Wig Wag or alternating hazards

[erikwillke]

I'm usually the tail-gunner in my group since my Wing is bigger and more brightly lighted than almost all the other bikes (and I'm a little crazier than most). Our club usually runs 20 bikes but we've had as many as 40 or 50 so you can imagine how long it takes all the bikes to exit the road and back into the curb to park. What I currently do is engage the hazards and claim the lane until the last bike is off the road and then I park myself.

What I'm trying to do is find rapid fire, synchronized flasher. I had originally thought I could wig wag them but after I re-read the Illinois vehicle code I don't think I can.

Code: Select all

(625 ILCS 5/12-212) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 12-212) 
    Sec. 12-212. Special restrictions on lamps.  
    (b) Subject to the restrictions of this Act, flashing lights are prohibited on motor vehicles except as a means for indicating a right or left turn as provided in Section 12-208 or the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring unusual care as expressly provided in Sections 11-804 or 12-215. 

12-208 is a lot of language that talks about when to use your normal turn signals

(625 ILCS 5/11-804) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-804) 
    Sec. 11-804. When signal required.
(d) The electric turn signal device required in Section 12-208 of this Act must be used to indicate an intention to turn, change lanes or start from a parallel parked position but must not be flashed on one side only on a parked or disabled vehicle or flashed as a courtesy or "do pass" signal to operators of other vehicles approaching from the rear. However, such signal devices may be flashed simultaneously on both sides of a motor vehicle to indicate the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring unusual care in approaching, overtaking and passing. 
(Source: P.A. 78-1297.)

12-215 is for Oscillating, Rotating, and Flashing lights on an emergency vehicle

My best solution so far is to get a headlight modulator like this one and replace the hazard relay. I have the wiring all figured out in my head. Wire the output of one side to the hazards (front and rear, both sides at the same time) and the other side to my rear marker lights. That way nothing is "Oscillating" as the state officially calls Wig-Wag, simply flashing asynchronously from each other. (Turn, turn, turn, marker, marker, marker, turn, turn, turn, et c.) The input would be the output of my factory hazard switch.

Does anyone know why this wouldn't work? Maybe the device I'm looking at is wrong but the principle is sound. Feedback please and thank you in advance. -Easy

p.s. I also plan on getting the breaklight modulator but that goes steady after the initial burst and I want a sustained warning indicator.

[WingAdmin]

Alternating is a no-no, it's for emergency vehicles only.

I'm wanting to do the same thing - all of my turn signals are LEDs, so they can turn on and off very, very quickly (i.e. thousands of times a second if you were so inclined). In fact, that's I how I "dim" them for use as brake/running lights - they are on 100% when the brakes are on, and I built a circuit that flashes them very fast (a couple hundred times a second), with around a 20% duty cycle (20% of the time on, 80% of the time off) for when they are on as running lights. The human eye can't make out the flashing, and to us it just looks "dim."

I'm sure you've seen work vehicles on the side of the road that have a very distinct, fast, flashing pattern for their amber hazard lights. They flash three or four times in quick succession, almost strobe like, then off for a short moment, then repeat. I'm going to build a circuit that does that, and plugs in place of the hazard relay, so when my hazards are on, I get that rapid pulsing flash that really grabs attention.

[erikwillke]

That's exactly what I was thinking but also incorporating the side and rear marker lights. Thanks for the input. If you do build the circuit would you be willing to share the diagram? Thanks

[WingAdmin]

That's exactly what I was thinking but also incorporating the side and rear marker lights. Thanks for the input. If you do build the circuit would you be willing to share the diagram? Thanks

Certainly will. Probably won't happen until next winter though - don't want to pull it apart now during riding season!

[erikwillke]

Completely understand. If I find a workable solution I'll post it here.

[virgilmobile]

Google "3rd brake flasher"
Its a multi pattern flasher module.Very small,water proof and works well.
I set it for a burst flash the steady on for an alert brake LED on a gl1800.It handles LED's best.
Incandescent lamps won't switch on and off fast.They look dim.

[WingAdmin]

Google "3rd brake flasher"
Its a multi pattern flasher module.Very small,water proof and works well.
I set it for a burst flash the steady on for an alert brake LED on a gl1800.It handles LED's best.
Incandescent lamps won't switch on and off fast.They look dim.

Tried googling it, their web site is broken, doesn't actually sell the thing, and all the Youtube videos they had are either deleted or set as private so nobody can see it. I suspect they have vanished.

[erikwillke]

That stinks. Would the concept of my idea work though?

[Dusty Boots]

Have you thought of installing the Signal Dynamics Back Off XP brake light modulator?
It flashes the brake lights instead of alternating them and if you you install it in Mode 1, it achieves what you are after. ( Mode One: Emits 5 short light flashes followed by 1 long light flash (3.5 seconds). The signal then repeats this pattern for as long as the brakes are held on.)

I have mine installed in Mode 2, which quickly flashes them 5 times and then holds them on steady. Since I installed it over 4 years ago, the vehicles following behind me back right off when I hit the brakes.




   Never miss a video: Subscribe to the GoldwingDocs YouTube channel today!

[virgilmobile]

Tried googling it, their web site is broken, doesn't actually sell the thing, and all the Youtube videos they had are either deleted or set as private so nobody can see it. I suspect they have vanished.

Your right...I just got one from Amazon 3 weeks ago....Can't hardly find a reference to it now...
I'm sure it was "old stock"...I must have cleaned them out....
Amazon has one listed for the $20 range....Selectable pattern by a rotary switch....

As far as the wig wag idea....It will alternately blink whatever lamps are hooked to each output...
I don't believe that the right output will feed back into the left one at that point..

You would connect one output to the park lamp and the other to the hazzard switch...Apply power to the module,turn on the hazzard switch and they will alternatly blink....
Obviously,the park lamps would no longer light normal ...UNLESS you attach another switch to connect them back.
As always...in theory...I don't have one to mock up....YET.....Bet I could find something round here...I do that kind of work...Public safety lighting..

[erikwillke]

Have you thought of installing the Signal Dynamics Back Off XP brake light modulator?
It flashes the brake lights instead of alternating them and if you you install it in Mode 1, it achieves what you are after. ( Mode One: Emits 5 short light flashes followed by 1 long light flash (3.5 seconds). The signal then repeats this pattern for as long as the brakes are held on.)

I have mine installed in Mode 2, which quickly flashes them 5 times and then holds them on steady. Since I installed it over 4 years ago, the vehicles following behind me back right off when I hit the brakes.




   Never miss a video: Subscribe to the GoldwingDocs YouTube channel today!

That would most likely do what I was looking for. I would probably also run my normal Hazards for a differing pattern that would catch the eye. Can you change the mode selection easily enough from the seat or do you have to manually do that before you start out?

[WingAdmin]

I put a Backoff XP in my GL1100, it worked well as a brake flasher. If I remember correctly, it has two flashing modes, you select which one you want by connecting the appropriate wire (you leave the unused one disconnected).

[erikwillke]

I put a Backoff XP in my GL1100, it worked well as a brake flasher. If I remember correctly, it has two flashing modes, you select which one you want by connecting the appropriate wire (you leave the unused one disconnected).

OK, thanks. If that is the case then I may be able to wire the brake lights to the one mode that flashes and then goes steady and red LED strips the the other mode that cycles through the flashes.