LED lights and flasher problem

I have a 53 Super H that I've converted to 12 volt. I wired it up with led lights mounted to the fenders and installed a heavy duty mechanical flasher unit and after market light switch. It wouldn't flash till I hooked it up to the trailer with conventional bulbs. I suspected that the flasher needed more amperage to operate. I put the old lights back on and ran it like that till it burned up the fuse holder. The fuse holder was a cheap one from the auto parts store. The 20 amp fuse didn't blow.

I ordered an new oem fuse holder and switch. I put a 15 amp fuse in. With the tractor lights it worked perfect for over an hour. I then hooked up the trailer and the 15 amp fuse lasted about 20 minutes. Trailer has 3 marker lights on each side and 4 tail lights.

I decided to put all led lights on the trailer to get the amperage down. Also put the led lights back on the fenders. I got the lights from a heavy truck parts store. I talked the the parts guy and he recommended an electronic flasher unit. He assured me it would work with led lights.

I got everything all hooked up and working, on tractor, but would not flash. If I put a test light in the trailer wiring pig tail on the tractor it flashes. Hooked up the trailer and all lights work but no flash. I put a non led tail light back in and it flashes.

I still think I have a problem with the flasher unit ????

Any insight would sure help.

The flasher you need is not load dependent, it is timed not based on current draw. Jim
one source

Stop and go over your wiring starting where you feed the switch. Something is amiss.
Pay close attention to the ground.

Jim has it, the flasher heats up from the current, then opens cools down, and does it again. You need a solid state one.

Thanks Jim, That put me on the right track. I've never heard of such a thing and apparently neither has my parts guy.

(quoted from post at 20:13:31 12/07/12) Thanks Jim, That put me on the right track. I've never heard of such a thing and apparently neither has my parts guy.

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It is pretty common. You see it most often on trucks/cars that people convert to LED lights. Happens every time.

Try wiring a resistor into the wire leading to your led flasher. When we've put led signals onmotorcycles in the past, either they flash like crazy or not at all until you add the resistor. The led draw so much less current that they don't work well with the existing flasher. I believe I have a couple laying around if you can't find them.
Good luck,
Ed