Flasher & Parts

A flasher controls the warning and turn signal lights used on the vast majority of road-going vehicles, which is commonly referred to as a relay. The flasher is an electrical component which acts as a switch allowing the lights to flash on and off. The hazard / turn signal flasher is a small, electrical device that rhythmically and continuously flashes the lights on the vehicle. It is usually located under the dash side of the driver and is wired in-line with the turn signal lever and the buttons for the danger switch. Most modern cars are fitted with hazard warning lights, for use only when the car is stationary and other drivers are in danger. The hazard warning switch procedure bypasses the usual switch, using the flasher mechanism to simultaneously transmit signals to all indicator lamps. This makes the clicking noise in the car when the flasher is switched on. The flasher can be fastened using screw means. Or it could fit in a spring clip. A small bracket holding one or two self-tapping screws, or a push-fit in a spring brace, or plugging into the fuse box, will repair the flasher device. Or it might just hang behind the instrument panel by its cabling. Through regulation, flashers are allowed to flash between 60 and 120 times a minute, between once and twice a second. If any bulb attached in the flasher system blows out, the blinking speed is excessively fast or sluggish. If a car is to be used to tow a caravan or other form of vehicle, the trailer's lights are fitted with an electrical connecting socket along with the tow bar. The original flasher unit is not sufficiently powerful to handle the extra lamps, so heavy-duty flasher units are installed. While travelling without the trailer, the heavy-duty unit controls the car's regular flashers, with no impact on blinking speed and no extra load on the lights.