Tap Turn

[Tony Mac]

@scottmcphee What's the estimated delivery time if I order one today? And will I get the latest version?

[xjohnx]

Originally Posted by Tony Mac

@scottmcphee What's the estimated delivery time if I order one today? And will I get the latest version?

Shipping is currently delayed about a week as he's on vacation. But my understanding is yes, all orders placed now are going to get the "latest" version.

[scottmcphee]

Originally Posted by Tony Mac

@scottmcphee What's the estimated delivery time if I order one today? And will I get the latest version?

I have a backlog to catch up on when I get back from vacation. I expect two weeks to clear that, shipping takes, about 10 to 14 business days to North American destinations.

I make small batches, to keep the product fresh so I don't have old inventory kicking around. Anything I've announced as new feature or what have you applies to each item shipped from that moment on. There are no new changes coming on the near horizon, so you won't miss out on anything by ordering now, I promise. I always ship in same order as orders are received. Hopping into the order queue now saves your place, you'll get it sooner than those who order later.

[scottmcphee]

Wow, that backlog is all shipped out now. If you've ordered and have been patiently waiting, it's on its way.

While you're waiting for it to arrive, here's a few random usage tips, factoids, and answers for questions that sometimes come up or you may have on your mind:


Q: How long can a "tap" be, before it's considered something else (standard signaling)?
A: The technical answer: A "tap" is holding the stalk with contacts closed for a duration between about 70 milliseconds and 330ms (a third of a second).
A: A human answer: Long enough to see the first blink and released before that first blink goes out. If you see a second blink start while holding, that's definitely too long to be considered a tap.

Trivia: taps on other cars, like VW, etc.. are typically longer than TapTurn. You can hold those ones into their second blink and still be considered a tap. I chose the tap duration for TapTurn very specifically to allow you to make a signal of ONE BLINK, TWO BLINKS, a TapTurn series of blinks (3 or more), or longer... simply by how long you tap or hold the stalk. Other cars don't give you that kind of precision or control over signaling.


Q: What's the blink rate of TapTurn?
A: Human answer: Signaling is 90 blinks per minute.
A: Technical answer: Signaling is 1.5Hz, square wave. ("On time" equals "Off time" per cycle).
A: Bonus answer 1: The hazard modifier for slow motion halves the flash rate of 4-ways, so that feature gives 45 cycles per minute synchronous.
A: Bonus answer 2: Wig-wags are 90 cpm, but out-of-phase (impress your girlfriend with that kind of language!), or alternating from side-side.
A: Bonus answer 3: Wig-wags can be slowed (using the Easter egg) to be 45 cpm.


Q: Does TapTurn make noise when blinking?
A: Yes. It uses relays, so you hear the tick tick tick.
Q: Do your eyelids make noise when blinking? (Sit in a very quiet room and try to find out). Mine do.


Q: Where is TapTurn made?
A: In my little shop, in Canada. Each unit is tested in-harness before shipping. It's marked made in Canada on the parcel you receive.

[scottmcphee]

Customer who just got his TapTurn had this to say after throwing away his generic LED compatible flasher CF18-08, and installing TapTurn flasher. He didn't really need the one touch signaling feature he just wanted a flasher that works well with LED signals.

via email catsspat says:
> I originally bought a cheap $12.95 CF18-08 unit from SuperBrightLEDs
> (nothing against that company by the way). It sort of worked, except:
>
> 1) It does not immediately light up on activation. Timing depends on
> what on/off rhythm it's in at the time. This causes weirdness with
> lock/unlock indication blinks as well as general usability problems
> when switching directions quickly, such as trying to change lanes
> right after turning.
> 2) [it has] No Tap Turn, obviously, but I don't require it.
> 3) With ignition in OFF position, when I turned on hazards,
> *something* in the engine gets power. I could hear some sort of
> pump activating, and one of the red indicators in the dash
> half-lighting in inverse cadence to the blinkers. I believe
> electricity was flowing to wrong places.
>
> #3 is unacceptable. Who knows what it could be doing to the car?
> I bet it isn't an isolated case, but since most people don't use
> hazards often, they don't even notice.
>
> I haven't found a single nit to pick with your TapTurn flasher. Great
> engineering!
>
> By the way, this is on a 2013 Subaru BRZ.

catsspat asks:

people using the cheap flasher see what
happens when they turn on flashers with car completely off.
Watch for weird noise from the engine bay, or an unexpected blinking light
on the dashboard ... with the cheap LED flasher.

Tapturn obviously does not do anything weird like that.

Then again, it's always possible that the one I got is defective somehow.
I do vaguely recall someone complaining about the hazards not working
with the cheap flasher when car was off, or something like that.
Different symptom than mine, but there does appear to be some logical
problem with OFF and Hazards with some of these cheap units.

He's happy now! Anyway, these are some things to check for if you have an LED flasher.

[Joxer]

https://www.dropbox.com/s/zdqps74fuk...763.jpg?v=1rc- has a picture of the unit with the clip attached. I pulled this straight down to remove from the metal under the dash (not near the firewall, really up under and slightly to the door side of the steering column) and the clip came out of the hole in the metal of the dash frame. Then I pulled the wiring harness from the original unit by pulling back the side retaining clips slightly. Once I took this out the white clip in the picture could be slid out using a small screwdriver to release the tab holding it to the unit.

Took the white clip and slid onto the TapTurn, attached the wire harness to TapTurn, then popped the other side of the white clip back into the little hole in the dash frame. All features work as advertised, very simple to configure the settings, I'm very pleased with the end result. Guess I'm also ready if I get the LED bug!

[scottmcphee]

Memorial Day Special - any TapTurn ordered May 27 with regular shipping option to USA will have its shipping automatically upgraded to express 6 day with tracking, no extra charge.

Peace!

[Jive Turkey]

Originally Posted by scottmcphee

New Feature Alert!

I've added a highly requested feature to the product: allow wig-wag hazard flashing while driving the car (ignition on).

Normally, wig-wag and slow motion hazard modifiers are only possible to use while parked (with the ignition OFF). This is how it's always been with Tap Turn and is how the new product ships by default.

However, the new product lets you enable hazard modifiers to work while in motion by changing a programmable setting once Tap Turn is installed. It's easy to do: start the car, signal right, turn on hazard switch, turn off car. Now you have wig-wag in motion (wig-wam?), and also slow motion hazard modifiers available to use while driving. Just turn on hazards and the signal stalk to get the modifier you want, at any time.

Another New Feature Alert #2!

I've also added a factory reset. This restores the product to default settings (as received). In doing so hazard modifiers while in motion are disabled again, and Tap Turn blinks reset to three (3). It's easy too: start the car, signal left, turn on hazard switch, turn off car. Now the unit is reset. You can only use hazard modifiers while parked (ignition off) again, and Tap Turn works while driving giving 3 blinks.

With new features comes new responsiblities. It may be a moving traffic violation to use wig-wag flashers while driving on public roads. Check your local traffic laws before deciding its OK for you to use wig-wag while in motion.

anyway to make the module i got do this? besides cutting wires under the dash?

[scottmcphee]

Originally Posted by Jive Turkey

anyway to make the module i got do this? besides cutting wires under the dash?

TapTurn --> no cutting wires.

Plug and play.

All features and programmable options are accessible using controls of the car:
the signal stalk, the hazard switch, and ignition key.

real E-Z

[xjohnx]

Originally Posted by scottmcphee

TapTurn --> no cutting wires.

Plug and play.

All features and programmable options are accessible using controls of the car:
the signal stalk, the hazard switch, and ignition key.

real E-Z

I think he was asking if he could make his older tap-turn model incorporate the new features.

[ft_sjo]

I love my TapTurn.

I'm going to try adding a bit of sound deadening to it to lower the click frequency.

[xjohnx]

Originally Posted by ft_sjo

I love my TapTurn.

I'm going to try adding a bit of sound deadening to it to lower the click frequency.

is your in the factory holder? or just dangling from the plug? i found it's louder if you remove the factory one and install the tapturn in its place vs just unplugging the factory one and connecting the tapturn.

[ft_sjo]

Yes it's installed as per OEM. The loudness is fine, i'd just like to lower the perceived frequency to make it more OEM-like.

[Carticular]

So glad someone made this, my Audi had this feature and I loved it!