flashing indicators

[robert lintott]

An interesting letter in the 12/12 Automobile reminding us that cars dating prior to 01 /09/ 1965 may have white front and red rear flashing indicator lights rather than the additional amber lamps often seen on the front of Javelins and others , sometimes spoiling the appearance. Front lamp holders / lamps for dual filament bulbs are readily available , maybe an additional light is need at the rear since the original is dual for stop and tail. I recall an ingenious , but possibly confusing, arrangement in the 1960s which cut out the rear stoplight when signalling -- perhaps from an early Morris Minor ? Bob

[Keith Clements]

My Javelin has a box of tricks designed by Ben Shaw with relays that not only flashes the front and rear side lights but also operates the trafficators, all from the standard indicator switch. It has been on the car since the early 60's and I have only had to replace the flashing part of the circuit once.

By the way, the trafficators stay out and do not go up and down in synchrony with the flashing!

[TedAllen]

At the front of my Javelin, I adopted the following method. First, I fitted Mini headlamps, sealed beam with a side light incorporated. These give a much bigger field of light when just on sidelights around town. This left the original Jowett sidelights unused. These would become the indicators.

The front lights would only take a small bayonet fitting bulb, not giving enough wattage to operate the flasher. The rear was left with the original Jowett stop/tail and some discreet motorbike indicators fitted on brackets under the rear bumper. I masked off the shape of a horizontal arrow on the amber cover and sprayed them both black...even more discreet !

I call ed at our local, long established, auto electric specialist to see about some resistance to bring the wattage up to about 42 and he produced 21 watt bulbs which fitted the front where the small 5 watt ' pea ' bulbs had been. A proprietory flasher unit is fitted under the dash and the whole lot controlled by one of those white Lucas switches with the red warning light in the middle, fitted on a bracket near the choke cable.

The trafficators still work well on the dashtop switch but don't get a lot of use.

Ted

[Alf Heseltine]

The 'Box of Tricks' Keith refers to is Lucas Relay DB10. It allows the rear 'brake lights' to be used as flasher/indicators.
The front side lights operate from a 21/5w bulb, just swop the bulb holder. This application means you can retain the original look
of the Javelin and have the use of legal indicators.

The unit is available from Lucas Parts... Relay DB10 £61.50 Including diagram/instructions Tel. 01584 819552
http://WWW.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/category/101

Alf

[Keith Clements]

The box of tricks was homemade by Ben Shaw, and the DB10 does not control the trafficators or flash the front sidelights, but it is half way there.
http://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/f ... 0105_4.jpg

[george garside]

[quote="robert lintott"]An interesting letter in the 12/12 Automobile reminding us that cars dating prior to 01 /09/ 1965 may have white front and red rear flashing indicator lights rather than the additional amber lamps often seen on the front of Javelins and others , sometimes spoiling the appearance. Front lamp holders / lamps for dual filament bulbs are readily available , maybe an additional light is need at the rear since the original is dual for stop and tail. I recall an ingenious , but possibly confusing, arrangement in the 1960s which cut out the rear stoplight when signalling -- perhaps from an early Morris Minor ? Bob[/quote]

In order to make this legal(mainly on MOrris Minors but probably used on others) the law only requires a vehicle to have one brake light as the other one was on flashing duty when braking for a turn. I think the one brake light rule is still current as I was pulled by a police patrol about 3 years ago who politely informed me that I had only one stop light working and that although it was perfectly legal it would be safer to have two working


george

[robert lintott]

Thanks for all the comments . I do have a reservation about the possibility of combined lamps causing confusion or not being recognised, but the law allows it for old cars. The Lucas type relay is the one I used many years ago on I think an MG TD. The idea of trafficators going up and down might add a bit of visibility if not more confusion!. I seem to recall very early indicators had an imitation hand which was extended by a solenoid or some such! Bob

[TedAllen]

I did, at one time, consider making the trafficators flash when they were ' stuck out '. I don't think this would have been complicated.......just a low wattage flasher unit in the live cable to the bulb only.

Perhaps a handbrake warning light unit would be suitable. I was involved a lot with Lada cars and they had a small flasher unit with two spade terminals which may have been ideal.

Ted

[Keith Clements]

Ben Shaw's box of tricks also has bulb failure indicators on the dash for the rear brake lights doubling up as indicators. Thus when braking both come on, when indicating (with or without braking) only the appropriate one comes on. Not bad for the 1960's? Note the trafficators do not flash, but they do go up and light up when indicating (not up and down!). The front side lights are single filament and act as both indicators and side lights.

[jowettgeoff]

As a wee lad, I had a contraption which bolted onto the rear mudguard of my bike. It had a dual direction, magnetically operated, illuminated flappy trafficator, controlled by a switch on the handlebars. This has no relevance whatsoever to this thread, so I apologise unreservedly for wasting people's time
Incidentally though, if one needs a trafficator warning light, this can be achieved by fitting a low wattage (ie high resistance) bulb between the left hand and right hand indicator terminals on the switch. This arrangement allows the light to 'earth' via the bulb of whichever indicator is not being activated. The high resistance ensures that the dormant indicator does not operate. Not suitable for most LED bulbs though, as these generally conduct in one direction only.