>apparently the higher load makes the relay
>switch quicker. ..... That gets me to thinking,
>that if you place a resistor in series with the light bulb, I wonder
if it
>would help speed it up more by adding more resistance to the circuit?
Hi! If your assumption is true that more load, load being defined as
current draw, makes it flash faster, then adding resistance to the circuit
will make it go in the opposite direction. Resistance in series reduces
overall current draw. What you would need are resistors in parallel to the
light bulbs to draw more current. They would no doubt be pretty hefty (>5
watt) resistors.
I believe you are correct about more current draw equaling faster flashing
however. I think flashers use a bimetallic thermal breaker which heats as
load is drawn through it up to the point where it opens..then it cools and
the cycle starts again. Thus more current draw would speed up the cycle.
The whole thing is similar to the bimetal breaker in the headlight switches
of our trucks except in the flashers case you want it to open. :)
Bill Bailey
57 Chevy 3100
http://members.tripod.com/~oltruck
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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