Wireless directionals

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Bobbbenner
Posts: 108
Joined: Fri Apr 19, 2019 5:50 pm
First Name: Bob
Last Name: Benner
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: TT 1924, touring 22
Location: East Setauket, NY

Wireless directionals

Post by Bobbbenner » Fri Jan 06, 2023 3:10 pm

I have found a way that I can quickly put wireless directionals on my 22 touring.
Recently I posted how I've added brake and running lights to my car for safety, as I use locally often for shopping, drives to the beach and for friends who come by.

I am trying to keep the car the way I got it. I've cleaned it up then worked on the upholstery. Tom Pilz and I have refurbished the front end so it no longer wobbles, done a valve job, refurbished the carb and potato, and generally got it running sweet! I've replaced the radiator with the last Berg he made and I've got four new tires and tubes from bloxley ready for the spring. I also have AC brakes that I'm waiting to install when we attack the rear end this spring.

I am trying to make sure the car is as safe as possible when I'm using it. With that in mind and the fact that I drive around on very busy Long Island I've been researching how to put signals on the car, (and my TT when I'm using it), without wiring them into the kerosine running lights or drilling holes to attach lights somewhere.

I have figured out a way to add brake lights and running lights that I can attach in about five minutes to drive safely. I put up an earlier post with that project.

After some research and thinking through the problem I believe I've found a fairly inexpensive way of adding turn signals.
I went on Amazon, put in wireless turn signals and found [Goldfox Bike Tail Light USB Rechargeable, Bike Turn Signals] for less than sixty dollars. For another 12$ I bought some square 1.25" X 1/8" Neodymium magnets.

I used my dremel to take off the small square used to attach these units to handlebars etc. When the back was flattened I hot glued the magnets to the signals and to the controller. I had tried round magnets first but needed the square ones to abut the crease in the fender and not move. I've tried to shake them loose on some backwoods trails and on a few trips recently and they stay put. I also put a magnet on the small controller and simply attach it to the dash in front of the wheel. All of the magnets have heavy duty duct tape covering the magnets so they don't scratch the paint. That seems to work well.

The units themselves are rechargeable, in fact the package comes with a four line usb charging cables so all four signals can be charged at once. The signals are bright, turn off in 30 seconds easy to work with the small controller. Additionally the units can be set to blink red leds for parking or all four signals to blink red then signal orange for an emergency situation.

I made a roll up sleeve to keep the units in and it takes about a minute to put them on the fenders and place the controller.
This update sure beats hand signals and I feel much safer when in traffic in my T.
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Mustang1964s
Posts: 268
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:48 pm
First Name: Steve
Last Name: Bourgeois
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914, 1926
Location: Waco, TX
Board Member Since: 2007

Re: Wireless directionals

Post by Mustang1964s » Fri Jan 06, 2023 3:28 pm

Looks good! I like that idea.
Just make sure you put them away when going in for a meal.

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George House
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Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 5:25 pm
First Name: George
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: ‘10 Maxwell AA, ‘11Hupp Model 20, Two 1914 Ford runabouts, 19 centerdoor, 25 C Cab,26 roadster
Location: Northern Caldwell County TX
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Board Member Since: 1999

Re: Wireless directionals

Post by George House » Fri Jan 06, 2023 4:22 pm

Thats 2 turn signals on the front fenders, do you have 2 on the rear fenders ? I’m very scared of being rear ended as I have my arm signal on. Great idea ! Thanks for sharing 🙏
A Fine is a Tax for Doing Something Wrong….A Tax is a Fine for Doing Something RIGHT 🤔

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Steve Jelf
Posts: 7237
Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:37 pm
First Name: Steve
Last Name: Jelf
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 touring and a few projects
Location: Parkerfield, Kansas
Board Member Since: 2007
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Re: Wireless directionals

Post by Steve Jelf » Fri Jan 06, 2023 5:31 pm

I consider my fling with magnetic tail lights a failed experiment. I drive on country roads a lot and had to resort to welding rod hooks and rubber bungees to keep them in place. That worked for one driving season, but the next year one of them shook to pieces. I had to decide: show car, or driver? The decision was definitely driver. So I made rear mounting hardware sturdy enough to survive, I hoped, and held in place by wing nuts for easy removal if I want. For tail/brake lights I used Model T electric tail lights, and truck running lights (or motorcycle tail lights?) for turn signals.

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I could have gone with wireless front signals, but I saved the bucks and wired them. The mounting bolts are drilled hollow for wiring.

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Tail lights on, signaling for a left turn. I haven't cleaned up since my last trip. :)
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring


L.I. Tom
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Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2019 10:20 am
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Last Name: Pilz
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1921 roadster, 1923 roadster pickup
Location: Manorville, NewYork

Re: Wireless directionals

Post by L.I. Tom » Fri Jan 06, 2023 6:03 pm

Hi Bob
Hope all is well with you and family.The tail lights and wireless blinkers look good, nice work. Are you still here or are you down South.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

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Brian D
Posts: 204
Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 7:35 pm
First Name: Brian
Last Name: Dowell
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 14 Touring 26 Runnabout 19 Canadian Touring
Location: St. Clair Michigan

Re: Wireless directionals

Post by Brian D » Sat Jan 07, 2023 8:24 am

We used the same bicycle turn signals as shown above called "CarryBright". I bought then on Amazon.
They are wireless work very well, rechargeable and bright.

The front we placed in side the cowl lights using black Styrofoam cutting for a tight fit. You can't see them until turned on.

The rear we put on the top arm. We took a piece of round aluminum drilled it to slide over the arm and used set screws to hold it in place. When my dad takes it to local car shows he just unscrews them.
Brian
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Topic author
Bobbbenner
Posts: 108
Joined: Fri Apr 19, 2019 5:50 pm
First Name: Bob
Last Name: Benner
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: TT 1924, touring 22
Location: East Setauket, NY

Re: Wireless directionals

Post by Bobbbenner » Sat Jan 07, 2023 8:51 am

Yes, there are two on the back fenders as well.
They don’t seem to move on rough roads. I tested on the trails throughout my farm. T’s are like old Jeeps!
I like the idea of putting the signals inside the cowl lights.
In some posts some folks wondered whether the magneto would affect the wireless signal to the blinker units. Not that I have noticed.

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