HLF benefit of bidirectional?

billforbush

Member
Jun 10, 2010
313
Northern Michigan
Just curious .... On HLF equipped vehicles, there is often a slight delay in one headlight illuminating when the high beams are applied (regardless of whether or not the flasher is on or off). I have never used the bidirectional type flasher (like Whelen 2150, etc.).


Do these units eliminate the delay? Any help appreciated.


Thanks


Bill
 

foxtrot5

New Member
Sep 26, 2011
3,002
Charleston Area, SC, US
billforbush said:
Just curious .... On HLF equipped vehicles, there is often a slight delay in one headlight illuminating when the high beams are applied (regardless of whether or not the flasher is on or off). I have never used the bidirectional type flasher (like Whelen 2150, etc.).
Do these units eliminate the delay? Any help appreciated.


Thanks


Bill

While I have no experience with the flashers you're describing, I've never experienced any substantial delay in illumination of the high beams on any vehicle so equipped in the past. What brand/model flasher(s) are you using now?
 

billforbush

Member
Jun 10, 2010
313
Northern Michigan
foxtrot5 said:
While I have no experience with the flashers you're describing, I've never experienced any substantial delay in illumination of the high beams on any vehicle so equipped in the past. What brand/model flasher(s) are you using now?

The current flasher is a Sound Off ETHFSS-SP and uses the typical blue/yellow installation between the right and left headlights. I understand that the bidirectional flashers have two wires per headlight and wonder if that would eliminate the delay. The delay is minimal but noticeable and is evident on the side where the flasher is installed.


I have had the same issue with other flashers, although I don't remember which ones. I live in a rural area now and often use the high beams momentarily to check for deer at night. The delay is annoying.


Thanks for any insight that you can provide.


Bill
 

Jtsou

Member
Nov 6, 2011
281
NC
stfd717 said:
Does it only happen when the HLF is on or anytime you are switching to high-beams?

billforbush said:
Just curious .... On HLF equipped vehicles, there is often a slight delay in one headlight illuminating when the high beams are applied (regardless of whether or not the flasher is on or off). I have never used the bidirectional type flasher (like Whelen 2150, etc.).
Do these units eliminate the delay? Any help appreciated.


Thanks


Bill

The UHF2150 is instant, it uses the power from the switch to activate the headlights. So it works just as it normally would.
 

ERM

Member
May 22, 2010
720
Omaha, NE
billforbush said:
Thank you all for your help. The phenomenon happens whether the HLF is on or off. I will switch to a 1250. Thanks again and happy new year

Bill

This occurs because of how the flasher is designed and the program code that is running on it continuously. Whether the flasher is on or off, the program is always scanning for the ON input from the switch. When the switch is turned on, the driver's side high beam is fed first and the backflow on the blue wire triggers the program to turn on the pax side headlight. That delay is what you are noticing. Relay flashers share the same input from the switch and the power exits each relay and goes to each headlight. There is no monitoring of one side to trigger another side.


The drawback to switching to a relay flasher is the clicking noise and because of the moving parts, higher failure rate due to mechanical linkages moving as opposed to non-moving solid state parts like the flasher you have.


On a side note, our programmable flasher does everything the UHF2150A does and more. $40 for ELB members (ELB-ERM code). Our solid state flashers should be out in about a month and also does not have this delay concern SOS's flashers have. You can see more info here. Let me know if you have any additional questions.


Tony
 

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