompted. How many resistor do i need? Is a BMW R NINET Scrambler with H4 connector. Regards.

[Wo1fMane]

Using load resistors on headlights is a very bad idea because they are always on and draw a lot of current/power and you will be creating a major fire hazard.

Look for "CAN bus compatible" bulbs, disconnect the instrument panel bulb (or just cover it with opaque tape), or stick with OEM bulbs. Never use load resistors on headlights.