LED bulbs & fast flashing

[01 Suburban LS]

I did a quick search to see if this info was posted before, nothing came up so here I go:

 

I recently replaced all the bulbs in my 2001 Suburban with LED replacements from hid-lights.com. Specifically the ones that I'll post a pic to below. Anyway, I figured I'd have a problem with hyper flashing. After a little searching on-line a DIY solution was found.

 

Inside our flasher is a chip. It is a U643B Automotive Flasher chip. It basically controls the relay that turns the lights on and off. This chip has circuitry that can detect when a light is out by looking for a reduction in load (current). The chip will see this and trigger the lights on and off twice as fast to alert the driver that a bulb is out.

 

Luckilly this is all done with one pin on the chip. What you need to do is take the stock electronic flasher apart and cut the leg of the chip on pin 7 coming off the chip. You will loose the 'lamp failure detection' on the chip. But the lights will flash normally. And you saved some money as long as you don't break the flasher.

 

Click the link below for more information on the U643B chip.

http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod_do...nts/doc4727.pdf

 

 

Here's my DRL's replaced with LED bulbs.

[slemmer]

Do you have the full link to the Atmel site? Your link is missing some detail.

[01 Suburban LS]

Do you have the full link to the Atmel site? Your link is missing some detail.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

I fixed the link in the first post.

[firefighteremt3100]

I did a quick search to see if this info was posted before, nothing came up so here I go:

 

I recently replaced all the bulbs in my 2001 Suburban with LED replacements from hid-lights.com. Specifically the ones that I'll post a pic to below. Anyway, I figured I'd have a problem with hyper flashing. After a little searching on-line a DIY solution was found.

 

Inside our flasher is a chip. It is a U643B Automotive Flasher chip. It basically controls the relay that turns the lights on and off. This chip has circuitry that can detect when a light is out by looking for a reduction in load (current). The chip will see this and trigger the lights on and off twice as fast to alert the driver that a bulb is out.

 

Luckilly this is all done with one pin on the chip. What you need to do is take the stock electronic flasher apart and cut the leg of the chip on pin 7 coming off the chip. You will loose the 'lamp failure detection' on the chip. But the lights will flash normally. And you saved some money as long as you don't break the flasher.

 

Click the link below for more information on the U643B chip.

http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod_do...nts/doc4727.pdf

 

 

Here's my DRL's replaced with LED bulbs.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

Dont suppose you can take a little video clip of it flashing at night? I'd like to see them in operation. I've been thinking of going LED for sometime now but I'd like to see the results before attempting to do so.

[01 Suburban LS]

 

Dont suppose you can take a little video clip of it flashing at night? I'd like to see them in operation. I've been thinking of going LED for sometime now but I'd like to see the results before attempting to do so.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

I have a video during the day on my cell phone, I suppose I can get one tonight too. The only problem is viewing the file extension that my cell phone uses. You'll need the latest version of quicktime to view it. I'll take some video tonight and post both the day and night videos. Actually I'll just put the Suburban in the garage and get some video this afternoon after work.

[01 Suburban LS]

I thought I replied yesterday. Sorry.

 

Heres the videos, just remember you need the latest version of Quicktime.

 

http://www.differentracing.com/mike/suburb...20Flash%201.3g2

 

http://www.differentracing.com/mike/suburb...20Flash%202.3g2

 

http://www.differentracing.com/mike/suburb...20Flash%203.3g2

 

http://www.differentracing.com/mike/suburb...20Flash%204.3g2

[minnow]

Looke terrific ! Where is the flasher located ? What's needed to take the flasher apart ?

[pwall]

I recently replaced all the bulbs in my 2001 Suburban with LED replacements from hid-lights.com.

 

Did you have any issues with the cruisecontrol not engaging?

I replaced the tail-lights on my 2002 YukonXL with LEDs and then the cruisecontrol would no longer engage.

Had to put back regular bulbs.

 

Patrick.

[1999Silverado]

Looke terrific !  Where is the flasher located ?  What's needed to take the flasher apart ?

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

Pull the panel underneath the steering wheel. The flasher unit is located on the back side of the fuse panel. You'll just need a small flat screwdriver to remove the flasher (has one retention clip) and then use the small screwdriver to pop the cover off of the flasher.

[1999Silverado]

I did a quick search to see if this info was posted before, nothing came up so here I go:

 

I recently replaced all the bulbs in my 2001 Suburban with LED replacements from hid-lights.com. Specifically the ones that I'll post a pic to below. Anyway, I figured I'd have a problem with hyper flashing. After a little searching on-line a DIY solution was found.

 

Inside our flasher is a chip. It is a U643B Automotive Flasher chip. It basically controls the relay that turns the lights on and off. This chip has circuitry that can detect when a light is out by looking for a reduction in load (current). The chip will see this and trigger the lights on and off twice as fast to alert the driver that a bulb is out.

 

Luckilly this is all done with one pin on the chip. What you need to do is take the stock electronic flasher apart and cut the leg of the chip on pin 7 coming off the chip. You will loose the 'lamp failure detection' on the chip. But the lights will flash normally. And you saved some money as long as you don't break the flasher.

 

Click the link below for more information on the U643B chip.

http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod_do...nts/doc4727.pdf

 

Any chance you have a picture of the flasher unit itself? Reason I ask is because I pulled mine, but there's no notch in the chip to help ID pin 1 (or pin 7 for that matter)

[01 Suburban LS]

I'll try to pull it this weekend and get a picture for you guys. The flasher module that is...

[minnow]

That would be very much appreciated !!

[Guest chevydeerhunter]

Thanks for the great information. It may cost a pretty penny, but you can led your whole truck and not have to buy another bulb!

[01 Suburban LS]

As promised.

 

Here is the high resolution image (1.9megs):

 

http://www.differentracing.com/mike/suburban/flasher-hi.jpg

 

And the low resolution image (65k):

http://www.differentracing.com/mike/suburban/flasher-lo.jpg

 

I labeled the pins on the chip. We just desoldered the leg of the chip, but if you have some fine tipped wire cutters, that should work too.

[minnow]

Thank you very much !