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LED tail light 28 Mar 2021 14:23 #845685

  • Wagner
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I have a 1981 KZ550 and I changed out the brake light with an LED brake light. Now the brake indicator light on the speedometer keeps flashing when the brake is not pressed. Does anyone know how to stop this indicator light from flashing all the time.  Thanks.

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LED tail light 28 Mar 2021 14:35 #845689

  • calum
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I'm not familiar with the 550, but it sounds like you have a failure indicator for the brake light like in the 750. It looks like this: www.cmsnl.com/kawasaki-kz750h1-1980-usa-...ge-indictr_28019001/
It should be near the fuse box. Basically it detects if there is a problem with the brake light (like when the bulb has gone) and if something's up the light up front starts blinking. I'm not sure how you would fix it for an LED brake light. Personally, I would just bypass it. 

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LED tail light 28 Mar 2021 14:42 #845690

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Just checked. There is a failure indicator in the 550 (otherwise you wouldn't have the brake light up front). To bypass it you would need to bridge the blue and black/yellow wires going to the unit (the black and yellow wires on the unit). The downside is that the brake light on the dash won't work anymore (but the low fuel indicator will).
Maybe someone here knows what's in the guts of these things and knows how to get them to work with LED's...

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LED tail light 28 Mar 2021 14:58 #845692

  • Scirocco
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You have to install a ballast resistor paralell to the LED tail light to increase the current load to the brake light failure indicator divice to work properly.
The following user(s) said Thank You: calum

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LED tail light 28 Mar 2021 15:31 #845693

  • Mikaw
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Loudhvx has a correction for this. It will take me a few to dig up the Schematic... or as mentioned add a load resistor in the circuit 
1976 KZ 900 A4 kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/613548-1976-kz-900-a4
1976 KZ 900 B1 LTD
1978 KZ 1000 B2 LTD
1980 KZ 750 E1
Kowledge Speaks, But Wisdom Listens.
Jimi Hendrix.

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LED tail light 28 Mar 2021 19:46 #845704

  • Mc Tavish
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LED draw little current so the sensor thinks the bulb is open circuit.
I have seen that some people fit a 12V/5W incandescent bulb inline and cover it with spaghetti so as not to show light, this then draws enough current to trick the sensor into thinking everything is working as normal. Crude but effective.
This can be a nightmare chasing faults if you don't know where they have hidden the bulb.
1978 z650C

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LED tail light 29 Mar 2021 06:40 #845719

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Here’s the relay I was talking about

 
1976 KZ 900 A4 kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/613548-1976-kz-900-a4
1976 KZ 900 B1 LTD
1978 KZ 1000 B2 LTD
1980 KZ 750 E1
Kowledge Speaks, But Wisdom Listens.
Jimi Hendrix.
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LED tail light 29 Mar 2021 14:03 #845756

  • Kaylinator
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Is there a definitive LED Conversion guide we can add to the FAQ Wiki?
1978 KZ1000-A2
kzrider.com/forum/11-projects/613296-1978-kz1000-a2-barn-find

1978 KZ400-B1

2022 Z900RS SE

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