When indicating a left turn, for example, the stalk is pressed down, and the switch's center contact rotates up to contact the wires leading to the bulbs on the left front, rear, and dash indicator.īecause all the aforementioned bulbs are in grounded fixtures, this completes the circuit. Once connected, the center contact can distribute the current to the right or left signals by the switch movements. The switch brings in the current from the flasher to its center contact. The switch assembly is also automatically designed to self-cancel. The stalk on a car’s steering column acts as the toggle that moves the switch contacts to the correct position for turn indication.

The clicking noise heard when the turn signal is on is the spring steel bouncing back and forth. The current goes back to the resistance wire and starts the whole process over again. This breaks the electrical contact and turns off the bulb filaments. The bulbs turn on, but the spring steel cools quickly and curves away. The now-straightened piece of steel is forced into direct electrical contact with the signal bulbs, bypassing the resistance wire and sending the current to the bulbs. In a brief period, the spring steel expands, straightening out the larger piece of spring steel. The current flows through the resistance wire, causing it to heat the spring steel around which it is wrapped. When either a left or right turn signal is selected, the flasher electrically connects to the signal bulbs on the car, completing the circuit. A piece of resistance wire wraps around a smaller portion of spring steel, which is combined with a larger one. A piece of curved spring steel is joined to the electrical connection. Inside the circuit assembly is an electrical contact that carries the current into the flasher from the fuse panel. This article will explain how signal flashers work and how to pick the right one for a turn signal with LED lights.Ī simple turn signal circuit starts with the flasher, not the switch.

They are made up of a flasher, a turn signal switch, indicator bulbs on the dash, single or dual filament bulbs at the vehicle body corners, and an emergency flasher switch. Turn signals are an essential component of a vehicle.

Rodstar turn signal flasher led