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My DIY Sequential turn signals for under $100 (Page 1/5) |
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liv4God
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MAR 09, 04:49 AM
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A few years ago I became enamored with the Mustang's sequential turn signals, so I set out to do the same in my Fiero. I wanted to spend about $50, which I believe is feasible, but due to my poor planning and underestimation of the Fiero's light wiring I spent somewhere around $75-80. (Yeah, always read the wiring diagrams while planning, not halfway through installing...) At any rate I used an Arduino (programmable CPU board) and wrote a program to control it. In essence I can program my lights to do anything I want when the signals are on, brake is on, emergency flashers are on or any combination of those. To make this work, I had to use quite a bit of relays, because the Arduino runs on a range of 3-5V and the car lights are 12V. (Arduino would be fried if I gave a 12v input, and could not power the lights with its own 5v max. ) So three relays to intercept the inputs of brake, right signal and left signal. I bypassed all the clicker mechanisms, otherwise it wouldn't work properly. On the other side I used an 8 way relay board, made specifically for the Arduino. This was perfect because I needed 6 relays, 1 per light. Many of the Fiero brake lights/turning signal lights are originally connected, so I rewired them all as separate units so that I have full control over every light individually, side blinkers, front blinkers, taillights, etc. Since I didn't need then to actually all blink separately I connected several of those together at the Arduino relay board, but the possibility is there if I really wanted to. After much playing with the wiring I was finally able to get everything to work. I installed it in 2013 I think and the Arduino board failed fairly soon after that. I was very disappointed to say the least. I left it broken for a year, as I went abroad to study. Upon my return I fixed the system and its been working great for about a year since.
I will post a link to a video on youTube of it in action, taken last summer.
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liv4God
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MAR 09, 04:58 AM
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Here's a link to the video: https://youtu.be/m46LI7GNP5w
First is the left turn signal, then the right turn signal. After those is the brakes. I made a little pattern as the brakes go on and off. Following that is the left turn signal while brake is on. Each light stays lit until the sequence finishes as well as the opposite side brake light staying lit. (Note: my sister waving Hi many times haha) finally is the right turn signal with the brake on and then camera got glitchy and video becomes choppy. My apologies.
Not shown is the emergency flasher sequence which I made a special little pattern for as well.
Latest update:
[This message has been edited by liv4God (edited 10-20-2017).]
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85pontiac
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MAR 09, 08:45 AM
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I like it. It's nice to see a different take on the sequential's, apart from the units that are available to purchase.
I like the LED's in the side mirror's also! Looks good!
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2.5
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MAR 09, 11:17 AM
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You did a good job
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Blacktree
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MAR 09, 11:29 AM
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That's really cool!
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Cajun
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MAR 09, 05:46 PM
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Nice, I particularly like the LESs on the side mirrors. Could you post a close up photo of the side mirrors?
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ltlfrari
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MAR 09, 09:26 PM
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That's cool. I love tinkering with Arduinos, lot of fun and well supported with shields for just about everything you can think off so most often you don't even need to do any soldering, just plug, program and play. Iat some point I want to replace my simple backup camera setup with a combined backup camera/touch screen interface but I think I'll be using a Raspberry Pi for that as it has better graphics capabilities and hdmi output.
------------------ Anything I might say is probably worth what you paid for it, so treat it accordingly!
Dave
www.ltlfrari.com[This message has been edited by ltlfrari (edited 03-09-2016).]
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theogre
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MAR 09, 09:48 PM
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While nice.... Have taillight doing nonstandard behavior is a good way to have cops stopping you. Worse, If you pull hazards and use setting in the video... Could have big problem. Flashing color lights is a big no no in most places. Depending on state/local laws even firemen etc can't use any flashing light on personal vehicles.
Once stopped, or at inspection, they can/will look at DOT codes are on the OE cover. Having 3 stop/turn bulbs But DOT codes says 2 each isn't good. (DOT code strings explained... See my Cave, Lighbulbs at bottom.)
At minimum can get a warning, failed inspection or equipment ticket.
GM installed illegal light for 84 (3 bulbs but DOT code says 2 each side) but no-one bothered because all stop/turn bulbs are active at same time.
WebEelectric (an old PFF member and vendor) have "simple" Sequential turn signals that turns on in Sequence but turn off all at same time. Some products might be illegal or not depending DOT labels etc but that I know of... no-one have problems because how they work.
Main point is on the road keep lights acting normal or as WE and others for Sequential turn signals.
------------------ Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should. (Jurassic Park)
The Ogre's Fiero Cave[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 03-09-2016).]
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liv4God
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MAR 09, 11:42 PM
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quote | Nice, I particularly like the LESs on the side mirrors. Could you post a close up photo of the side mirrors? |
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Here are a few close ups of the LED mirror lights. I used a 6in (if I remember correctly) LED strip from AutoZone that cost less than $10 each.
Light off:
Light on:
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liv4God
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MAR 09, 11:53 PM
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quote | While nice.... Have taillight doing nonstandard behavior is a good way to have cops stopping you. |
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I definitely understand that. I don't know all of the rules for sure, but I have never been stopped before for the lights and plenty of highway patrol and other police have driven behind me while using them.
I wrote several different versions of the code, some as simple as the standard blinking and others with different variations of sequential with or without other types of patterns. To upload a different code I just have to plug in the Arduino to my laptop and load it in, so it is a fairly easy process (5 minutes max).
I guess what I'm saying is, in the instance that get pulled over I will accept my error and take the ticket or warning or whatever and then upload a less flashing type of code to comply with whatever the officer wanted so that I can pass the CHP brake and light check. But since it hasn't been a problem in a year+ of use I haven't bothered to change it.
Perhaps I'm being too careless on the matter?
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