Best Turn Signal available

[SteveBoothroyd]

I am going to be adding a turn signal switch to my 1922 Touring and would like feedback on what members think is the best available.
I don't want to go cheap, as safety rules.
Thanks for your time and consideration.

Steve Boothroyd
Sidney, B.C. Canada

[Tmooreheadf]

Contact Casey MILLER at hidden turn signals at Ron’s machine shop Shandon Ohio. Then go to super bright leds and select your choice of signal lights. Ours work really well. We convert the signal from six volt to twelve as they are more 12 lights to choose from. Hobwever, the 6 volt led selection is getting better. Casey also had a selection of lights. Good luck. Be mindful of the turn signal flasher when using leds.

[Steve Jelf]

The switch itself doesn't have to be expensive to be any good. A simple on-off-on switch will do. My recent winter project was adding tail/brake lights and turn signals to my 1915 runabout. This being a non-starter car, I went with a 12 volt setup powered by a mower battery in the trunk. Rather than buying a whole ready-made system, I bought the components from local stores and various websites and put it all together the way I wanted it. I decided on 12 volts because those are the LED's most available. I used tail/brake lights and rear turn signals picked up at Hershey and put 1156 sockets in the side lamps for front turn signals. The control panel has bright indicator lights so I won't be the old guy driving down the street with his signals flashing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lH85w4Yqhi4

Emergency! Emergency!

[Burger in Spokane]

I built my own switch around an off-the-shelf 3-position
toggle switch, fabricating a sized-down/lookalike version
of the spark and throttle levers, so as to not look out of
place on a 100-year-old vehicle. I ordered a 6v motorcycle
blinker unit for that function, and built a "motherboard" to
make all connections from off-the-shelf motherboard stock.
Following Steve's logic of not wanting to be driving around
with the blinkers constantly going, I fabricated a tiny light
board that sticks up from the base of the dashboard. Both
sides are routed through colored diodes and blink with the
actual indicator lamps.

For indicator lamps, I hunted down some early indicator
lamps with arrows for the rear. I was never happy with anything
for the front, and decided to simply use some of the same diodes
as used inside the cab, as they are super tiny, making them invisible
until lighted, and they are super bright.

I also wired in a 20's vintage "STOP" light for the center to
light up when the brakes are applied.

What isn't old is invisible/looks like it should be there, and
what is obvious looks like it was put there by the original
owner.

[SteveBoothroyd]

Thanks everyone for your comments.
Good food for thought.

Best regards,

Steve Boothroyd
Sidney, B.C.
Canada

[Tim Rogers]

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[Tadpole]

I have always used hand signals, but younger drivers sometimes assume they carry a different meaning.

[Art M]

I use the switch that will integrate the turn signal with the brake lights. It even has a four way feature and provides for a center center stop light. Brake lights are nearly as important as the left rear signal light.

Today hand signals can create a lot of problems with misinterpreted gestures.. You might consider getting a consealed firearms permit.

Art Mirtes

[Art M]

I use the switch that will integrate the turn signal with the brake lights. It even has a four way feature and provides for a center center stop light. Brake lights are nearly as important as the left rear signal light.

Today hand signals can create a lot of problems with misinterpreted gestures.. You might consider getting a consealed firearms permit.

Art Mirtes

[BobD]

Hand signals still in the Arizona Drivers License manual and can be on the test. I quizzed a 19 year old about them and he knew what they meant. Bikers use them as well. Not as obsolete as some seem to think.

Screen Shot 2021-12-10 at 8.50.41 AM.png (53.23 KiB) Viewed 6257 times

[perry kete]

Well at least the pictures in the Arizona driver's manual are accurate...stick your arm out the window and lose your hand!

[mgarrett]

Hand signals are useless - drivers today don't know what they mean. They think you are waving at them or someone else!!

[BobD]

Hand signals are useless - drivers today don't know what they mean. They think you are waving at them or someone else!!

See page 22 of the 2022 Arizona Drivers manual. They are certainly not "useless". Ask most any motorcycle rider. https://apps.azdot.gov/files/mvd/mvd-fo ... 9-0117.pdf

I have turn signals. I use hand signals when I feel their use is prudent. "Belt and suspenders" approach. Some modern drivers don't seem to "see" black Model T type profile vehicles.

[Novice]

You left out the one with the arthri

tic hand for tailgates. photos of my 26 touring with dual face red amber harbor freight lights on a special bracket made by Bob Doris that attaches to the top saddle tie down posts no modifications and quick removal for car shows one Allen head screw and a quick disconnect electrical connector. I use a existing hole in the dash for a dpdt switch with the electronic flasher and buzzer behind the dash. You can use a dual color red/green led for a visual indicator one led. one small hole. two colors.

[SteveBoothroyd]

I have noticed that often when I signal for a right turn, many young people start waving at me.

Regards,
Steve Boothroyd

[Norman Kling]

I don't use any electric turn signals, however, if you do use them, you need to use something which is not obvious except for the actual flashing light. I don't know of any way of making self canceling lights so one must remember to turn them off when not turning. One thing very important about turning is to be sure you see well behind you in the direction you are planning to turn. This is especially difficult when changing lanes to the right with the top up.
I use hand signals and I agree some people think I am waving at them. I need to make a left turn to get into my driveway from the two lane road. If no one is coming from the opposite direction, I pull into the opposite lane for making a left turn, because many times when I put out my arm and slow down to make the turn, someone behind me thinks I am slowing down so they can pass me and interpret the signal as waving them to pass.
Norm

[Retro54]

I think the phrase "Best Turn Signal" is maybe not a one size fits all statement. For various style T bodies, there are different opportunities to have a 'custom' approach to fit one's needs using simple, off the shelf (Amazon) parts.

Like Steve, I also sought to develop a turn signal solution for my roadster pickup this winter. I am an architect by trade, and so approached this as a fun design problem to solve. I had several goals that I wanted these signals to achieve.

1) Easily removable. I did not want them to be on the car permanently and affect the well worn aesthetic of my truck. When I get to a show, I wanted to be able to remove them in a few minutes so I could stow the signals away either in the bed or under the truck.
2) I wanted the signals to be large, in your face and highly visible. If the design achieved goal #1, then I was willing for the signals to be unsightly (from a historical vehicle perspective) when being used and installed.
3) Leveraging low-voltage LED technology, I wanted the signal power source to be independent of my T's electrical system, last a long time, and be easily rechargeable.
4) I wanted the actuation switch to be small, robust, and out of the way of the other Model T operating controls since I am a new T driver, and still need practice in operating a T.
5) I have limited electrical and wiring skills so I needed the circuit to be simple, to the point, and something I could fabricate.
6) My labor is free, but the component parts needed to be cost effective. I have a young family and can't afford to spend hundred of dollars at a shot on a 'hobby' vehicle.

Here is what I developed. Here is a video explaining the system: https://youtu.be/tshXIqrg8IA

Is it the BEST SYSTEM AVAILABLE? No. Is it the BEST SYSTEM FOR ME? Yes! I'm proud of it, but it is a prototype and I anticipate making some refinements over the driving season. The large area of Yellow on the back board is going to get a large Flat black "SLOW" painted on it.

[Chris Barker]

LEDs are great for old cars with limited charging systems.
But LED indicators need an appropriate flasher unit, and these have an electronic circuit rather than the old hot wire that relies on having traditional high-current tungsten bulbs.
However, many T owners have discovered that these solid state flashers don't work in the T because of either ignition interference or a dirty generator output.
One answer, especially if you have the 6v system, is to install a separate 12v LED flasher system. 12v components are much easier to find and probably cheaper. Power it from a small 12v battery (1.2Amphr?) as found in burglar alarms etc. You will only need to charge it once or twice a year.

[Retro54]

See my post right above your Chris, precisely what I did.

LEDs are great for old cars with limited charging systems.
But LED indicators need an appropriate flasher unit, and these have an electronic circuit rather than the old hot wire that relies on having traditional high-current tungsten bulbs.
However, many T owners have discovered that these solid state flashers don't work in the T because of either ignition interference or a dirty generator output.
One answer, especially if you have the 6v system, is to install a separate 12v LED flasher system. 12v components are much easier to find and probably cheaper. Power it from a small 12v battery (1.2Amphr?) as found in burglar alarms etc. You will only need to charge it once or twice a year.

[Steve Jelf]

One answer, especially if you have the 6v system, is to install a separate 12v LED flasher system.

... and if you don't have any battery-operated lights at all (i.e. before 1919).

[George Mills]

I know a lot of guys don’t like them, but the signal-stat route is about the easiest going. All the thinking is in the signal stat ‘head’ that mounts on the column.

I went with beehives for the front…

I went with Model A 2-bulb teacups on the back…

I went with a Regan stop light switch…

I tried LED on all 4 corners…never could get it consistent even with line resistors, or so called led flasher, so wound up with LED in front beehives, standard lightbulbs in rear…works fine with perfect self-tends…

To get over the uglies and exposed wires I bought a 10 foot chunk of loom-all done! And 6 volts at that!

Have turn - 4 way- and Stop, all in a days work. My only issue is that even marked 6v for the Signal Stat the indicator lamp was 12v and barely glowed. After 3 chats with the vendor who insisted I just had a crappy ground, I bought an actual 6 volt bulb…works fine. ( the ground wire u see in pic was part of original install. I’m keen on secondary grounds…get keen somewhere about 40 years of chasing ghosts on T’s. Lol)

[NU2theT]

Steve, I used the Logo Lites Brake & Run kit on my Fordor. www.logolites.com 770-476-7322 I had posted a thread with pictures on my project last year. I mounted mine on my front/rear bumpers, thank you again humble Jeff

The instructions were great and the installation was fun to do and these are good and bright day/night, the knuckleheads who have no idea what hand signals are WILL NOTICE THESE. Good luck and let us know how you make out.

[ewdysar]

This is what I bought…

https://www.signaldynamics.com/01007

designed for motorcycles that had few/no signals and no dashboard for mounting. integrates with brakes, adds emergency mode, is self-cancelling in use. compatible with LED or incandescent. very inconspicuous installation in cockpit using small momentary-on switches and small indicator lights.

It checked all my boxes…

Keep crankin’
Eric

The Penta Star modules are cheaper on the market than the list price from the manufacturer’s website.

[Allan]

My 1917 shooting brake has no dashboard to hide any wiring or to mount a switch of any kind. I used an extra throttle rod mounted on top of the column to turn a switch mounted at the base of the column on the firewall. The wiring is all under the hood, out of sight. The front indicators are on brackets mounted on the headlight stalks and the rears are recessed in the shaped outside end rear cross member on the body.
Neat as a pin.

Allan from down under.

[DanTreace]

Maybe no best, but easy. China made wireless unit. Mount for bike handle fits spider. Rear lamp offers turn and hazard.

Since most rear ends happen with accidents, having a rear signal is nice, in addition to hand signals too! If your state allows only rear signals, some require front too....but in FL none are required, but nice to have for those who think hand signals are just waving of the arm!!!

[Sean Butler]

When using hand signals, I do it in an animated fashion. Turning left I point with my finger (index, of course) and repeatedly move my hand up and down, bending at the elbow. Same basic procedure for stop/slow down but with arm in lowered position and palm facing rearward. For turning right I make a fist with my thumb pointing to the right and again rock my forearm at the elbow. I don't know how much this actually helps but I feel the animation may garner more attention and for those behind who don't even know what hand signals mean, it may give them an inkling of my intentions.