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Message started by J2 on 09/29/10 at 08:00:16

Title: Blinker Buddy
Post by J2 on 09/29/10 at 08:00:16

I am used to turn signals that emit a ticking, clicking or sometimes even a beeping noise when you activate them. The turn signal on the S40 is absolutely silent, and I don't go down the road with my eyes focused on the tank (turn signal indicators). So, I would like a little noise, please, to remind me that my turn signal is blinking. I have heard of a couple of mods, ie a "Blinker Buddy," and just hooking a Radio Shack Piezo beeper from one of the flasher relay wires to ground. I don't know if that's a good idea, but more importantly, to begin with, I don't know where the flasher relay is. Any comment on the Blinker Buddy, soldering a beeper from one flasher lead to ground or where the flasher relay is?

Title: Re: Blinker Buddy
Post by youzguyz on 09/29/10 at 08:29:34

The relay is under the tank. Front right side. You can see it and change it without pulling the tank off.

As far as the beeping, here is the way I did it:

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?board=tech;action=display;num=1189100000

Mine shuts up when the brake light is on.

Title: Re: Blinker Buddy
Post by J2 on 09/30/10 at 07:06:51

I see what you have done and why (I have an educational background in engineering), but I think there is probably a simpler way ... without involving the brake light circuit. I would just want to add an oscillator/transducer (Piezo beeper) to the turn signal light circuit. I don't care if it goes off when the brake is activated. If the flasher relay is under the tank, that means the additional beeper element would probably have to be mounted outside. I believe you put it on a frame piece. This makes it vulnerable to moisture and other things, so that element, which would be part of the circuit, has to be carefully sealed. A local Suzuki technician is raising all kinds of worry flags about the harness cross connections to the bike's computer (ECM). The best, safest thing to do would be to simply replace the existing Suzuki flasher (relay) with one that makes noise ... click or beep or something ... rather than add to the circuit anything that might fail and produce unintended results. I think the tech is being overly cautious with regard to any spikes that might get to the computer, but that's what they get paid for. I think I will explore to see if there is a simple, replacement turn signal flasher relay that makes noise. The old relays used to really SNAP when they closed. Anybody know of a replacement for the stock Suzuki turn signal flasher (other than all those now being used for LEDs)?

Title: Re: Blinker Buddy
Post by youzguyz on 09/30/10 at 09:38:19

Good luck finding ANY stock flasher that will be loud enough to be heard.

Other people have done the direct wire to the flasher. Do a search on the message forum for more ideas.

I installed that stuff 3 years ago.

I ride in rain, through dirt, and I even wash the bike once in a while. Yeah, if the beeper gets wet inside sounds a bit sick until it dries out, but never had any electrical issue with that or any other component.

Spikes going back to the CDI?? get real. That mechanical flasher is inducing more "spikes" than any of my "electronics" ever will. ;D

Title: Re: Blinker Buddy
Post by J2 on 09/30/10 at 10:49:04

Well ... good to hear, and thanks for the info. I don't come down too hard on the Suzuki techs. They are trained to resist mods. I assume that modifying your idea to eliminate the brake circuit will still work.

Title: Re: Blinker Buddy
Post by youzguyz on 09/30/10 at 11:13:50

Yes, it will work fine without the brake circuit.

However, you need to remember that my circuit gets power AFTER the turn signal switch (it is wired to the lights, not the flasher)

If you wire into the flasher, that is BEFORE the switch. I'm not sure that will even work. One side is always hot (orange), the other side (lt Blue) goes to the switch.
If you put the beeper on the switch side and ground to the frame, it could pass enough current to activate the flasher when the switch is not even on.
If you put the beeper in series on the switch side, there won't be enough current to run the lights.

I also read that someone wired the beeper across the flasher, but not on a Savage. That wouldn't work on the Savage. Beeper would get power all the time. It would only shut up if the switch was on and the lights were blinking on. I never tried it any of those ways, so I don't know.
(I stand corrected. Routy did it, and it works great! Don't know where my brain was.. It will beep when the blinker light is off)

If you wire your beeper into the lights, you either need to use the rectifier to isolate the left lights from the right (like I did), or just use two beepers, one for each side.

If any of that is obvious, ignore it. :D

Title: Re: Blinker Buddy
Post by J2 on 09/30/10 at 12:20:37

Of course, I would never ignore helpful suggestions. Yes, I saw what you did, going to the lights directly instead of wiring across the flasher. Very astute. That is why I was hoping I could just replace the flasher with one that makes noise. If I decide to play around with this (that will be dictated by how much time I have to play), I will do what you did, minus the brake light circuit. I don't have the diagram in front of me, but I think you must have routed negative ground from the beeper to the relay that opens and closes the ground based on the brake circuit state. I will just find a handy ground instead.

Thanks again.

Title: Re: Blinker Buddy
Post by youzguyz on 09/30/10 at 14:02:53

If you are doing it that way, the easiest place to hook in would be inside the headlight. All the turn signal wires have bullet connectors in there. Any wire that is black with a white stripe is chassis ground.

Title: Re: Blinker Buddy
Post by J2 on 10/01/10 at 05:25:15

Great convenience. I am a big fan of "easy." Thanks again.

Title: Re: Blinker Buddy
Post by thumperclone on 10/05/10 at 16:54:11

jc whitney has a turn signal beeper sku# 1JA014425
rated @ 86 db
they use to carry a 2 prong beeper relay but i cant seem to find it any more..
also try:
retrobikes.com
part # 102-068

Title: Re: Blinker Buddy
Post by J2 on 10/07/10 at 14:03:43

Now, that may be the easiest solution yet. It would appear to be exactly what I am looking for ... a relay that also beeps. The best possible solution would be for me to be able to pull the stock flasher relay on the Suzy and substitute one that beeps. This one, from retrobikes.com, costs 11 bucks and beeps. The info on the site says this relay fits a "Retro Trail 70, Monkey, and others." Never heard of those. I have no idea if this relay, which is 12V and two-prong, would work on the S40. For 11 bucks, I would be willing to find out ... hopefully, without blowing any fuses. I don't know how difficult it is to access the turn signal relay, which is supposed to be under the tank, right side. If I could get hold of it, I could measure the resistance through it and see how well that stacks up against the resistance through the relay from retrobikes.

Thanks for the tip.

EDIT: I would need to measure the current through each relay to compare them. Relays are normally open, so resistance would be infinite in each case. "Resistance is futile!"

Title: Re: Blinker Buddy
Post by Routy on 07/21/12 at 08:16:52

Don't know if I ever seen more ideas on a signal beeper.

But there are 2 very simple ways to make it work,......w/o any parts except a beeper,

One is to use a beeper on each side connected in parallel to the bulbs

The other...(thanks to others on the forum) and simplest way (shown below, is to use 1 piezo beeper wired accross (in parallel w/) the flasher.
(I know the pic is not very detailed)

Don't even think it won't work cuz it does !

I used 20 ga solid doorbell wire, bare'd the ends 3/8", then pushed them into the back side of the flasher plug,.....never even unplugged the flasher ! A little zip tie to secure the wire from ever coming out.

http://p1.bikepics.com/2012/07/21/bikepics-2431607-800.jpg

Title: Re: Blinker Buddy
Post by Routy on 07/21/12 at 16:33:34

I took a 50 mile ride w/ the signal beeper, and it works great,.....too great is the problem ! I don't know the db of that piezo, but its used on a commercial Walker mower to let you know when the grass catcher is full, and is heard above the sound of a 20 hp Kohler engine running balls out. In short, its much too loud,....even hurts my ears !

But I have 2 80-100 db piezos coming,....ordered when I was going to use 1 on each side. So I'm hoping 1 of those will be a bit quieter. If not. I'll quiet it down some way. Otherwise it works great, no more blinkers left on.

Title: Re: Blinker Buddy
Post by Routy on 08/24/12 at 06:23:23

Just an up date here,.....
A month ago I installed the single new 85 db piezo inside the headlite, connected in parallel w/ the flasher (under the RS front of the tank) Everything incl the volume is just perfect.

If you ignore all the stuff above, this is just about the simpliest and most useful mod there is ! Just connect across the flasher (in parallel with)

Title: Re: Blinker Buddy
Post by Todd James on 09/26/12 at 23:05:46

Here's a picture of a Radio Shack Piezoelectric buzzer attached to my turn signal relay. This buzzer is polarized so the black buzzer wire must attach to the blue relay wire and the red buzzer wire must attach to the brown (or red) relay wire.

http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b527/jaytoddpics/Buzzer%20Install/Web3116WiredtoFlasher_zpsa231c3d5.jpg

http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b527/jaytoddpics/Buzzer%20Install/Web3116WiredtoFlasher_zpsa231c3d5.jpg

Title: Re: Blinker Buddy
Post by Gyrobob on 09/27/12 at 04:49:59

One of my buds back in school was hard of hearing. He had both his bike and his car set up with small 12v solenods. When the flasher was sending current anywhere, the solenoid would actuate, moving the plunger far enough so it would hit something with enough force so you could actually feel the little bit of impact in your hands.

In the car, he had it mounted under the dash in a position to thump the steering column. You could feel it quite easily in the steering wheel. For those of us with normal hearing, you could also hear it. It was pretty loud inside the car, but that didn't help him any,... he needed to feel it.

On his bike (a Bonneville) he had it set up to thump against a fork or triple tree or handlebar or something,... I forget. It was really easy to feel that "click" though, even on a vibrator like a Triumph.

The solenoids were pretty small,.. maybe 3/4" square. I don't remember what they came off of. I'll bet there are a thousand 12v low amperage small solenoids to choose from.

I don't think I'd like a beeper. I'd feel weird making noises like that in traffic.

Title: Re: Blinker Buddy
Post by Routy on 09/27/12 at 06:02:53

6D464A425473484343270 wrote:

This is definently the easiest.......,and best way ! Just mount the piezo inside the headlite where it won't deaf'n you, and will stay dry.

Title: Re: Blinker Buddy
Post by Todd James on 09/27/12 at 07:45:52

Routy...
I forgot to credit you for the piezoelectric
buzzer idea.
Thank you.
Took me a bit to figure out why this simple
solution actually works, but the electronics
principles are solid and it won't hurt your bike.
That Radio Shack buzzer I used may not be loud
enough if you have a loud exhaust or wear ear plugs.
But for $3.59 and a few minutes time it may be
worth a try for some. It's definitely not loud
enough to mount in the headlight (which is a great
idea) so I just taped mine to the flasher relay
under the tank out of the weather.
I have a few more installation pics if anyone's
interested.

Title: Re: Blinker Buddy
Post by hotprops on 04/10/15 at 11:11:56

you can still buy that part #273-059 from radio shack .89 cents shipping is high got 2 for $9.24 total

Title: Re: Blinker Buddy
Post by Todd James on 04/10/15 at 23:12:20

hotprops:

Thanks for the heads-up on the buzzers still being available from Radio
Shack.
Unfortunately, so many of the stores are closed now, most of us will have
to mail-order them like you did.
The good news is that we can avoid the shipping charge by ordering
at least 60 buzzers at a time ;D

Just in case others are interested in the details of how I installed mine,
here are a few more pictures:

Strip some insulation from the buzzer wires:

http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b527/jaytoddpics/Buzzer%20Install/Web3120WireStrip_zps649a7c3d.jpg

Unplug the flasher relay from the connector, push the buzzer wires into the
back side of the connector, then trim the ends off to about 1/8" or so.

http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b527/jaytoddpics/Buzzer%20Install/Web3128Wires_zps5556542c.jpg

Plug the flasher back into the connector, tape the buzzer to the flasher,
cut a hole in the tape to uncover the buzzer speaker opening, then push
the flasher/buzzer assembly back into the rubber holder thingy under
the right side of fuel tank.

http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b527/jaytoddpics/Buzzer%20Install/Web3168Taped_zps1d6a5378.jpg