Hannigan brake light

[alwrmcusn]

Yesterday on a ride with friends one of them did a video of a section of the ride. He was right behind me. This is the first time I have had an opportunity to see how the trike (2009 RSV Hannigan conversion) looked/handled from behind.
I noticed that my brake lights flicker on and off almost constantly. When you brake they are supposed to blink rapidly for a couple of blinks and then remain on while braking. Mine do that, but even when not under the brakes they blink on and off. Is there an adjustment or something. I would find that blinking somewhat annoying riding/driving behind me.

 

[jaxbobg]

Sounds like an electrical problem, Years ago I had this happen and found a wire with insulation worn down that intermittently shorted to ground.

 

[alwrmcusn]

I'll check that, thanks.
Keep suggestions coming just in case (smile)

 

[Ragtop69gs]

Is the blink visible to the naked eye? Could just be at a frequency that only the camera picks up.

 

[leo3wheel]

Wonder if LED's are supposed to be lite continuously or go through a refresh cycle in which case they would flicker.

 

[alwrmcusn]

Ragtop69gs / Leo3wheel: I have no idea. This was the first time I have had the opportunity to see the trike being ridden from that point of view. I may have Hannah follow me in the car and see if she sees it is visible. I've never had anyone comment on it doing that, and I do a lot of group riding with our STAR chapter, PGR and the same friends who did the video. I sent an email to Hannigan but they have not responded so far.

JFI, I was especially pleased to see the trike from behind because I have wanted to see how it tracked and handled in corners. The video included several severe switchbacks and curves and it seemed to track beautifully and with very little lean. Great handling!!

 

[the paparazzi]

I have a 99 RSV and they have been doing that since day one and still do it, it's a very minor flicker and hard to see, you almost haft to be looking for it and this is even after replacing the load equalizer. I only notice it more when the trike is stationary and idling, and have no complaints of this type from following riders. I also have a modulating head light but I doubt that that has anything to do with it. I kind of think it has to do converting to LED.. Anyway I have run into no problems and have decided to leave well enough alone..

 

[alwrmcusn]

Paparazzi: If it ever stops raining here I'll have the wife follow me for a mile or so and let me know if it is visible to her. Thank you for your reply.

 

[tinker144]

hannigan brake light

If the LED has a bulb base( i.e. 1156 or 1157), you might want to unplug it and coat it with
dielectric grease= better contact.

 

[leo3wheel]

If the LED has a bulb base( i.e. 1156 or 1157), you might want to unplug it and coat it with

dielectric grease= better contact.

LED card does not plug into a bulb base. However, our Hannigan trike has an exposed connector inside the fender. Would be good to check connector contacts and waterproof the entire connector with tape, if nothing else. FYI, recall our taillights blink as well. Believe it is a refresh of the LED's.

 

[the paparazzi]

Humm: Well it seems at least three of us have the flickering thing going on.

Alwrmcusn: I am now beginning to wondering if there is a fix or correction? Anyway as a result of your inquire to Hannigan I wonder if you wouldn't mind sharing their response.

By the way speaking of rain we did get some yesterday but California would WELCOME a hell of a lot more..

 

[papatop49]

Blinker

I also have an issue with my RSV/Hannigan lighting. I have notices that my left turn signal is acting erratically. Sometime it blinks at the same rate as the right signal but will then start blinking very rapidly. Any thoughts?

 

[Carbon_One]

A couple of thoughts on this subject. Grounding problem maybe? Low voltages to the lights. Or poor connections? I remember my LED's flickering as well. Mostly low rpm's with lower voltage. An increase in rpm's would improve but not eliminate the flickering. I just thought it was the nature of them doing that. Putting on a turn signal also caused the opposite light to flicker ever so slightly too.
Larry

 

[alwrmcusn]

Hannigan has not responded to my inquiry.
On a ride to a friends daughters birthday party a few days ago I rode and my wife drove over with a friend. I asked my wife and the friend to watch the taillights and see if they noticed the flicker. As we pulled out of the driveway I looked over my shoulder and pointed to the taillights again. When we got to the party I asked if they noticed a flicker. They forgot to check they said. Apparently I will have to let a friend ride and I'll follow behind to check .

 

[the paparazzi]

Hannigan has not responded to my inquiry.

I'm surprised usually they are very prompt.

As I have said before, I have had no one that has ridden behind me say that the tail lights flicker. I am incline to agree with Larry "Carbon One" statement that with the higher the RPM the more the flickering diminishes....
Anyway keep us posted with any new data that you may find..Thanks

 

[alwrmcusn]

I spoke with Hannigan this afternoon (Jim I believe). This is (in my case) nothing unusual for the LED setup on the trike. The flicker is captured by the video camera shutter speed in much the same way a video of a TV screen might show up with a flicker/roll to the picture. He said it can also sometimes be seen by peripheral vision but not by looking at the light directly. I tried that, it's true, I can see the flicker that way. ThumbUp
If the flicker/blink is more pronounced it may be caused by a loose/bad connection of course, but that should be more readily noticed than what I saw in the video.
Thank you Hannigan, I appreciate your clearing this up for me.

 

[the paparazzi]

Thanks for the update Alwarmcusn. There is no problem lurking ready to bite yea in the azz, that's the main thing. I plan on letting sleepy dogs lie in my case.

Enjoy your ride...

By the way if it's the same Jim (don't want to use his last name here) that I have dealt with in the past at Hannigan, he is extremely knowledgeable about our trikes and a excellent representative for the Hannigan People.

 

[Seabeetom]

One man's flicker---

orag:

Yesterday on a ride with friends one of them did a video of a section of the ride. He was right behind me. This is the first time I have had an opportunity to see how the trike (2009 RSV Hannigan conversion) looked/handled from behind.

I noticed that my brake lights flicker on and off almost constantly. When you brake they are supposed to blink rapidly for a couple of blinks and then remain on while braking. Mine do that, but even when not under the brakes they blink on and off. Is there an adjustment or something. I would find that blinking somewhat annoying riding/driving behind me.

Isn't that the idea?? If they're annoyed, that means they're seeing you. lol

My tail lights flicker too, never took it as an issue.

Maybe it's morse code, use you're RM skills and decrypt it..

lol

 

[Condor]

LED card does not plug into a bulb base. However, our Hannigan trike has an exposed connector inside the fender. Would be good to check connector contacts and waterproof the entire connector with tape, if nothing else. FYI, recall our taillights blink as well. Believe it is a refresh of the LED's.

I don't think it's electrical. One of your brake sensor switches may be set too tight. There's a manual adjustment on the front brake lever under the reserve toward the front. Don't know where the rear brake on a Hannigan is, but it's there somewhere around the reserve.... Also thinking the spring on the foot pedal may be weak and the weight of the pedal causes it to bounce??