Center Brake Light Blinker>>>easy upgrade

[Tyger]

Originally Posted by YELOTUS

I placed a piece of non-absorbent styrofoam around module to hold in place...

The Tao of Lotus requires duct tape!

[LNZ_YELO]

Originally Posted by JimNOLA

Judging by that last photo, you may spend as much money at Griot's Garage as I do.

Plus that's a popular place for Santa (aka, me) to shop for Michael for Christmas.

[blondie]

Originally Posted by YELOTUS

I know MB is going to make the blinking third brake light standard on their cars for MY06... and have heard several other Euro manufacturers following suit... so to me it would have to be DOT compliant.
Michael

I thought you folks might be interested in this- it turns out these 3rd brake light blinkers are not legal, nor are they likely to be soon. Mercedes Benz did indeed try to introduce the feature, but was rejected by the NHTSA. This information comes from the Aug05 issue of Roundel magazine.

So... install this gizmo at your own risk. Seems unlikely you'd get a ticket for it though, and it does seem like it would add a measure of safety.

Sandy

[GaryD]

Nice job Michael... I think I will be doing that too.... $12,600 miles in this area's traffic since you saw the car last and I figure its a matter of time before someone gets "too damn close"......thanks for posting - Gary

[AaronLV]

I thought you folks might be interested in this- it turns out these 3rd brake light blinkers are not legal, nor are they likely to be soon. Mercedes Benz did indeed try to introduce the feature, but was rejected by the NHTSA. This information comes from the Aug05 issue of Roundel magazine.

Interesting, I wonder if the motorcycle laws are differnet. All of the police motorcycles here in Nevada have blinking brake lights.

[darkSol]

I just completed this modification - my FIRST!

It works just awesome - thanks for letting us know about this.

Only difference was that I cut the light styrofoam from my Valentine One packaging and compression fit it inside the lamp housing with a small dab of model airplane cement.

Thanks again!

[reganfin]

Do you know if this mod causes any delay to the initial pulse from the light. ie. if you compare this mod with a stock light will there be any delay to the initial pulse of light? This is something someone should look into before doing the mod for cosmetic purposes only. I have read that at 65 mph you travel about 20 feet in 200 msec so a small delay could = several feet of stopping distance.

[YELOTUS]

Two responses:

I live in the fine state of the Commonwealth of Virginia which is known for its strict vehicle inspection laws and its noteriety of banning radar detectors anyway I have had third light blinkers on 4 vehicles over many years and have had many of the state mandated inspections (required every year) and never had a problem with passing... maybe some states are different but this device is well worth its benefits...

reganfin..this is NOT a cosmetic device...it is purely a increased margin of safety device... there is no delay over OEM times. Mercedes studied blinker units and found that people (who were paying attention) reacted on the average of .3 sec faster to braking which represents a 27' at 60 mph...about two Elise car lengths. It has been clearly documented that this device gets the attention of those who are NOT paying attention (the unobservant, cell phone talking, make-up putting on, eating and drinking, watching kids and 'oh it such a small car I didn't see it' crowd )... this device is not new and I found absolutely people reacting to me braking instead of this last minute 'OH SH*T' gotta brake stuff...

MIchael

[reganfin]

Don't get so touchy. What I asked is whether there is a delay to the first blink compared with stock. This is not an unreasonable question. Presumably this blinker gives 3 square wave pulses after the brake pedal is pushed. My question is specifically, is there a delay before the first pulse? I have looked at several web sites that sell this equipment and no one has stated this info. Since we are talking about milliseconds of difference I think that this is important info.

Regarding your claim about safety, I have reviewed some of the literature on the net myself. There are claims regarding the faster rise time of LED over incandescent lights (which is well documented and undoubtedly should result in increased safety) but I have not seen anything (except advertising) to suggest that a blinking tail light is "safer" than a steady light. Furthermore it is not correct to compare a Mercedes blinker to this unit unless they are the same design. Unless it is safer I would suggest that it is BLING. If I am wrong then show me the data and I will eat my words.

[YELOTUS]

I am not getting touchy... just responded. Think what you may... all I know it works and is not theory...
Michael

[gogogo]

reminds me of the crazy scooters in Taiwan. lol

Must be a popular mod for Taiwanese teenagers.

[LNZ_YELO]

Originally Posted by reganfin

Regarding your claim about safety, I have reviewed some of the literature on the net myself. There are claims regarding the faster rise time of LED over incandescent lights (which is well documented and undoubtedly should result in increased safety) but I have not seen anything (except advertising) to suggest that a blinking tail light is "safer" than a steady light. Furthermore it is not correct to compare a Mercedes blinker to this unit unless they are the same design. Unless it is safer I would suggest that it is BLING. If I am wrong then show me the data and I will eat my words.

Make you own decision regarding whether or not to install. If you don't think it will help, don't install it. Personally, I felt that it certainly couldn't hurt. This is the same way that I felt years ago when I first put it on my Miata. I really don't need to see the results of a scientific study to make a decision in this case.

I think you are missing the point of the thread. It was not to convince you to purchase, it was to document the availability and install instructions.

Just my 2 cents ...

[reganfin]

I think that it is clever and looks cool. If it delays the lighting of the brake light then it makes it more likely that some clod who is on your rear end will smash into you.

[Randy Chase]

My guess on the electrical timing circuit, that it turns off the rear light, not turn it on. In other words, it generates an "off" signal. So the first state would always be ON, followed by the OFF trigger. It is not a mechanical relay, and is powered by the brake light voltage.

So... no brakes. Unit is not powered. Apply brakes and unit receives power and is in a "non-switched" condition with brakes ON. Timing chip cycles power off to the brake lights.

[reganfin]

Randy you are probably right. I guess that I will start eating my words.

[Ground Loop]

Mine arrived today -- cool kit.

One question though.. why not install it under the dash, above the brakelight switch itself?

[soulmn]

Interesting question. Which one would be easier to do. I might have to pass on the gymnastics neccessary to get to the brake pedal area. It should work though.

soulman

[Florida Chris]

Originally Posted by Ground Loop

Mine arrived today -- cool kit.

One question though.. why not install it under the dash, above the brakelight switch itself?

If you did that all your brake lights would flash, not just the center one.

[nak]

Originally Posted by reganfin

[snip]

Regarding your claim about safety, I have reviewed some of the literature on the net myself. There are claims regarding the faster rise time of LED over incandescent lights (which is well documented and undoubtedly should result in increased safety) but I have not seen anything (except advertising) to suggest that a blinking tail light is "safer" than a steady light. Furthermore it is not correct to compare a Mercedes blinker to this unit unless they are the same design. Unless it is safer I would suggest that it is BLING. If I am wrong then show me the data and I will eat my words.

The state of CA required Voevodsky to prove that the Cyberlight worked before they'd let it out on the streets. So they ran a test with honkin big yellow cabs and it cut the rear-end collision rate by two-thirds. I had one on my Yamaha bike and my first BW bike and they made a HUGE difference.

[YELOTUS]

Originally Posted by Ground Loop

Mine arrived today -- cool kit.

One question though.. why not install it under the dash, above the brakelight switch itself?

What Florida Chris points out...this unit is designed for the center brake light only plus it is so easy to install in the center light due to simply removing (2) 8mm bolts and unplugging the light unit...then all work can done inside house or on a bench...then just plug back in...
Michael