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tmoons Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Posts: 161
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 6:37 am Post subject: red glow after LED conversion speedo |
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Hi there,
I replaced the green traditional bulbs in my Speedo unit with 5 white LED’s.
all went well and all light seem to work.
I had no time to do a test run, not until this morning. I noticed the triangle light (ABS fault light) gives of a red glow (comparable to the battery charging light in some BMW-k bikes).
Any idea what this could be?
I was thinking of the following possibilities:
A LED is mounted wrong and power is going somewhere it should not go?
Light is leaking and getting in the ABS warning light compartment (it is the one in the middle of the speedo, not the bottom left one).
I screwed the unit (I did plug and unplug the unit when the power (ignition on) was on.
I am very interested in any thought on this.
I will open the unit again tonight, but any pointers are very welcome.
Theo |
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Scott_Anderson Site Admin
Joined: 05 Sep 2006 Posts: 3122 Location: Central Iowa, USA
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 8:11 am Post subject: Re: red glow after LED conversion speedo |
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I would bet on bleedthru of the brighter white light into the surrounding area.
Drake may have a better answer as he's the LED mastermind here. _________________ Ride safe.
1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold) |
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tmoons Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Posts: 161
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 9:05 am Post subject: |
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Here drake... here drake....
I will test the leak through by removing the middle light tonight. |
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Jim Site Admin

Joined: 17 May 2003 Posts: 3841 Location: WHERETHEFUNNEVERENDS
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 9:25 am Post subject: |
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I don't think it's light bleeding through. I think it's in the circuitry - mine does it as well - it's very faint. _________________ Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000
"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed." |
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tmoons Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Posts: 161
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 10:08 am Post subject: |
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| Jim wrote: | | I don't think it's light bleeding through. I think it's in the circuitry - mine does it as well - it's very faint. |
Than it might be a bad connection on one of the other lights...?
I'll have a look at it tonight (i might swap the warning light out for a LED just to see what it does...) |
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Flying Duck PsyKotic Waterfowl

Joined: 27 Jan 2005 Posts: 10102 Location: Bumf***, WA
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:00 am Post subject: |
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I'm with Jim. The compartments for the three center indicator lights are pretty well sealed. I'd guess rogue electrons.
Adding a small resistor (not sure how many ohms) in parallel might cure it. _________________ 93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE |
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tmoons Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Posts: 161
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Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2009 5:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Flying Duck wrote: | I'm with Jim. The compartments for the three center indicator lights are pretty well sealed. I'd guess rogue electrons.
Adding a small resistor (not sure how many ohms) in parallel might cure it. |
i bought 2 more LED's today and will replace the neutral and the warning light . that should work i think (or is my reasoning wrong? ) |
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ken Mad Brick Rider
Joined: 26 Mar 2008 Posts: 89 Location: Denver
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Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 10:30 pm Post subject: LED's |
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OK My instrument cluster has half of the lights out of it, and I am getting ready to take the bike apart this winter. (My project is set to finish up middle of next weekish.) Then I am going to take a trip, come back, and tear the thing apart.
I have seen two posts on here about LED's.
Are these kits, or are people just finding LED's that fit?
Not that LED's are the main purpose, the main bracket for the fairing is broken and will need welded....and well the clutch.....just a big teardown I believe.
Thanks
Ken _________________ Ken in Denver |
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Scott_Anderson Site Admin
Joined: 05 Sep 2006 Posts: 3122 Location: Central Iowa, USA
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Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2009 11:32 pm Post subject: |
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Ken, Drake has kits available here for your inst cluster. You just need to decide how much of the kit you want, the basic which is the backlighting or the complete, which is as it implies, complete replacement for all the lamps. _________________ Ride safe.
1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold) |
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tmoons Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Posts: 161
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 4:04 am Post subject: |
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Well I replaced the "disobedient light bulb” with an LED last night...
That made the problem much worse.. the light is not going off at all anymore!
So I switched it back to a glow bulb. (I now have 7 LED’s mounted, 5 backlighting, high beam and neutral light are LED’s) left right low fuel and triangular ABS warning light are glowbulps.
The total amount of light is 11 or 12… ?
But there might be a change that a full LED conversion leaves you with a burning warning light. |
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Scott_Anderson Site Admin
Joined: 05 Sep 2006 Posts: 3122 Location: Central Iowa, USA
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 8:02 am Post subject: |
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Just a thought here, Tmoons, you say that it's your center triangle warning lamp that is glowing.
Isn't that lamp for the bulb monitor(tail lamp) relay circuit?
What would happen to the indicator lamp if you disconnected(unplugged) the relay from the relay box.(you know as an experiment)
Could it be possible that the monitor relay could have a fault in it?
I'm not sure what year you bike is for the total funtion of that lamp. My abs lamps are not related to the center warning lamp. _________________ Ride safe.
1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold) |
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tmoons Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Posts: 161
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 9:48 am Post subject: |
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I have ABS-1. I have 2 lights....
one dedicated to ABS (left bottom section underneath the speedo)
one combined for ABS and lights.
what happens on start up is:
left bottom one blinks.
middle one is on.
Once both brake levers are moved the middle one blinks in unison with the bottom one.
Once a yard or so if "driven" the ABS sensors tell the unit they work and the blinking stops as well.
If you would choose not to touch the brakes and roll away, the blinking stops but the middle light stays lid.
It also has a function in the readout and reset procedure if I am not mistaken.(not relevant)
I could do you check, where do I find that “is the light not broken box”? |
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Jim Site Admin

Joined: 17 May 2003 Posts: 3841 Location: WHERETHEFUNNEVERENDS
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 10:43 am Post subject: |
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Tmoons - the triangular light in the middle has to do with the brake light - try changing the bulb. Sometimes the bulb will work - you will see the brake light, but the bulb monitor unit has a problem with it. I use only BMW bulbs - they work better than replacement bulbs. _________________ Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000
"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed." |
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tmoons Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Posts: 161
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 10:57 am Post subject: |
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| Jim wrote: | | Tmoons - the triangular light in the middle has to do with the brake light - try changing the bulb. Sometimes the bulb will work - you will see the brake light, but the bulb monitor unit has a problem with it. I use only BMW bulbs - they work better than replacement bulbs. |
We are off road now...
The light works always has. (tail light)
I ONLY switched the lights in the meter unit on the steering bar.
not the lights in the back.
The glow has been observed by others and has probably to do with leaking current somewhere. The glow is in the dashboard.
and is seen when there is a old style bulb in the dash.
when this bulb is replaced by a LED the LED start burning (my best guess is that the LED needs less power to emit more light and thus making it look like it burns.) |
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Jim Site Admin

Joined: 17 May 2003 Posts: 3841 Location: WHERETHEFUNNEVERENDS
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Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2009 11:10 am Post subject: |
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What I was trying to say is: the brake light can work just fine - but the bulb monitor can think there is a problem with the brake light bulb, and will keep the warning lamp on the instrument pod lighted. Changing the faulty (but working) brake light bulb has resolved the situation for me (and others) in the past. _________________ Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000
"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed." |
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tmoons Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Posts: 161
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Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2009 3:43 am Post subject: |
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| Jim wrote: | | What I was trying to say is: the brake light can work just fine - but the bulb monitor can think there is a problem with the brake light bulb, and will keep the warning lamp on the instrument pod lighted. Changing the faulty (but working) brake light bulb has resolved the situation for me (and others) in the past. |
Clear explanation.
Still, the light is ON (bright) when I turn the key and goes ALMOST off when i use both brakes, this looks to me as if it is still "working"?
Someone explained to me it might be the monitor box itself, as that could have suffered from my "hot plugging" (I had the ignition on as I connected and disconnected the speedo thing...) |
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max Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 22 Aug 2005 Posts: 309 Location: NZ
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Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 6:44 am Post subject: |
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It's the sensor/monitor unit - just replaced the bulb driver transistor in mine (never worked in 4 years, the transistor body had a hole blown in it, guess someone shorted it at some time!) and the curcuit uses a tantalum electrolytic capacitor to bias the transistor OFF when both the switches have "fired"...
I've specifically setup mine so I get a 1/2 "glow" from a generic T10 LED drop-in whenever the brakes are applied and part of this was dropping this cap out; I'll try to write up some notes, but in the meanwhile you might want to find & disconnect the bulb-driving line down at the monitor unit?
Cheers
Max |
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tmoons Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Posts: 161
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Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 4:56 pm Post subject: |
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i would be very interested in some more detailed notes!
is there a particular reason to disconnect the monitor??
thanks! |
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Flying Duck PsyKotic Waterfowl

Joined: 27 Jan 2005 Posts: 10102 Location: Bumf***, WA
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Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 5:49 pm Post subject: |
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| max wrote: | but in the meanwhile you might want to find & disconnect the bulb-driving line down at the monitor unit?
Cheers
Max |
Or just eliminate the bulb monitor altogether:
http://smithduck.home.comcast.net/~smithduck/bmw/tech/bmu/bmubyebye.htm _________________ 93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE |
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tmoons Flying Brick Rider
Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Posts: 161
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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 4:17 am Post subject: |
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That would be a solution, but i would like to solve it with keeping all my "gadgets" intact  |
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