DIY Brake Light Modulator

[enzed_viffer]

Tired with people tailgating me, and having to fan the brake lever to warn them I was slowing down, I looked at the available brake-light modulators available. I really liked Signal Dynamics one http://www.signaldynamics.com/products/Modules/xp.asp

and the Kisan ones also looked OK http://www.kisantech.com/index.php?cat_id=3

Then I talked to my TechnoNerd son (#2), pointed him at the Signal Dynamics site, and asked what he could do. He thought for a few milliseconds, and said, "Yup. I can do that."

Eventually ( he was very busy with important projects like Quake, GT4, and suchlike), he ran a virtual prototype on the PC, got it to work, then bought the various doodads required, built a 'bread board' prtotype, and got that to work too. Then, after much hassling, and some help from me with drilling and stuff, the doodads were assembled into a Thing.

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mod1.jpg

I then cut the wires (green, yellow and red) to the brakelights (I knew which ones they were, because I'd already cut the earth/ground and taillight wires to hook my R/R fan into them), and put some bullet connectors on each end of everything, and hooked it up. Yup, miracle of miracles, that worked too, so after some thought, I cut a plate of thin, galvanised steel (No Dad! You can't use aluminiumininum - it'll corrode!"), loosened off the screws holding the taillight assembly in place, and fastened the bracket across under the cowl. A strip of 3M fastening stuff (like velcro, but different), and it's all go.

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So, now when I brake, the brakelights flash 5 times, then stay on as long as I hold the brakes on.

It's illegal here apparently, probably because it's a Good Idea and aids safety.

The Safety Nazis don't like people doing sensible things, and frown upon people who take it upon themselves to improve safety without Official Approval Or Sanction.

We've already got some ideas for improvements, like using a MOSFET transistor instead of the one we did use, which would obviate having to use a substantial heatsink. The first one we tried was too small, and heated up to about 70 C. The one we used was a pentium processor heatsink, which is larger than it needs to be, but it was just lying around, and we couldn't be bothered cutting it.

Also, it'd be kewl if the taillights flashed when the brakelights do, in added emphasis. We may also reprogram the micro so that there is a decaying flash rate, rather than steady one, so it starts off flashing fast then slows down.

But it's all good, and for ~$22, it's also a cheap aid to safety.

And I've got my stories sorted out for when the Safety Nazis object and try to ticket me. Interfering bastids.

Edited April 6, 2006 by HispanicSlammer

[nexzzt]

The Safety Nazis don't like people doing sensible things, and frown upon people who take it upon themselves to improve safety without Official Approval Or Sanction.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think it has something to do with being mistaken for an emergency vehicle (yer right, like your gunna mistake a bike for a few tonnes of fire truck).

Anyway, I agree with you. Why make thing easy and safe when you can add red tape and bureaucracy and really screw things up.

Just my $.02

[RosscoB]

That is COOL!

I would love a parts list and assembly instructions.

[adamf18]

The Safety Nazis don't like people doing sensible things, and frown upon people who take it upon themselves to improve safety without Official Approval Or Sanction

I'm offical safety specialist and that is wrong. the problem is that comman sense isn't common. your smart for putting that light on. Your protecting yourself and thats more than most people do.

[tyrroneous]

That is COOL! 

I would love a parts list and assembly instructions.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Me too!!! Can I puleeeeze mooch off of you and your son's enginuity? :thumbsup:

[enzed_viffer]

That is COOL! 

I would love a parts list and assembly instructions.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Me too!!!  Can I puleeeeze mooch off of you and your son's enginuity?    :thumbsup:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'll get him to give summat to me tonight.

The only complicated thing is that he used an interface to the PC and an EPROM programmer (or like that there) to program the micro. But maybe if there's a few of these wanting these who can't do the soldering and/or programming, he might be convinced to make them up and send them to you.

If that's the case, you could specify what sort of flashy thing you wanted to happen, like 6 flashes then steadily on, or decaying flash rate (faster then slowing down to steady on, or whatever). I've been thinking of getting him to reprogram mine so it flashes with slightly longer pauses.

The next model (if there is one) will have a MOSFET transistor, so it doesn't require the big-ass heatsink.

[AB-Oz]

I think its groovy and would like one . Pretty good exchange rate from Oz Rahzoos to NZ Kiwicents too right now

If the plod stops you then you'll have to explain that it must be a faulty wire, then if they are really zealous and you have to open it up you say "What the hell is that!!!!???"

[Guest 767fixer]

to cool to have a son like that. my 17 yr old daughter can't even make macaroni and cheese from a box...( i hope she marries rich)

[enzed_viffer]

to cool to have a son like that.  my 17 yr old daughter can't even make macaroni and cheese from a box...( i hope she marries rich)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Would you like to borrow him? He's very, very tiring to live with.

He has Aspergers Syndrome (high functioning autism), has an IQ and cognitive abilities in the upper 1st or 2nd percentile of the population, and is always ON. His older brother is similar (they're both intelligent and obsessive) except gregarious, and when all three boys are together, they all talk very fast, and very LOUD, and at the same time (they reckon they talk in full duplex mode).

Life has been... um... very interesting...

[enzed_viffer]

Anyway - I'll get TheDave to draw up the circuit diagram (I suspect he's got it on the computer, as he has a bench-testing program he ran it on before he even put the thing together in 'bread board' mode), and post it here.

If anyone wants to make their own, I'll get the programming for the micro from him, and if anyone wants to make their own but can't program the micro, I'll see about supplying just that on its own, and if anyone's interested in a complete assembled unit, I'll get him to price that. Obviously, it won't be as "cobbled together" as this prototype.

By the way - the thing is still going great, after 6 weeks' use. I haven't had anyway 'target fixate' on it and rear-end me, so I guess it's doing it's job. Hard to say, as I've only been rear-ended once prior to fitting this, and that was on the VTR.

[Guest 767fixer]

my daughter talks loud too....usually to friends on the phone which has been grafted to her ear due to length of time it sat there. she can't spell I.Q> so i cant give you her percentile ranking. we just had the baby boy .... so hopefully there is a chance for one of my siblings

[enzed_viffer]

The Safety Nazis don't like people doing sensible things, and frown upon people who take it upon themselves to improve safety without Official Approval Or Sanction.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Heheh

:beer:

After my email to all staff this morning about parking nicely next to the bike park, one of the other motorcyclists was talking to me. He mentioned that he didn't think it was right "that 50cc scooters don't have to have a Warrant of Fitness, and only just the other day he saw one that had a smashed up rear end and red cellophane for the taillight and that was just wrong and there should be a law change and ..."

"Nathan - I don't agree; you're obviously a SafetyNazi! There are far too many laws, rules and regulations already. Just let it go, Dude!"

I think Nathan rides his bike (2005 SV650) just because it's economical. Talking to him about bikes is just like talking to someone who doesn't understand what motorcycling is all about...

[Guest 767fixer]

Talking to him about bikes is just like talking to someone who doesn't understand what motorcycling is all about...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

i agree!!! they are meant for picking up scantilly clad women!!!

[Guest girardi09]

I have a question, I actually have the signal modulator, but am struggling with the wiring since there are two break lights, and twice the wires... any insights as to how to wire this correctly????

I am no dummy :beer: , but I do have a history of making mistakes. I do have a wiring diagram and know which wire is which but just do not have a clue as to how to connect it.

Thanks for any advice you give me.

[enzed_viffer]

I have a question, I actually have the signal modulator, but am struggling with the wiring since there are two break lights, and twice the wires... any insights as to how to wire this correctly???? 

I am no dummy  :beer: , but I do have a history of making mistakes.  I do have a wiring diagram and know which wire is which but just do not have a clue as to how to connect it. 

Thanks for any advice you give me.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

How I wired mine was to ground it using a spade connector, under the right-rear grab handle bolt. I cut the Green/Yellow going to both brake lights and put female bullet connectors on the side coming from the wiring loom, and male bullet connectors on the other cut end. The input on the modulator had a male bullet connector, which went into one of the female plugs.

The output on the modulator had a "Y" with a female connector on each end. The male connectors on each brakelights' green/yellow wires plugged into these.

One female green/yellow connector is unplugged, but I may yet use both brakelights' wires as inputs, as the modulator consumes a slight amount of power when running, so I'm losing a slight amount by having a one wire input.

Does that make sense?

If, at any stage I take the modulator out (say, it blows up), I can just unplug it, and plug the brakelight wires back together again.

[y2kvfr]

Tired with people tailgating me, and having to fan the brake lever to warn them I was slowing down, I looked at the available brake-light modulators available. I really liked Signal Dynamics one 

"We've" been coming up with one at work, but with a led array. Using the fairchild ACE.

Neat little micro, and REALLY cheap.

I'll dig up the schematics I did and the code...

-travis

(Yeah, I guess I am a geek:

My Hobby crap)

[Guest VFRROBIN]

i guess i am out of luck. my son is only 10. i'll have to wait several years before i trust him with a soldering iron.

best to all

R

[KanadianKen]

so hopefully there is a chance for one of my siblings

Fixer - you and your son are brothers? huh???? :P I think you mean your offspring versus sibling right? :lol:

[Guest DMACK]

I'm right there with you 767fixer. My daughter has made mac & cheese from a box, but it wasn't anything I'd eat. She poured it into the water to boil, then went to talk on the phone for about 40 minutes. It looked like cheese colored flour mush!

She has no interest in motorcycles, cars, school, or anything that doesn't involve the phone, myspace or red streaks in her hair.

Were working on a boy!

[Guest 767fixer]

I'm right there with you 767fixer. My daughter has made mac & cheese from a box, but it wasn't anything I'd eat. She poured it into the water to boil, then went to talk on the phone for about 40 minutes. It looked like cheese colored flour mush!

She has no interest in motorcycles, cars, school, or anything that doesn't involve the phone, myspace or red streaks in her hair.

Were working on a boy!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

amen...... it was a relief when the boy was born (offspring.....sorry nnnnnek). and dont get me started about myspace. i now have 349 new favorites on the desktop computer due to needing "smileys' "pictures" and other such non sence for her damn my space. cant complete homework but myspace is running smoothly

[kaldek]

I think Nathan rides his bike (2005 SV650) just because it's economical. Talking to him about bikes is just like talking to someone who doesn't understand what motorcycling is all about...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Gah!! I hate that! There's a guy I work with who has a 2 hour drive from his house to the client we're both working at - and bitches about it constantly when he owns a Ducati 998 and could do the trip in 40 minutes!

I constantly berate him about his lack of riding but he complains that it's really inconvenient to put his motorbike gear on and off. Bloody cafe racers, the lot of 'em!

P.S. My first child is a boy and he absolutely loves the bike. Sits on it and goes "rarr! rarr!". So cute!

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He can't walk yet, but already wants to ride!

[Guest G-Money]

Nice to have kids who can do the heavy...not to expensive lifting for you there Enzed? Mine are 10 and 14 so still a few years before I get to pick their brains to make my life easier...

G$

[SAFE-T]

I want one that flashes slow, then faster, then steady on Either that or strobes followed by steady on.

[Guest 767fixer]

I want one that flashes slow, then faster, then steady on? Either that or strobes followed by steady on.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

you want your kids to be flashers???? :huh:

is it possible to have a unit that flashes s.o.s in morse code when you hit the brakes? or "you are too damn close" in morris code of course??

[Guest G-Money]

I've actually contemplated some additional LEDs on or near the license plate. A friend added them to his Beemer and there was no doubt he was stopping...

Then again, he's a :huh: ...