Have you ever gotten in an accident while riding a bike at night or close to an accident? Gotten honked at because of irresponsible drivers who aren't paying attention to the road? Or simply just want to make bike riding more safe? Riding visibility on a bike is at all time lows during night time considering of little space we take up and as well as us not being able to have car headlights blinding everything and everyone. If you agree with at least one the above statements, then the Automatic Activated Blink Signal is just for you!! Check out the awesome EL panel, lighting up like lightning! Drivers will be sure to notice you riding, and not crash you! It will ensure 100% safety when you're riding your bike through dark streets at night as well as having hands free operations.
This project will automatically turn on an EL panel with a mercury tilt switch. By extending your arm or raising it slightly, the mercury will complete the circuit, resulting in the EL panel to light up brightly whether solid or blinking. Give this project a try, and you'll be amazed.
This project will automatically turn on an EL panel with a mercury tilt switch. By extending your arm or raising it slightly, the mercury will complete the circuit, resulting in the EL panel to light up brightly whether solid or blinking. Give this project a try, and you'll be amazed.
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Signing UpStep 1: Materials
First, you'll need to gather the necessary materials for this awe-inspiring project:
1. EL Panel w/ AA-powered AC Inverter [2] *these may be separate or if you'd like to have solid EL panels, soldering might be required)
2. Mercury Tilt Switch [2]
3. Velcro strips [4-6 pairs]
4. 1.5V Button Cell--LR44 / AG13 [2]
5. Electrical Tape
6. Armband [2]
[#] indicates the amount needed
1. EL Panel w/ AA-powered AC Inverter [2] *these may be separate or if you'd like to have solid EL panels, soldering might be required)
2. Mercury Tilt Switch [2]
3. Velcro strips [4-6 pairs]
4. 1.5V Button Cell--LR44 / AG13 [2]
5. Electrical Tape
6. Armband [2]
[#] indicates the amount needed
Step 2: Placing the Button Cells
First, grab a piece of electrical tape--just a tiny piece, enough to double side and fit snugly attached to the battery.
Next, use the piece of electrical tape and "loop" it so that both sides are sticky.
Stick it to any side of the button cell and place it in the battery compartment--with the negative side of the button cell touching the spring of the battery compartment.
Repeat these steps for the second battery compartment.
*The negative side is the side without writing!*
Next, use the piece of electrical tape and "loop" it so that both sides are sticky.
Stick it to any side of the button cell and place it in the battery compartment--with the negative side of the button cell touching the spring of the battery compartment.
Repeat these steps for the second battery compartment.
*The negative side is the side without writing!*
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We cyclists should too.
It would be better to EITHER have both hands on the handlebars and have signals that run like that,
OR
If you make HAND TURN SIGNALS, to have something that slips on the back of the hand - as aquard as that sounds.... with bands between your hands and the bar grips....
Or to activate the switches without lifting your arms....
AND to have the turn indicators visible from the front, side and back...
Considering that 2/3 group members in CTY1995 ride with Risers, it's clear that your arms motion is not much of a factor. Remember that the tilt switch can be adjusted to your fancy! Which means, either more lift or less!
Basically, adjusting to the proper angle of your liking is all within your locus of control.
But we'd be glad to add stitching to a pair of gloves to show that it is possible and have the same attributes as this product!
Thanks for the advice as well! Helps us build our ideas on improvements!
They have a nasty habit of gouging into you in a slide or fall, as well as catching on things like back pack straps and all that.
Perhaps a round disk might be better.
A disc is quite an odd shape for this project.., but we take suggestions all into consideration!
So we modified to it to fit our budget and our fancy. With cheap and easy to acquire resources, as well as dangerous ones (mercury), we were able to recreate one with similar attributes but without the need for cash and a more flexible and user friendly interface. We're still tweaking it, and getting feedback from comments.
But all in all, thank you for your inspiration!
By the way I've made two improvements since I posted mine - the first is to skip the button cell and use the standard AA - but with a 'battery interrupter' in series - look for examples here on instructables. Battery Interrupters were designed as a way of controlling battery powered devices for the disabled, so making one with a tillt switch would actually be a dual-use technology, letting disabled people find other uses for the tilt switch part. And the second is that I found a cheap wrist strap wallet at a sports store, which not only lets you move the indicator closer to your wrist for better visibility, but it also gives you a nice insulated zippered pouch to store the battery and transformer, if you want to get the bulk down by doing away with the plastic case.
regards,
Graham
Wow, that sounds like a quite an improvement! I never heard of an interrupter so i'll most likely look into that!
I really like that strap on wallet idea! But that's all you, so you should add that on. It's a really good improvement, maybe put something reflective on it as well? Visibility is always a good thing to have more of!
Thanks to gtoal!