Tap Turn

[KAR]

Originally Posted by scottmcphee

It uses relays so ya, it makes click noises per on and off cycle. My relays are plastic with metal bits inside so they make more like the metallic click clacks, if the relays were wooden with wood bits inside they might make more of a wooden click clack.


Now hear this: I actually have a sound chip and tiny speaker that could all fit inside tapturn and I'm experimenting with recording custom sounds that play back under tapturn control so I can actually have it chirp like bird or bark like a dog for every click. I don't know why I do experiments like this.

your out of control... when I first ask for strobe pattern, i was doubtful, looks like you can do whatever you want with these things...

[BRZNutt]

Just installed my tap turn relay with my Tom's tail lights and front turn signal LEDs. Very pleased with the results. No lag when you engage the switch and the flash is a distinct on and off. I wrapped some foam weatherstripping around it to cut down on the noise. I played around with the settings to give me 4 flashes on the lane change function and 24 seconds of delay before the lights go off when I lock it. Pretty cool feature as I can tell that I locked the car when I walk away in the parking garage at work. I always turn around and look at the car as I walk away.

[soundman98]

only thing i'm dissapointed in is that it sounds different then the stock flasher.. i can't get used to it...

[scottmcphee]

Originally Posted by soundman98

only thing i'm dissapointed in is that it sounds different then the stock flasher.. i can't get used to it...

Oh man, I need to get that sound chip in there to make stock tick sound.

Actually, if you send me your stock flasher I can transplant the sound making parts of it into a tapturn and thereby make an exact clone of the sounds that came with the car.

Or just get used to the sweet new sounds of your tapturn... Each one is a little bit different, it's like a fingerprint.

[soundman98]

i could do that too, as i'm plenty skilled with a soldering iron..

i haven't taken the stock flasher apart, but does that use the same dual-relay setup you use? the china led flasher i took apart just used one relay which lead me to believe that the stock one could be of either design-- haven't opened it up yet..

i know the sound difference is caused by the difference in size and moving mass of the relay components, so it doesn't bother me as much, more of just a reminder that the feature is there..

but no, the speaker would drive me absolutely up the wall.. i'm familiar with some stock units that use those, and that would be something i'd absolutely need to change... i gotta have the mechanical contacts making the noise..

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by scottmcphee

Directional Park Lights

TapTurn lets you light corner markers on one side of the vehicle or the other simply by using the signal stalk while parked. When the vehicle is off, engaging the signal stalk left illuminates the left front and rear signal bulbs steadily (not blinking). Bulbs stay lit until the signal stalk is returned to center position so you can leave the car parked this way. Same story goes for the right side of the vehicle by engaging the signal stalk right while parked.

Directional Park lights are commonly found in European makes and provide a good parking aid for narrow streets where only one side of the car needs its markers lit. 4-way parking lights can still be used when all corners of the vehicle need to be lit - just use your parking light switch as you would normally. 4-way parking lights can be used in combination with Directional Park lights, if you like.

Why would you want your lights on when the car is off except at a car show? Battery drain.

[scottmcphee]

People have different reasons for using different kinds of lights. Fighting dark forces is a major one.

The thing is if you upgrade signals to LED, the TapTurn directional parking light would draw so little power you could leave it on all night and not worry. Doing that with stock parking lamps and switch might drain the battery too much to start in the morning. That could be a reason right there.

One thing I noticed at the car show this year is so many of the exhibits now leave the car's with lights switched on to show off all the attention manufacturers are now giving to lighting in and around the cars. Lotsa LED features, running lamps, daytime driving lights, good looking tail lights, etc... When people are done sitting and playing in the car salesman reaches in and flicks on the parking lights. ...attract mode

[rokius]

I honestly didn't know how convenient this thing would become (I can't go back)
This is the definition of Plug & Play

[BRZNutt]

Great Tap Turn story to share. My wife ran out of gas on the interstate today so when I pulled over behind her to put some gas in her car, I put my hazard lights on wig wag mode so it looked like I was an unmarked police car pulling her over for speeding. Can't wait to hear all the people saying that Kentucky is now using BRZs for unmarked police cars!

[SilverlightPony]

Be careful with that, you might get popped for impersonating an officer.

[BRZNutt]

Originally Posted by SilverlightPony

Be careful with that, you might get popped for impersonating an officer.

Good point. I meant it more as a joke. Hopefully I won't be doing again...

[RFB]

Originally Posted by scottmcphee

I leave interpretation of laws and regulations to the user. I do include two clear disclaimers in the instructions about seeking answers to such questions before using certain features on roadways.

I am aware of several pieces of regulations and laws that would apply to me. And I use TapTurn modes accordingly.

But also am aware of special circumstances, and needs, such as some TapTurn customers are EMT responders who are allowed to equip their civilian cars with as much light show as necessary ... and they know when to use them.

There's some "fuzzy" ground in DOT regulations about flashers. (I read those regs). They use words like "regular pattern"... they also distinguish between "flashes" and "pulses". As in pulsing 3rd brake lights.. They also talk about frequencies of flashing or blinking, and have maximums and minimums. etc.. Talk about color too... blue/red etc. I recall synchronicity discussion and front / back behaviours, there's quite a bit in there. Meant to cover special needs vehicles (safety, maintenance, emergency, etc.) as well as standard passenger vehicles, and any other kind of vehicle you find on the road.

I find those reg's a bit OUTDATED, even though they try to keep current, because modern electronics move at a great pace and have carved into huge new territories of functional possibilities that don't seem to have adequate acknowledgement in the reg's. Reg's tend to have a dominant "standard flasher relay" mentality behind them, you can tell just from the language. More and more cars these days simply don't use flasher relays at all. They directly control everything about lighting from a computer, which is what TapTurn is, a really small computer.

If all else fails to inform: common sense should preside! (That's what Judges often boil things down to in court... and they blend in a little "reasonable" to go with it.)

And have comfort in knowing that TapTurn behaves EXACTLY like a stock flasher when used in stock fashion. It's only when you want to use a special new feature that you invoke it by doing something special.

The fact that you can quickly de-tune TapTurn (set all its "extra" features off by simple quick programming done from your driver's seat...) is comforting. Say, if an inspection were needed to demonstrate just how "regular" your car is. Call it valet mode, or safe mode, wife mode, ...or whatever. If you don't know how to invoke a special feature, it's not going to happen under normal use.

This has always been a key design philosophy of mine when doing auto electronics: preserve stock behaviour when stock controls are used in ways described in the operator manual. And GO NUTS outside of those constraints... but always put the user in control!

It all depends on the jurisdiction. Closely CHECK your local laws!
In Ontario strobes are common (tow trucks , hearses etc.).
As long as the colour is legal (no red, green, or blue to front or sides etc.) you should be good to go.

I use full strobes and wig wag all the time and love that feature.
I have been observed by the tailight chasers and stopped by them and never been bothered about the strobes. I think the cops like them because they are safer.

The only thing I could find in the Ontario Highway traffic act was a section that prohibits automatic pulsating brake lights on cars (strange because you can do this by pumping your brake pedal).
Also strange because I spoke to a buddy who is a Ministry Of Transport Inspector and he told me that auto pulse brake light is legal for motorcycles !
And yeah, I have an auto pulse brake light and the cops also never bothered me about it either!

I LOVE my tap turn ! A great safety feature.



CERBERUS

[Mad1723]

And.... Ordered! Thanks for this little gadget. Since I started using my Tiguan's quick activated 3-strobe signal, I kind of have a tendency to try to use it on my FR-S.

Now I'll have this and even more.

[xcelir8brz]

Cheaper for those who already have a prior version.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk