Stop-light flashers

[DougB]

I found this site http://www.comagination.com/
and an tempted to get one of their stop light flashers.

I have looked at past posts on this question and it seems that these and headlight modulators are not legal in NZ.
Has this changed? I had both fitted to my Moto Guzzi
about fifteen years ago and no one stoped me then.

[howdamnhard]

Yes i think they are illegal.I pump my brakes gently if I think somebody behind me hasn'nt seen me,especialy at traffic lights and stop streets if somebody is coming up fast.:eek:


I found this site http://www.comagination.com/
and an tempted to get one of their stop light flashers.

I have looked at past posts on this question and it seems that these and headlight modulators are not legal in NZ.
Has this changed? I had both fitted to my Moto Guzzi
about fifteen years ago and no one stoped me then.

[vifferman]

Yes, they are illegal. Apparently a tail-light flasher is liable to cause "target fixation". :rolleyes:

"Oh look.. lookit that flashy red light...ooh....[CRUNCH!!]"

[Robbo]

Unfortunately they are illegal. I have discussed this with my mechanic and he can't issue a W.O.F. if they are fitted. I think they are a Great Idea.
F.1. Racing Cars use them in poor visability conditions so they must have positive benefits, pitty we can't use them on bikes.

[Ocean1]

Yes, they are illegal. Apparently a tail-light flasher is liable to cause "target fixation". :rolleyes:

"Oh look.. lookit that flashy red light...ooh....[CRUNCH!!]"

Not convinced. There's a version that behaves normally for a couple of seconds and then makes with the flashy bit (using both brake and tail-light LEDs). That one's got some serious candlepower too. I like the idea that if you're on the picks for waht's normal for a simple brake into a corner then the light's simply saying "I'm braking" but if longer it's saying "I'm in trouble here, get the fuck off my arse".

[The Pastor]

have it installed with a switch that will by pass it for wof time?

[Tank]

Apparently if a flight flashes (on - off - on) then its illegal for NZ roads, however some manufacturers of this kit have a 'flashing; light that does not go completely out (on - almost off - on), and this apparently IS legal for NZ as it does not technically flash.

Of course - this is just what I have read - do own research - own risk - etc etc etc

[Movistar]

We have fitted to some vehicles little modules that flash the indicators when a certain level of braking is obtained www.databrake.co.nz ie. normal braking - just stop light(s) operate, under hard to severe braking the indicator lights flash as well as the brake light operating normally.
This system is standard on some European vehicles now and is legal in NZ as it is a NZ company that has produced them and we have fitted some of these to Government department vehicles.

Whether it would be as effective on a bike, probably not. I agree that a brake light that initially flashes then stays solid is a great idea. I'm with howdamnhard, I just flicker the brake light with the front brake lever when slowing in traffic or stopped at an intersection with cages pulling up behind me.

[Matt_TG]

I saw these (http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=ST3186&CATID=&keywords=motorcycle+helmet&SPECIAL=&form=KEYWORD&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=) in Jaycar yesterday...


... and laughed :lol:

[homer]

so its not ok for a vehicle to have
but is ok for a push bike to have on the front and rear

[H00dz]

I saw these (http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=ST3186&CATID=&keywords=motorcycle+helmet&SPECIAL=&form=KEYWORD&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=) in Jaycar yesterday...


... and laughed :lol:

lmfao but mite buy one just for fun LOL

[imdying]

I saw these (http://www.jaycar.co.nz/productView.asp?ID=ST3186&CATID=&keywords=motorcycle+helmet&SPECIAL=&form=KEYWORD&ProdCodeOnly=&Keyword1=&Keyword2=&pageNumber=&priceMin=&priceMax=&SUBCATID=) in Jaycar yesterday...


... and laughed :lol:

Hmmmm.... if I had four of those, and they were on different frequencies... then I could have wireless tail/brake lights and indicators mounted under my muffler :yes:

[vifferman]

I agree that a brake light that initially flashes then stays solid is a great idea.
I had a brakelight flasher like this - it would still be on the bike if it hadn't gone titsup. Maybe I'll resurrect it when I can be bothered.
There's a thread about it somewhere on here. Basically, it started off flashing quickly, then the flash rate decreased until after 8 (?) flashes it stayed on.

I got my son to make it - just told him what I wanted, he got the "breadboard" out, grabbed some components, tested it, programmed a micro, and soldered up a circuit for me.
I've got several circuit diagrams from the Interdweeb of similar designs. The MarkIII version will eventually be fitted to the VFR, but will have a switch to bypass it (MarkII had to be unplugged), and will use a MOSFET instead of the ornery power transistor. Probably add some extra LEDs for extra WAKE UP!! power.

[scumdog]

Anytime I'm slowing/stopping I pump my brakes about four or five times before I REALLY brake, I like to think the flashing brake light gets a bit more attention - especially with the sun shining from the rear when the tail-lights don't show up too well.

[vifferman]

Anytime I'm slowing/stopping I pump my brakes about four or five times before I REALLY brake, I like to think the flashing brake light gets a bit more attention - especially with the sun shining from the rear when the tail-lights don't show up too well.
Yeah, that's what I do, if someone's following a bit close.
I used to have to travel over the Harbour Bridge twice a day, and got sick of being tailgated, and watching the mirrors and pumping the brakes took away too much attention from riding, hence the BrakelightFlasherDoofer (technical term).

[Ocean1]

I had a brakelight flasher like this - it would still be on the bike if it hadn't gone titsup. Maybe I'll resurrect it when I can be bothered.
There's a thread about it somewhere on here. Basically, it started off flashing quickly, then the flash rate decreased until after 8 (?) flashes it stayed on.

I got my son to make it - just told him what I wanted, he got the "breadboard" out, grabbed some components, tested it, programmed a micro, and soldered up a circuit for me.
I've got several circuit diagrams from the Interdweeb of similar designs. The MarkIII version will eventually be fitted to the VFR, but will have a switch to bypass it (MarkII had to be unplugged), and will use a MOSFET instead of the ornery power transistor. Probably add some extra LEDs for extra WAKE UP!! power.

Cool, put my name down for one eh? With a wee switch for WOF time. I can make a case for the flash sequence to be arsy boo too, normal to start with and getting faster as one aproaches "Oh fuck".

[vifferman]

Cool, put my name down for one eh? With a wee switch for WOF time. I can make a case for the flash sequence to be arsy boo too, normal to start with and getting faster as one aproaches "Oh fuck".
As a matter of interest, what would you pay for one?
The dreaded (and frequently dreadful) #2 Son chucked in his job this week, so I guess if I twisted his arm I might be able to convince him an electronics manufacturing line wouldn't eat into his piano/guitar/violin practice too much.

[Ocean1]

As a matter of interest, what would you pay for one?
The dreaded (and frequently dreadful) #2 Son chucked in his job this week, so I guess if I twisted his arm I might be able to convince him an electronics manufacturing line wouldn't eat into his piano/guitar/violin practice too much.

Doesn't matter what I'd pay, I"d factor a substantial extra amount into the encouragement of any potentially successful productive endeavour. I take it you meant "what's the general market likely to pay". In which case it’s worth a look to see who’s already invented that wheel…

http://www.code3pse.com/productdtl.asp?grp=cd3&familyid=2&id=248

http://saturn.dnsprotect.com/~rivcopro/products/product.php?productid=25

http://66.252.233.21/products/Modules/xp.asp

http://www.sirennet.com/newwhtisuled.html

So not a lot then. However, I think an ultimate solution would produce several flash sequences based on rate of deceleration, or failing that brake system pressure. In both cases the lights (if part of a kit) are obviously readily available and cheap. The tricky bits are the accelerometer or pressure transducer, (both a procurement exercise) and a clever widget to convert 4-20milliamp (probably) into different flash sequences.

At a pure guess I’d say a price of $150 might be viable…

[vifferman]

Y'know, looking at DougB's original website link, it strikes me as farginstupid that brakelight flashers are illegal here. Think about it: what's the difference between you (or Scumdoggie) or me triggering the brake lever a few times before putting the brakes on, and a unit that does it for you? As long as it stops flashing after a few seconds, so what?!? Where's the risk?

Something not mentioned yet is the system on new BMW cars that has a two-level brake light: when you brake hard, and extra level of brake-light brightness is activated. Should be easy to do with a second brakelight switch, but your idea of the unit being smart enough to decide for itself is a goodun.

I'll talk to my resident knowitall tonight.

[Ocean1]

Y'know, looking at DougB's original website link, it strikes me as farginstupid that brakelight flashers are illegal here. Think about it: what's the difference between you (or Scumdoggie) or me triggering the brake lever a few times before putting the brakes on, and a unit that does it for you? As long as it stops flashing after a few seconds, so what?!? Where's the risk?

Something not mentioned yet is the system on new BMW cars that has a two-level brake light: when you brake hard, and extra level of brake-light brightness is activated. Should be easy to do with a second brakelight switch, but your idea of the unit being smart enough to decide for itself is a goodun.

I'll talk to my resident knowitall tonight.

Ah, well, see… comes under the catch-all semi-legalistic heading of lewd and licentious behaviour, or lewd and lascivious p’raps. Anyway, thou shalt absafucklutelynot under any circumcision whatsoever embark upon unsanctioned innovative activities, thereby gazumping the prerogatives of OSH, (tugs forelock) and/or ACC, (bows to the east), under pain of immediate burial in a steaming great pile of civil excrement.

Unless, that is, your fiscal goolies overmatch said bureaucratic institutions by a significant order of magnitude, like BMW fer example, or Fisher Price… which most certainly doesn’t apply to you, Mr clever-dickie-smartarse-No8 wire-know-all lightweight. Sheesh, next thing you’ll be questioning the $34M road safety research report thingy our cousin (no relation) Phred cobbled up about dem old D9 winch wires we stuck along the medians.

[vifferman]

Anyway, thou shalt absafucklutelynot under any circumcision whatsoever embark upon unsanctioned innovative activities
:lol::killingme:rofl:
Actually, it's not funny!:angry2:(But your account of it was).

It's very hard to innovate stuff, even not considering safety'n'shit.
#2 and I had some RULY good ideas for an OLED-based multi-information panel for cars and bikes and stuff, that was better'n anything I'd found on the Interdweeb. At the time, the company he worked for was developing some piece of electronic doohickery with embedded logic that would've been perfect for the brains of the instrument panel, allowing all kinds of stuff to go into and out of it (bullshit and boring signals in, exciting graphics and distracting information out). But (however), the management of the company was SO fuktup, that things never got to a point where we could see about getting our prototype done, so it fizzled out. I'd even got some potential Mrkn customers lined up... :bye:

[Ocean1]

It's very hard to innovate stuff, even not considering safety'n'shit.
#2 and I had some RULY good ideas for an OLED-based multi-information panel for cars and bikes and stuff, But (however), the management of the company was SO fuktup, that things never got to a point where we could see about getting our prototype done,

Strue, genuine innovation has nothing to do with economic common sense, in fact I think the two are almost incompatible. Clever bastards are usually completely dissinterested in short term rewards, they're in it for the pure buzz of solving esoteric problems. Commercial dudes usually can't live with what they see as an un-natural focus on other than next month's report so they eventually pull the plug on funding.

Two common breeding grounds for innovation, supernaturally devoted self-supported entheusiasts and corperations large enough that the CFO doesn't know what's going on over there in the lab/workshop. In the second case they then usually fail to market the results because they're incapable of evaluation them, in which case very good ideas often end up on the scrap heap.

[Bike-aholic]

These are available in NZ.

http://www.challengermotors.co.nz/Web-Pages/helmet_stop_light.htm