Audible 'lights on' warning and audible indicators
Discussion
Many times I've turned back to look at my car only to see I've left the headlamps on. Also I can't hear the click from the indicator unit so occasionally find I'm still indicating long after use.
Now I hear a high pitched alarm as the indicators are used and when I leave the lights on and turn off the ignition.
So, today's project was to fit a piezo buzzer that would warn me when I need to turn things off
Reasonably simple electronics and wiring, all wiring is inside the steering cowl and around the dash lamp switch
- Splicing to the existing loom:
- Dash lamp feed (white/red)
- Indicator stalk switch 'left' (green/red)
- Indicator stalk switch 'right' (green/white)
- Any ignition live supply such as audio system feed
- Ground - a Philips screw on the side of the steering column casting
The diodes are IN4004 but most simple diodes will work the same. The relay is a general purpose automotive 12V unit. Any 12V miniature buzzer. All bits from ebay
Now I hear a high pitched alarm as the indicators are used and when I leave the lights on and turn off the ignition.
So, today's project was to fit a piezo buzzer that would warn me when I need to turn things off
Reasonably simple electronics and wiring, all wiring is inside the steering cowl and around the dash lamp switch
- Splicing to the existing loom:
- Dash lamp feed (white/red)
- Indicator stalk switch 'left' (green/red)
- Indicator stalk switch 'right' (green/white)
- Any ignition live supply such as audio system feed
- Ground - a Philips screw on the side of the steering column casting
The diodes are IN4004 but most simple diodes will work the same. The relay is a general purpose automotive 12V unit. Any 12V miniature buzzer. All bits from ebay
Took a while to get the lighting side of the circuit diagram.
If I understand it correctly the relay would have to be the 5 pin type with 87a so the circuit will operate at nc with no current to ignition.
Might do this, often I find indicators fail to cancel.
Never drive in the dark, always struggle to find the relevant switches for the mot bloke
If I understand it correctly the relay would have to be the 5 pin type with 87a so the circuit will operate at nc with no current to ignition.
Might do this, often I find indicators fail to cancel.
Never drive in the dark, always struggle to find the relevant switches for the mot bloke
Alan461 said:
Took a while to get the lighting side of the circuit diagram.
If I understand it correctly the relay would have to be the 5 pin type with 87a so the circuit will operate at nc with no current to ignition.
Might do this, often I find indicators fail to cancel.
Never drive in the dark, always struggle to find the relevant switches for the mot bloke
Yes, 87a is needed, it triggers on the NC contact. Ignition opens the circuit to isolate the alarm when ingnition is liveIf I understand it correctly the relay would have to be the 5 pin type with 87a so the circuit will operate at nc with no current to ignition.
Might do this, often I find indicators fail to cancel.
Never drive in the dark, always struggle to find the relevant switches for the mot bloke
phillpot said:
Neat way of doing it, I was thinking of linking into the courtesy lights for the "lights on" buzzer
That's certainly the usual route. I just wanted to do the whole thing using locally sourced cables to splice into. I'm not sure where the door close button cable routes toThis strikes me as awfully complicated. I have already fixed this problem on my car years ago.
I got the idea from a pistonheads forum thread and fitted a 'lights on' buzzer. I am a simple man and used a simple solution.
you need:
1 pizo-electric buzzer from marlins
er... not much else.
Behind passenger seat, locate the power feed to the rear light and the switched earth (via the door switch). I cannot remember the colours.
Put the buzzer between the two using the electrical connector of your choice.
Turn the lights on and open the car door.
Boil the kettle and feel satisfied with an excellent £1.99 mod. Turn the lights off when you feel sufficiently smug.
It works for both doors. This I cannot explain quite so simply but hey, who cares? Presumably the door switches are wired in parallel.
I also had something similar for the dashboard lights, but more expensive (£3.98):
You need:
2 pizo-electric buzzers
er... not much else
Lift dash, find LEDs for indicators (clue: they're right in front of you).
These are wired by very convenient screw connectors. Thank you Blackpool.
Put one buzzer in the left indicator, then to earth
Put the other buzzer to the right, then to earth.
In traditional fashion, use a sticky-back foam pad to stick to the back of the dashboard to stop rattling. You could cable tie it, of course. Just don't let it rattle.
Turn on the indicator.
Boil the kettle...
To be honest, the latter annoyed the s*** out of me because at low speed it was quite noisy, although at high speed it was about right. I eventually took them out. But they worked fine.
I cannot take any credit for these - I read them on here somewhere. If I can find out who first described these, I will give them due credit.
These and the boot release button mod are the best and simplest mods I have done - and the most satisfying.
Simple man, simple mods, simply satisfied.
Rich
I got the idea from a pistonheads forum thread and fitted a 'lights on' buzzer. I am a simple man and used a simple solution.
you need:
1 pizo-electric buzzer from marlins
er... not much else.
Behind passenger seat, locate the power feed to the rear light and the switched earth (via the door switch). I cannot remember the colours.
Put the buzzer between the two using the electrical connector of your choice.
Turn the lights on and open the car door.
Boil the kettle and feel satisfied with an excellent £1.99 mod. Turn the lights off when you feel sufficiently smug.
It works for both doors. This I cannot explain quite so simply but hey, who cares? Presumably the door switches are wired in parallel.
I also had something similar for the dashboard lights, but more expensive (£3.98):
You need:
2 pizo-electric buzzers
er... not much else
Lift dash, find LEDs for indicators (clue: they're right in front of you).
These are wired by very convenient screw connectors. Thank you Blackpool.
Put one buzzer in the left indicator, then to earth
Put the other buzzer to the right, then to earth.
In traditional fashion, use a sticky-back foam pad to stick to the back of the dashboard to stop rattling. You could cable tie it, of course. Just don't let it rattle.
Turn on the indicator.
Boil the kettle...
To be honest, the latter annoyed the s*** out of me because at low speed it was quite noisy, although at high speed it was about right. I eventually took them out. But they worked fine.
I cannot take any credit for these - I read them on here somewhere. If I can find out who first described these, I will give them due credit.
These and the boot release button mod are the best and simplest mods I have done - and the most satisfying.
Simple man, simple mods, simply satisfied.
Rich
rickprice said:
This strikes me as awfully complicated. I have already fixed this problem on my car years ago.
your lights on solution sounds fine but it's a lot harder lifting the dash top rather than accessing the indicator wires in the steering cowl. If it works for you then there's nothing wrong with that.
Are you a BMW driver?I have both a piezo buzzer on each indicator circuit and indicator repeater lights above the steering wheel cowl.
Buzzers are mounted to the parcel shelf speakers and spliced into the rear indicators.
The repeaters are spliced into the MIL panel lamps and take their earth from the dash on/off switch so they are only powered when the lights are on. That way they don't blind me in the night.
There is a thread somewhere about this mod.
Buzzers are mounted to the parcel shelf speakers and spliced into the rear indicators.
The repeaters are spliced into the MIL panel lamps and take their earth from the dash on/off switch so they are only powered when the lights are on. That way they don't blind me in the night.
There is a thread somewhere about this mod.
Barreti said:
I have both a piezo buzzer on each indicator circuit and indicator repeater lights above the steering wheel cowl.
Buzzers are mounted to the parcel shelf speakers and spliced into the rear indicators.
The repeaters are spliced into the MIL panel lamps and take their earth from the dash on/off switch so they are only powered when the lights are on. That way they don't blind me in the night.
There is a thread somewhere about this mod.
Hi Barreti, Buzzers are mounted to the parcel shelf speakers and spliced into the rear indicators.
The repeaters are spliced into the MIL panel lamps and take their earth from the dash on/off switch so they are only powered when the lights are on. That way they don't blind me in the night.
There is a thread somewhere about this mod.
Do you have a photo of the repeater lights above the steering wheel cowl please, also did you have to drill in the dashboard? (maybe this will be answered by the photo?)
I have a 1993 4.3l
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