New wireless turnsignals....

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2013: New wireless turnsignals....
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian Mettling on Monday, September 23, 2013 - 03:08 pm:

hey all, I haven't heard much chatter yet about the wireless turnsignals so I thought I'd share...

I just installed the wireless signals yesterday. I really like the way they look on the column, they are much smaller than the bulky wired unit. The signal unit can clip anywhere on the back so I mounted it right square in the center of the spare tire mount. Nice and bright signal.

I discovered quickly that one can forget that they are on after a turn. The column unit light blinks to let you know one of the indicators are on though. I discovered on my first trip out that the spacing of the wireless units may be too great. It had trouble recognizing a turn and turning off after I set the button. When placed right next to each other it works fine, but rather sporadic when placed where they should be on the car.

So now I just don't trust them after my first trip and regret buying them. They could stay on after a turn and lead to an accident. The MTFCA sells them for $150, but I did see the same type and style for sale later on ebay for $50. Perhaps I can find a better, closer mount. But I'm going to stick to my trusty hand signals!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian Mettling on Monday, September 23, 2013 - 03:09 pm:

batteries were new by the way.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Mark Strange on Monday, September 23, 2013 - 03:30 pm:

Sorry to hear of your unfavorable experience, maybe contact the manufacturer to see if they have some suggestions for improving the wireless link. I have the same issue with my wired turn signals, they don't auto-cancel, so I keep forgetting to turn them off. Just one more thing to practice enough to make it a habit....


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian Mettling on Monday, September 23, 2013 - 03:40 pm:

exactly! I sent off an email to them to see what the deal was and how it can be improved. No lights on the indicators told me I was off, but yet they were still blinking. I knew this from a lady following me up to a light. It's a neat system because the arrows are LED and very pronounced, I think perhaps mine just has a bug.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill dugger on Monday, September 23, 2013 - 03:46 pm:

On one of my vehicles I put a left and a right turn indicator on the dash so I could see it blinking. On the other I put one blinker light. They have the emergency function.
Bill d


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John F. Regan on Monday, September 23, 2013 - 03:46 pm:

Anything working on a wireless (radio frequency) link might never have been tested near a running Model T since its ignition system puts out a rather horrendous amount of radio frequency interference (RFI) that is fairly broadband. Many types of digital apparatus have not been carefully designed and/or properly shielded so as to work near something like a Model T Ford and its ignition system. That may (or may not) be part of the issue.

For a time I drove a 1955 Ford while in high school and Fords from that era were not known to have their body panels very well bonded together. My attempts at getting my ham radio equipment to work in my car as a "mobile" station (K9SWN/9) became a very involved project indeed as I attempted to keep the RFI generated by the ignition and spark plug wires from interfering with my radio reception. The final result of many hours was a so-so fix that worked only well enough to make it usable on local transmission reception. The same rig was later installed in my 62 Chev hardtop and worked perfectly without any issues at all. Basic shielding in the car itself has a lot to do with the final outcome of anything RFI related.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Joe Van Evera on Monday, September 23, 2013 - 03:53 pm:

Brian, I drove with some wireless rear signal/brake lights a few years ago. They were the ones with powerful magnets on them. Anyway, people were constantly telling us that a signal was on, and they just seemed to do what they wanted, whenever they wanted. I chalked it up to the T's electrics, interfering with the wireless signal and causing it to go "haywire." Whether I was right or wrong, I didn't care for the ones we were using.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Frank Harris from Long Beach & Big Bear on Monday, September 23, 2013 - 03:53 pm:

I hid a Radio Shack Piezo tweeter on each circuit and they beep a high pitch squeak. I put the double throw switch behind my legs in the board that covers the gas tank. I made the elongated switch lever out of a piece of 3/16" brazing rod and place it behind a 1/2" horizontal slot. You have to look for it to see it because it is up close to the lower seat cushion.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian Mettling on Monday, September 23, 2013 - 03:59 pm:

I didn't think of EMI / RFI being an issue, that's a VERY good point! I'm definitely going to test it out and at various RPMs.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Thomas Mullin on Monday, September 23, 2013 - 04:54 pm:

Brian,

Try it with the engine off, too. the metal body may be shielding the signal too much to work reliably at all.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Val Soupios on Monday, September 23, 2013 - 05:18 pm:

I have a set on my '27 and have had no trouble with them other than my occasional failure to cancel them out after a turn. I have not seen them blinking when the switch was not illuminated. My only comment would be that the noise of a Model T washes the sound the units produce out so the only thing you can use to tell that they are cancelled is the light which is likewise hard to see during the day. I like them and am going to get another set. I wish they could be used front and back as I still use hand signals to alert on coming cars.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rick Goelz-Knoxville,TN on Monday, September 23, 2013 - 07:01 pm:

I have had them for several months and they work great, i like the way they beep outside so you know they are on, i suggested to them that they make a front part by turning a back set over.

Rick


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Tim Wrenn on Monday, September 23, 2013 - 09:02 pm:

My friend got a set back in July, his worked great, so I bought a set, mine work great. Yes, you do have to pay attention and shut them off manually. I've only forgotten twice in two months of driving. I now make it a point of pretty much hitting the button again while I'm already in the turn, and just shield the little lights with my hand from the sun to make sure they are indeed off. No big deal. I have a bigger problem of remembering to shut off the unit in the back once arriving home. Been many a morning it was still booted up. That'll shorten the battery life in it for sure! I'll start using the lithium batts. so they last longer. This winter buying a second set.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By David Norton on Tuesday, September 24, 2013 - 03:30 am:

Wondering whether ZigBee is used in this type of device?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dena & Dennis Gorder on Tuesday, September 24, 2013 - 09:21 am:

We have installed a set on our 26 touring and love them. We have not had any issues with them except for occasionally forgetting to turn them off. I do still use hand signals if we have traffic coming toward us. We also bought an additional rear bracket for our 16. I wish they had additional steering column brackets for sale. That would make the switch to the other car much easier.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Manuel, Lafayette, La. on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 - 09:02 am:

I like them. I understand he is developing a set with a front indicator in amber. I'm on the list!!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Aldrich Orting Wa on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 - 02:04 pm:

Saw a car with a set of them on the CANAM tour and the owner liked them. They looked nice and seemed very simple to install without detracting from the appearance of the car both inside and out.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James Michael Rogers on Thursday, September 26, 2013 - 09:00 pm:

I have them and love them. Sometimes you got to use your head for something besides a hat rack and remember to cut them off. If you use the cook stove to boil water does it cut itself off, I don't think so. This may sound snippy but it is true.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Brian Mettling on Thursday, September 26, 2013 - 10:03 pm:

i set them back up and didn't seem to have EMI / RFI problems again. Perhaps my unit just needed a quick break in period! : )


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