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flashy indicators
https://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=49067		 Page 1 of 5
Author:  simon k [ Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:53 pm ]
Post subject:  flashy indicators
I drive my mini regularly, and often it seems like people don't notice my front indicators - I either get surprised looks as I turn right into a street where someone else is coming out and they almost nose into me, or get dirty looks from people when I turn left into a street and they want to come out and they think I haven't indicated

I figure it's because we have white indicators, and people are too used to amber

I didn't want to modify my indicator bases to accept an amber single filament globe because you can still see the amber globe when it's off, and I wanted to keep my parking lights

I've been dabbling with bits of electronics, and I work with a couple of experts, so we made some LED parkers/indicators with both colours

the new base - LEDs and some resistors, replaces the normal base
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off - looks normal (I hadn't put the ring on yet)
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indicating
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parking - the light is quite 'blue' compared to the headlights, but never mind
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both
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both from the front
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cool huh!!
Author:  bill.b [ Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:55 pm ]
Post subject: 
nice and bright too! nice job
Author:  phillz [ Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:08 pm ]
Post subject: 
Good stuff Simon, one other thing , couldn't you pick a colour you like for your motor :D
Author:  justincase42 [ Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:16 pm ]
Post subject: 
HA I was thinking the same.....Motor has an awesome colour scheme!
Author:  gafmo [ Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:17 pm ]
Post subject: 
I have moved this to chat as it has merrots to :!:
I think this is more due to
Quote
"I figure it's because we have white indicators, and people are too used to amber"

Any information you can pass on Simon :wink:
Author:  Tombo [ Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Bright lights
He who drives his mini has dirty engine.

I like the idea Simon, Did you use seperate amber and white LEDs or color shift type? Let me guess, seperate ones because getting an accurate voltage is near impossible in a mini? Keen to see them at Hay. :D
Author:  simon k [ Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:10 pm ]
Post subject: 
phillz wrote:
Good stuff Simon, one other thing , couldn't you pick a colour you like for your motor :D


justincase42 wrote:
HA I was thinking the same.....Motor has an awesome colour scheme!


lol.... nah, after I rebuilt it at the start of last year I bought 4 cans of paint from The Warehouse, plus a couple of leftovers, and let the kids paint it - I helped a bit.... came up noice

the best patterns came up at the back of the motor, where the colours mixed together

Image
Image
Image

but that's not what were talking about ..... :roll:

Tombo super dad wrote:
He who drives his mini has dirty engine.

I like the idea Simon, Did you use seperate amber and white LEDs or color shift type? Let me guess, seperate ones because getting an accurate voltage is near impossible in a mini? Keen to see them at Hay


yep, engine is filthy now

separate amber and white - honestly I didn't think about colour shift ones for a second - the white ones are at the points of the triangle, the ambers are the circle of 7 in the centre

you'll definitely see them at Hay buddy - "oh my god, those indicators, they're too bright, I'm blind!"

gafmo wrote:
Any information you can pass on Simon


I was toying with the idea of making a batch of them - if people were keen... not sure what the total cost would come out at, but I'm told I can get a run of PCBs made in Melbourne pretty cheaply (maybe as low as $5-7 each for 20 or 30 of them), there is about (retail) $16 worth of LEDs on it, and 50 cents worth of resistors.... I bought new rubbers because mine weren't flash, they're about $7. Very easy to put together - I could make a killing on ebay :roll:

the board shown here is made with a fascinating, but time consuming process - good for prototyping, but no way you'd do it for a whole bunch of them. I've got some pictures of the PCB while being made, but they're on my phone, and it doesn't talk to this computer

PCB making process... after getting one of your work buddies to do a nice layout

1/ laser print the PCB layout on to special paper
2/ iron the paper onto a piece of blank copper circuitboard, it re-melts the laser printing which bonds to the copper
3/ cut the board up using a guillotine
4/ immerse the board in nasty chemicals (the kind that eats through glass) which "etches" (fancy term for "corrodes like all hell") the copper, the bits under the laser printing are protected, the rest gets eaten away
5/ drill the holes in the PCB
6/ solder the bits on
7/ that's it
Author:  Hanra [ Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:14 pm ]
Post subject: 
I think others tried these in the front indicators without success. Ive got them as my stop/tail and rear ind.

Image
Author:  simon k [ Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:21 pm ]
Post subject: 
Hanra wrote:
I think others tried these in the front indicators without success. Ive got them as my stop/tail and rear ind.

Image


yeah, I thought about those - the guy I work with said he'd pulled one apart and it might be feasible to change some of them to amber, but I reckon that was a dud idea - I do plan on getting some for my rear indicators and stop/tail though

another point is that I'm probably using significantly better quality LEDs - the premade cluster ones don't hurt your eyes like mine do :lol:

these haven't increased the indicator flash rate - not that I noticed anyway - might need a new flasher unit when I put rears in tho
Author:  1310/71 [ Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:23 pm ]
Post subject: 
I just painted my globes with orange "lens repair" paint :roll:
If a bulb ever blows, I'll just paint another one (actually I won't as I've sold that car now).

You could always install clubbie lights - they saw the error of their ways and corrected it on M1100, 1300, 1500, and clubbies :wink:
Author:  simon k [ Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:33 pm ]
Post subject: 
1310/71 wrote:
I just painted my globes with orange "lens repair" paint :roll:
If a bulb ever blows, I'll just paint another one (actually I won't as I've sold that car now).


I tried that once, but with a red texta... it turned pink, then back to clear very quickly

but yeah, didn't want an orange globe inside the lens, and wanted a white parker - I make lots and lots of completely irrational decisions, and I stand by them ;)

1310/71 wrote:
You could always install clubbie lights - they saw the error of their ways and corrected it on M1100, 1300, 1500, and clubbies :wink:

ha ha - yeah... with comedy like that, you could turn professional
Author:  Angusdog [ Fri Jan 09, 2009 5:15 am ]
Post subject: 
simon k wrote:
I was toying with the idea of making a batch of them - if people were keen... <snip> I could make a killing on ebay


Dude, if you can be arsed with the effort, put me down for at least one set. I think the demand would definitely be there as it allows owners to make their cars safer without compromising the image.

A bloke on a Suzuki M50 cruiser forum designed and made some handlebar risers, cnc'ed from aluminium & sold them more or less at cost to forum members. Solved an annoying issue with my bike at a very reasonable price, including shipping from the states to NZ. I believe he made 50 sets in the first run and did a second batch.

If you cost it out and include your time, then canvas for orders, it's a pretty risk-free exercise - I'd do it myself but a lack of talent prevents me... ;)
Author:  Wombat [ Fri Jan 09, 2009 7:30 am ]
Post subject: 
Simon - I would be interested in a couple if you make them or if you are prepared to let me have the circuit and the pcb layout I can make my own - I've made plenty of boards in the past and have all the nasty chemicals :wink:
Author:  poeee [ Fri Jan 09, 2009 7:47 am ]
Post subject: 
I was just thinking of doing this a few days ago.

Now ya gunna have to sell em!
Author:  Wombat [ Fri Jan 09, 2009 10:31 am ]
Post subject: 
Simon I gather you had no problem with the flasher can driving the LED circuit? or did you change it to a low current draw electronic one?
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