12v light flasher

I am trying to wire up flashing lights for 2 RR Xing signs I built for my father in law's RR retirement. I thought this would be pretty easy, but it is proving to be too difficult for my electronic brain. I tried wiring in a standard turn signal flasher, and use a SPDT relay to flash the 2 sides of the lights. This is not working. My guess is I don't have the right resistance in the circuit for the flasher to work. When I have it wired like the attached diagram (sorry for the bad sketch), the lights all come on, but they do not flash. I wired in a resistor (the lowest I have is 330 Ohms), and the lights do not even come on. I assume this is because there is too much resistance. Then I tried wiring in a 3157 bulb in series. On the high resistance side of the bulb, when the circuit is connected, the bulb buzzes, but it lights up; however, the RR sign lights do not light up. On the low resistance side, all bulbs light up (4 RR lights and the 3157), but they do not flash. Can someone offer me suggestions? I tried to find a solid state flasher in my area to no avail. I need this done before 4PM EST Saturday (tomorrow), so I cannot order any parts. Thanks for any help! Jason

I am guessing I wired the relay wrong. I bypassed the relay, took the 3157 bulb out of the circuit, and they flash now. However, they are not alternating, of course. Can someone tell me where I went wrong in the relay wiring? I would really like to get these lights flashing alternately, like the real signs. Thanks! Jason

The flasher needs to send power the the 86,87 on the relay. When the flasher is open the power flows to 87a until the flasher ribbon cools off and closes putting power back to the relay. If it still doesn't work then you need to wire the flasher and relay on the positive side. I have never tried wiring a flasher on the negitive side but it may work. So with your setup the flasher needs to be disconnected from the battery and connected between the left lights ground and the relay 87, 87 to 86, 30 to battery (-), 87a to right lights ground, 85 to battery (+). [FYI accepted standard for relays is 85 (-), 86 (+), But they can be reversed if need be.]

dont change your wiring, your wiring is correct. you just ned to get an electronic flasher. a bi-metal flasher like you are using wont get triggered by the draw of the relay coil alone.

the flasher i just tried before i typed this response was

http://www./itm/CEC-EF-32-ELECTRONIC-TRUCK-FLASHER-2-TERM-12V-12-LAMP-/370482450659?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item56427990e3&vxp=mtr

and it worked perfect.

if you have trouble finding one, shop the nearest truckstop.

yuk

quiet rural missouri, near KC.

If your system moves you physically and not emotionally, you have wasted your money.

Changing the wiring will put a load on the flasher that it needs to work. How do you think they did it before electronic flashers exisited. What he has will work! The way he has it in the diagram won't trigger thats why it needed to be moved to the load side with the lights.

i dont think so.

the light wont steadily alternate like at a railroad crossing

yuk

quiet rural missouri, near KC.

If your system moves you physically and not emotionally, you have wasted your money.

If the flasher is conducting current and the output is going to the coil 86 and the 87(Normally Open). It will energize and flow to battery through 87, when flasher opens the coil de-energizes and the other lights have flow on 87a(Normally Closed) until the flasher ribbon cools and closes and the cycle repeats. He has to seperate ground circuits and one positive. I would have done it with two positive circuits and one ground, but the priciple is the same. It's direct current not alternating current. If he follows the accepted standard relay wiring and wires 85 (-), 86,87 to load from flasher, 87a to other light circuit. It will alternate at the rate of the flasher opening and closing. Apparently you don't understand all the wiring configurations for relays and how they work.

dont try to insult me. i know what im talking about.

using his schematic and my flasher..

i mocked one of these up in my garage about 30 minutes ago using some old taillight sockets i had laying around and 1157 bulbs.

using the turn signal filiment wire and the ground from each socket not only did it work. it didnt even care which way the poarity was on the 85 and 86 terminals.

then i reversed the wires on the flasher and swapped the polarity on the battery and it STILL worked perfect. then i swapped the 85 and 86 wires around and it STILL FREAKIN worked..... tell me again what i dont under stand.(?) LOL

now.... please build it your way and tell us your results.

yuk

quiet rural missouri, near KC.

If your system moves you physically and not emotionally, you have wasted your money.

That doesn't mean that just because it works you way, dosen't mean it won't work with what he's got if wired correctly so get off you high horse. And you insult your self by believing that your way is the only way. I never said your way wouldn't work! But with what he has it will work if wired correctly! I maybe new to this forum but have been doing this for 25 years so think what you want. And let him figure the rest out for himself he has more than enuff information to get it done.