Quick Summary
Turn signal activation allows your multicolor DRLs, halos, or other LEDs to blink amber with the vehicle’s left or right turn signal.
This function is not plug-and-play on most multicolor LED products. The turn signal trigger wire still needs to be tapped into the vehicle’s factory turn signal wiring.
For Flow Series products, turn signal activation comes from the correct Flow SmartSwitch turn signal controller, such as a V2 SmartSwitch controller.
For RGBWA products, turn signal activation usually comes from the RGBWA LED driver, not directly from the controller.
Important rules:
The controller must have proper power and ground.
Each side needs its own turn signal trigger input.
Driver side products should connect to the driver side turn signal.
Passenger side products should connect to the passenger side turn signal.
Do not connect both turn signal trigger wires to the same side.
Flow Series and RGBWA products handle turn signal activation differently.
Turn Signal Trigger Wiring Explained
What Is a Turn Signal Trigger Wire?
A turn signal trigger wire is a wire that detects when the vehicle’s factory turn signal is activated.
When the trigger wire receives the turn signal signal, the controller or LED driver tells the multicolor LEDs to blink amber.
The trigger wire does not replace your factory turn signal.
It simply reads the factory turn signal signal and uses it to activate the amber turn signal function on your multicolor LEDs.
Turn Signal Activation Is Not Plug-and-Play
On most multicolor DRL boards, halos, and LED products, the turn signal function is not fully plug-and-play.
The main LED connectors may plug into the controller or LED driver, but the turn signal trigger wire still needs to be manually tapped into the vehicle’s turn signal wiring.
If the turn signal trigger wires are not connected correctly, the LEDs may still power on and change colors, but they will not blink with the vehicle’s turn signal.
Flow Series Turn Signal Wiring
For Flow Series products, turn signal activation comes from the controller itself.
You need the correct Flow Series SmartSwitch controller that supports turn signal activation.
For many Flow Series products, this is the Flow SmartSwitch Controller V2.
If you are using a regular Flow controller without turn signal trigger inputs, the Flow Series LEDs will not blink with the turn signal.
Flow SmartSwitch V2 Controller Side Outputs
Flow turn signal controllers are divided into two sides.
One side of the controller is for one side of the vehicle, and the other side of the controller is for the opposite side.
On RGB Halo Kits Flow turn signal controllers, the outputs are color-coded:
- Red color-coded outputs = one side of the vehicle
- Green color-coded outputs = opposite side of the vehicle
The turn signal trigger wires are also labeled or color-coded red and green.
This helps match the LED outputs to the correct turn signal trigger wire.
For example, the products plugged into the red output side should correspond with the red-labeled turn signal trigger wire.
The products plugged into the green output side should correspond with the green-labeled turn signal trigger wire.
Why the Controller Is Split Into Two Sides
The controller needs to know which LEDs are on the driver side and which LEDs are on the passenger side.
This allows only the correct side to blink when the turn signal is activated.
For example:
- Left turn signal on = only the left-side LEDs should blink.
- Right turn signal on = only the right-side LEDs should blink.
If the sides are wired incorrectly, the wrong side may blink, both sides may blink, or the turn signal function may not work properly.
One Turn Signal Trigger Wire Per Side
A Flow SmartSwitch turn signal controller should have one turn signal trigger wire tapped for each side of the vehicle.
This means:
- One trigger wire taps into the driver side turn signal.
- One trigger wire taps into the passenger side turn signal.
Do not connect both turn signal trigger wires to the same turn signal source.
If both trigger wires are connected to the same side, both sides of the lighting system may blink when only one turn signal is activated.
Correct Flow Series Turn Signal Wiring Concept
For Flow Series turn signal controllers, the correct concept is:
Driver side vehicle turn signal → driver side trigger wire → driver side Flow outputs
Passenger side vehicle turn signal → passenger side trigger wire → passenger side Flow outputs
The products connected to each side of the controller should match the turn signal trigger wire for that side.
If driver side LEDs are plugged into the driver side outputs, the driver side turn signal trigger wire must be tapped into the driver side factory turn signal.
If passenger side LEDs are plugged into the passenger side outputs, the passenger side turn signal trigger wire must be tapped into the passenger side factory turn signal.
What Happens If Flow Turn Signal Wiring Is Wrong?
If the turn signal trigger wires are not tapped correctly, you may experience:
- LEDs do not blink with the turn signal
- Only one side blinks
- The wrong side blinks
- Both sides blink at the same time
- Turn signal function works backward
- Turn signal only works when parking lights or headlights are on
- Controller works from the app but not with turn signal activation
If this happens, the first things to check are:
- Controller power
- Controller ground
- Correct SmartSwitch turn signal controller
- Correct left/right output placement
- Correct driver/passenger turn signal trigger taps
- Proper connection to factory turn signal positive wire
RGBWA Turn Signal Wiring
RGBWA products work differently than Flow Series products.
For RGBWA products, the turn signal function usually does not come directly from the controller.
Instead, the turn signal function usually comes from the RGBWA LED driver for that specific product.
The RGBWA controller powers and controls the RGBWA system, but the amber turn signal trigger is handled through the LED driver.
RGBWA LED Drivers With Turn Signal Inputs
An RGBWA LED driver may have an extra turn signal trigger connection and ground connection.
This means each RGBWA product or LED driver may have its own turn signal trigger wiring.
Because of this, RGBWA setups may have multiple turn signal trigger wires that need to be tapped, especially if the vehicle has multiple RGBWA products on each side.
For example, if the vehicle has RGBWA DRL boards on both sides, each side’s LED driver may need to be tapped into that side’s factory turn signal.
RGBWA Driver Side vs Passenger Side Wiring
For RGBWA products, you still need to keep the sides correct.
Driver side RGBWA products should connect to the driver side turn signal.
Passenger side RGBWA products should connect to the passenger side turn signal.
Unlike some Flow controllers, RGBWA products may not have red and green color-coded controller outputs to separate the sides.
You may need to visually confirm which LED driver belongs to which side of the vehicle.
Before final wiring, identify:
- Which LED driver controls the driver side product
- Which LED driver controls the passenger side product
- Which vehicle wire is the driver side turn signal
- Which vehicle wire is the passenger side turn signal
Do not assume both sides use the same wire color.
Vehicle wiring can vary by year, trim, and headlight style.
RGBW vs RGBWA Products on the Same Controller
Some setups may include both RGBW and RGBWA products on the same RGBW/RGBWA controller.
This can be normal as long as the products are designed to work with that controller and use the correct connector type.
However, only RGBWA products with amber turn signal functionality will have the extra turn signal trigger wiring.
For example:
- RGBWA DRL boards may have extra turn signal trigger wiring.
- RGBW halo rings may not have extra turn signal trigger wiring.
- Both products may still connect to the same RGBW/RGBWA controller.
- Only the RGBWA product will use the separate amber turn signal trigger input.
If one product does not have a turn signal trigger wire or turn signal driver input, that product may not blink amber with the turn signal.
Do Not Connect Both Sides Together
Do not tie the driver side and passenger side turn signal trigger wires together.
Each side should be wired independently.
Connecting both sides together can cause:
- Both sides blinking at the same time
- Backfeeding into the vehicle turn signal circuit
- Incorrect turn signal behavior
- Hazard-like behavior when only one side is activated
- Possible electrical issues depending on the vehicle
Each side should read its own factory turn signal signal.
How to Find the Factory Turn Signal Wire
The factory turn signal wire is usually found at the headlight, tail light, front turn signal, or fuse/BCM area depending on the vehicle.
The best way to identify the correct wire is to test it.
Use a multimeter, power probe, or test light.
To test:
- Turn on the left turn signal.
- Test the suspected driver side turn signal wire.
- The wire should pulse on and off with the turn signal.
- Turn off the left turn signal.
- Turn on the right turn signal.
- Test the suspected passenger side turn signal wire.
- The wire should pulse on and off with the turn signal.
The correct wire should only pulse when that side’s turn signal is active.
Do not rely on wire color alone.
Always test before connecting.
Positive Trigger vs Ground Trigger
Most turn signal trigger wires are looking for a positive signal, but vehicle wiring can vary.
A positive trigger means the wire receives power when the turn signal is active.
A ground trigger means the wire changes ground state when the turn signal is active.
Most RGB Halo Kits trigger wires are intended to be connected to the positive turn signal signal unless otherwise specified.
If the trigger does not work after tapping the suspected wire, the wire may not be the correct positive turn signal wire, or the vehicle may use a different turn signal wiring method.
If you are unsure, we recommend having a professional installer test the vehicle wiring.
Important Notes for Vehicles With LED Factory Lighting
Some newer vehicles use more complex factory LED headlight systems.
The turn signal may be controlled through:
- Headlight modules
- BCM signals
- Low-current signal wires
- Shared DRL/turn signal circuits
- Data-controlled lighting systems
In these cases, finding a usable turn signal trigger can be more difficult.
A wire may visually appear to control the turn signal, but may not provide a simple usable 12V pulse.
Always test before tapping.
If the turn signal trigger cannot be found at the headlight, another location may need to be tested.
Basic Flow Series Wiring Checklist
For Flow Series products with turn signal activation, confirm:
- You have a Flow SmartSwitch turn signal controller, such as a V2 controller.
- The controller has proper power.
- The controller has proper ground.
- Driver side LEDs are plugged into the correct side of the controller.
- Passenger side LEDs are plugged into the correct side of the controller.
- The driver side turn signal trigger wire is tapped into the driver side factory turn signal.
- The passenger side turn signal trigger wire is tapped into the passenger side factory turn signal.
- The trigger wires are not tied together.
- The factory turn signal wires were tested before tapping.
Basic RGBWA Wiring Checklist
For RGBWA products with turn signal activation, confirm:
- The RGBWA controller is being used.
- The correct LED drivers are connected.
- The LED driver is not bypassed.
- The RGBWA product supports amber turn signal activation.
- The driver side product’s LED driver is tapped into the driver side turn signal.
- The passenger side product’s LED driver is tapped into the passenger side turn signal.
- Any required LED driver ground connection is connected.
- Products without RGBWA turn signal drivers may not blink amber.
- The factory turn signal wires were tested before tapping.
Troubleshooting
The lights change colors but do not blink with the turn signal
The controller or LED driver may be powered correctly, but the turn signal trigger wire may not be connected correctly.
Check that:
- The correct turn signal controller or RGBWA driver is being used.
- The turn signal trigger wire is tapped into the correct factory turn signal wire.
- The factory turn signal wire was tested and confirmed.
- The trigger wire connection is secure.
Both sides blink when only one turn signal is on
The driver and passenger trigger wires may be tied together or tapped into the same side.
Each side needs its own separate trigger signal.
Disconnect and rewire each trigger wire to its correct side.
The wrong side blinks
The driver and passenger outputs or trigger wires may be reversed.
Check that the driver side LEDs are connected to the driver side outputs and the passenger side LEDs are connected to the passenger side outputs.
For RGBWA products, confirm which LED driver controls each side.
Only one side blinks
One side may not have its turn signal trigger wire connected correctly.
Test the non-working side’s factory turn signal wire and trigger connection.
Also confirm the product on that side is connected to the correct controller output or LED driver.
The turn signal only works sometimes
The trigger tap may be loose, the ground may be poor, or the wire being tapped may not be a clean turn signal signal.
Retest the factory wire and inspect the connection.
Important Safety Notes
Turn signal trigger wiring should always be tested before connecting.
Do not guess based on wire color.
Do not connect both trigger wires together.
Do not connect both trigger wires to the same side.
Do not tap into unrelated vehicle circuits.
Do not bypass the RGBWA LED driver if the product uses one.
Do not connect Flow Series products to RGBWA controllers or RGBWA products to Flow Series controllers.
If you are unsure which wire to use, have a professional installer test and connect the trigger wires.
Final Recommendation
For Flow Series products, turn signal activation requires the correct Flow SmartSwitch turn signal controller and proper left/right trigger wiring.
For RGBWA products, turn signal activation usually comes from the LED driver for that specific product.
In both systems, the most important rule is the same:
Driver side products should trigger from the driver side turn signal. Passenger side products should trigger from the passenger side turn signal.
Do not connect both sides together.
Always test the factory turn signal wires before tapping.
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