LED Lightbar Failure

Netnorske · 07-17-2011, 05:26 PM

I have a Chromeglow LED Lightbar as shown in the link below. It has always worked great, but I noticed today while doing some tinkering on the bike that it quit working, yet all the other brake and tail lights still do. This thing has no direct inline fuse and is wired into the same brake/tailight wires as everything else. This leads me to believe the unit itself has simply gone belly up....but it is all LED, which I thought was pretty indestructible. Am I missing something, or should I just order another unit to replace it with? At $62.95 it won't break the bank, but I hate to buy another one if I'm just too stupid to spot the obvious.... :-/.

Chromeglow Lightbar

VulcanE · 07-17-2011, 05:35 PM

Kris, "while doing some tinkering " you didn't by chance reverse the wires did you? LEDs only work in one direction, so if they don't work, and you didn't re-wire them backwards, I'd say they were dead.

Netnorske · 07-17-2011, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VulcanE

Kris, "while doing some tinkering " you didn't by chance reverse the wires did you? LEDs only work in one direction, so if they don't work, and you didn't re-wire them backwards, I'd say they were dead.

Cliff,
I did not touch the wiring....by tinkering...I was just cleaning the bike and stuff like that. I just fired up the bike and noticed it was suddenly not working....

macmac · 07-17-2011, 05:58 PM

The wires on units like this are a little weak, and tend to break at the unit entrance hole. If you can access that area on the other side of where the wires go in, Get the battery off line and OHM the wires each for continuity. Most led units I see, have fragile wires, and us the weak link on otherwise pretty good stuff. The wire can break inside the insulation too.

cactusjack · 07-17-2011, 06:00 PM

Kris,

Check at the connection where the LED light bar is wired to the taillight harness and see if there's voltage there. If so, then check closer to the lightbar itself. If there's juice but no LED's, the LED unit may be toast.

VulcanE · 07-17-2011, 10:15 PM

Kris, like Mac & Scott said, check the wires for continuity. It is possible that one of the wires may have broke or come loose. those wires are fragile.

**schoeney** · 07-17-2011, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Netnorske

I have a Chromeglow LED Lightbar as shown in the link below. It has always worked great, but I noticed today while doing some tinkering on the bike that it quit working, yet all the other brake and tail lights still do. This thing has no direct inline fuse and is wired into the same brake/tailight wires as everything else. This leads me to believe the unit itself has simply gone belly up....but it is all LED, which I thought was pretty indestructible. Am I missing something, or should I just order another unit to replace it with? At $62.95 it won't break the bank, but I hate to buy another one if I'm just too stupid to spot the obvious.... :-/.

Chromeglow Lightbar

Don't waste your time checking anything.....you were right.....just too stupid to spot the obvious

Especially after 6 Long Island Ice Teas

recumbentbob · 07-18-2011, 05:22 AM

I had one of their 2 led license plate holders it lasted about a year then quit working. first the top led quit then about a month later the bottom led quit.

Netnorske · 07-18-2011, 07:58 AM

I just ordered another one.....with a note explaining it was a replacement for the first one that failed after two years..... and wondering how they might stand behind their product?

recumbentbob · 07-19-2011, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Netnorske

I just ordered another one.....with a note explaining it was a replacement for the first one that failed after two years..... and wondering how they might stand behind their product?

Probably all the way to the bank........... :)

07-17-2011, 05:26 PM	#1
Netnorske Top Contributor Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Everett, Washington Posts: 5,709	LED Lightbar Failure I have a Chromeglow LED Lightbar as shown in the link below. It has always worked great, but I noticed today while doing some tinkering on the bike that it quit working, yet all the other brake and tail lights still do. This thing has no direct inline fuse and is wired into the same brake/tailight wires as everything else. This leads me to believe the unit itself has simply gone belly up....but it is all LED, which I thought was pretty indestructible. Am I missing something, or should I just order another unit to replace it with? At $62.95 it won't break the bank, but I hate to buy another one if I'm just too stupid to spot the obvious.... :-/. Chromeglow Lightbar __________________ *Kris Olsen* VBA #0691 2017 HD Ultra Limited Low 2013 Victory Cross Country Tour 2012 1700 Vulcan Voyager 2008 1600 Vulcan Nomad 1997 Vulcan 800 Classic *"Growing old is mandatory,* *but growing up is optional"* Custer 2009\|Kalispell 2010\|Cortez 2010\|Crescent City 2011\|Kanab 2012\|Canmore 2012\|Estes Park 2013\|Orofino 2014\|Lake Tahoe 2015\|Red Lodge 2016 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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07-17-2011, 05:35 PM	#2
VulcanE Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cartersville, Georgia Posts: 4,838	LED Lightbar Failure Kris, "while doing some tinkering " you didn't by chance reverse the wires did you? LEDs only work in one direction, so if they don't work, and you didn't re-wire them backwards, I'd say they were dead. __________________ Cliff "VulcanE" Evans 2005 Blue & Silver 1600 Nomad VBA # 320 VROC # 20381
	0

07-17-2011, 05:58 PM	#4
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	LED Lightbar Failure The wires on units like this are a little weak, and tend to break at the unit entrance hole. If you can access that area on the other side of where the wires go in, Get the battery off line and OHM the wires each for continuity. Most led units I see, have fragile wires, and us the weak link on otherwise pretty good stuff. The wire can break inside the insulation too. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
	0

07-17-2011, 06:00 PM	#5
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	LED Lightbar Failure Kris, Check at the connection where the LED light bar is wired to the taillight harness and see if there's voltage there. If so, then check closer to the lightbar itself. If there's juice but no LED's, the LED unit may be toast. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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07-17-2011, 10:15 PM	#6
VulcanE Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cartersville, Georgia Posts: 4,838	LED Lightbar Failure Kris, like Mac & Scott said, check the wires for continuity. It is possible that one of the wires may have broke or come loose. those wires are fragile. __________________ Cliff "VulcanE" Evans 2005 Blue & Silver 1600 Nomad VBA # 320 VROC # 20381
	0

07-18-2011, 05:22 AM	#8
recumbentbob Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Newburgh IN Posts: 3,404	LED Lightbar Failure I had one of their 2 led license plate holders it lasted about a year then quit working. first the top led quit then about a month later the bottom led quit. __________________ VBA #01084 "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
	0

07-18-2011, 07:58 AM	#9
Netnorske Top Contributor Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Everett, Washington Posts: 5,709	LED Lightbar Failure I just ordered another one.....with a note explaining it was a replacement for the first one that failed after two years..... and wondering how they might stand behind their product? __________________ *Kris Olsen* VBA #0691 2017 HD Ultra Limited Low 2013 Victory Cross Country Tour 2012 1700 Vulcan Voyager 2008 1600 Vulcan Nomad 1997 Vulcan 800 Classic *"Growing old is mandatory,* *but growing up is optional"* Custer 2009\|Kalispell 2010\|Cortez 2010\|Crescent City 2011\|Kanab 2012\|Canmore 2012\|Estes Park 2013\|Orofino 2014\|Lake Tahoe 2015\|Red Lodge 2016
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