12v AC current to run 12v LEDs as indicators, huh?

[The Jackeria]

Hey all,

My classic motor scooter is battery-less and runs 12v AC. I am currently trying to run panel less and wanted some smaller indicators so it's still road legal and bought some LED ones without thinking about it as you do. I then realised afterwards that I need to somehow convert the power, I know very little about electrics and LED's in general. From what I've googled I need to run a converter something like this:

www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/battery-and-cps-compact-power-supplies/12v-ac-to-dc-converter-module/1725/

I'm completely unsure, especially since they're not going to be on constantly. Other threads on the matter make it seem very complicated with different resistors, Ohm and AMP differences. Is there anyone out there that could dumb it down even further?

I can measure different readings of power from the scooter using a meter if equations need to be done, cheers.

[composimmonite]

I used a cheap and cheerful rectifier (just a wheatstone bridge type) like this

to run some small 12v car items off a mains 12v ac transformer. However the ac voltage of the scooter will probably vary with engine speed to you need something better.
What about a Chinese moped regulator / rectifier - www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GEE-New-Motor-Rectifier-Regulator-For-50cc-139QMB-139QMA-4-stroke-GY6-Scooters-/251966689069?hash=item3aaa628f2d:g:1okAAOSwNSxVXDZT

[nomad]

If it had indicators in the panels you removed, can you refit just the indicators to the bike without the panels?

LEDs won't work with ac power (unless you convert it to dc with a black box , rectifier etc)
Old-school bulbs work fine with ac power 

[dodgerover]

Just take them off and tape over the switch, problem solved. They aren't required anyway

[The Jackeria]

May 12, 2016 17:38:58 GMT dodgerover said:

Just take them off and tape over the switch, problem solved. They aren't required anyway

Since the scoot is a 1980 model I think that may actually be an option according to

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/7/made

I'll keep looking into rectifiers as I'd prefer to let the good public know where I'm heading

With regards to fitting the lights off the panels, there's no way to mount them well unless I cable tie them up somewhere or make brackets which I don't have the means to do and it would look like a proper hack job compared to the slick billet ones I have =)

[dodgerover]

I've never actually had working indicators fitted to anything other than my rd125lc I took my test on and my cb900, I always took them off everything else. Arm signals, Forcefully riding/ road positioning and if all else fails a boot into a door panel has always surficed. (Although I wouldn't recommend that if you don't have a clear means if exit)

[composimmonite]

When I took my test, in 1974, even if you had indicators (my bike didn't) you had to use arm signals.

[MrSpeedy]

I seem to remember covering this at tech. A simple rectifier circuit can be built with 4 diodes.

Something like this;

[composimmonite]

May 14, 2016 9:19:04 GMT MrSpeedy said:

I seem to remember covering this at tech. A simple rectifier circuit can be built with 4 diodes.

Something like this;

That is a Wheatstone Bridge and the diodes are encapsulated in the little silver box shown in my earlier post.

[MrSpeedy]

May 14, 2016 12:08:07 GMT composimmonite said:

May 14, 2016 9:19:04 GMT MrSpeedy said:

I seem to remember covering this at tech. A simple rectifier circuit can be built with 4 diodes.

Something like this;

That is a Wheatstone Bridge and the diodes are encapsulated in the little silver box shown in my earlier post.

I couldn't remember what it was called but I did remember what the schematic looked like! lol

[squonk]

May 14, 2016 12:08:07 GMT composimmonite said:

That is a Wheatstone Bridge and the diodes are encapsulated in the little silver box shown in my earlier post.

Sorry, that's not a Wheatstone bridge. A Wheatstone bridge uses resistors, not diodes ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheatstone_bridge ). It's a bridge rectifier.

[composimmonite]

May 15, 2016 19:36:02 GMT squonk said:

May 14, 2016 12:08:07 GMT composimmonite said:

That is a Wheatstone Bridge and the diodes are encapsulated in the little silver box shown in my earlier post.

Sorry, that's not a Wheatstone bridge. A Wheatstone bridge uses resistors, not diodes ( en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheatstone_bridge ). It's a bridge rectifier.

I stand corrected and hold my head in shame about giving wrong information
To be fair though it's lucky I remembered anything about it as left school 40+ years ago and haven't thought about it since.