Alternating flashing lights?

NowYaKnow, That is an excellent example as to how to. In the schematic that I have, it uses a hi power rheostat, so as the flash rate can be controlled / varied. Regards EVIL Teken . . .

There are two types of flashers I see currently the most. 1. The 552 is a two prong style. The schematic symbol (X) normally attatches to the relay. The (L) goes to the lights. This is used to flash only the parking lights, or one set of lights. 2. The 537 has three prong style. The schematic symbol (X) goes to the relay. (L) goes to the head lights. (P) Goes to the parking lights. ============== Please refer to the above for discription, which is numbered 1 & 2 1) 30 = +12 VDC 15 amp fused        85 = Ground (-)    86 = Alarm output siren wire    87 = To flasher 552 of (X) and (L) is attatched to                 the parking lights. 2) 30 = To flasher 537 of (X) pin    85 = Alarm siren output    86 = To +12 or GND depending upon alarm, etc    87 = +12 VDC constant 15 amp fused.    (L) would connect to the headlights (P) would connect to the parking lights. This is just the standard method of connecting the flashers to the various light sources. Perhaps this will give you some insight to your problem. Regards EVIL Teken . . .    

Not sure which diagram your trying, but don't feel bad I can't see how some of those diagrams would work anyway. The main thing you need to make sure of is that there is a load off of the light output on the flasher. Running it directly to a relay or depending on what kind of light your using, it may not be enough to trigger the flasher. They want to see a low resistance. What I do is get a 194 bulb and socket and wire it in as sort of a dummy load. Even some of the supposed "no load" flashers will not flash if there isn't some sort of expected load on it. To show you what I mean, here is an updated version of the diagram I drew up, to show how you would wire in the dummy bulb. https://installz.com/wiringdiagrams/alternatingflash1.gif As mentioned if you get the right flasher, you don't need to add this bulb. Even though the coil of the relay has probably around 90 - 150 ohms resistance, it isn't quite enough to make it trigger. Also what type of lights are you trying to alternate? As mentioned headlights normally are not isolated left and right so if you tap one, they are both going to come on so you'd need 2 relays to isolate the headlights first. Stay away from diode isolation here as you don't want to be dropping the voltage of your headlights any! Hope that helps, Mike

Just to close/open the ground connection on the relay. If you wanted to use one of those lighted switches you would hook the ground to each side of the switch as normal and then give the remaining terminal 12v for it to light up. Last I saw those switches didn't care which way you hooked them up but you may want to double check. Meaning you could have the switch cut the positive and hook the ground to the lamp terminal, or you could have the switch cut the ground and hook the positive to the lamp terminal which would go along with my diagram better. Mike

NowYaKnow is right. Your average relay does not have enough current draw to trigger most flashers. In high school, I put these in to mine and a few of my buddies cars, and we'd pull our (gullable) friends over on the weekends. Anyway, I would  basically use the flasher and relay setup, although instead of having a dummy light in the circut, I would simply use a resistor. In most applications, use a diode to prevent voltage flow back in to your BCM, etc. Unless you have an older vehicle, then it's cool to leave it out - that way the blue high beam indicator on your dash will flash when the circuit is active. Your best bet though (other than paying $40.00 for one at galls.com) is to employ a 555/556 timer, although it's a little more complex than using relays and flashers, but if you know what you're doing it's a lot more reliable and precise. Good luck.Dig

If you look on page 2 of this post you will find a diagram using a 555 timer.  John DeRosa (Hotwaterwizard)

Stockton California

When in doubt, try it out !