Budget Hazard flashers

[pskipper]

Hi,

Thanks to advise from a friend I now have hazard lights on Rosie for under a tenner.

The way I've done it is as follows....

From a purple wire (permenantly live so they will work with the ignition off) I've run a connection to a 4x21W flasher unit (~£5 from halfords, 2 connecter type) from the flasher unit the wire splits to connect to both on terminals of a dual pole, single throw toggle switch (~£2 from maplin) the off terminals are then connected to the indicator circuit (one connecter per side)

/------| |--------left
------Flasher----/-------SWITCH--------right

connecting the switch this way round prevents the new circuit from interfering with the present indicators (if the 2 sides are permentantly connected then they don't flash, they just come on).

I also put a spur off from the lights to an internal warning light as this is required.

Hope this was understandable.

Philip

[rayofleamington]

My hazards were even cheaper - the indicator 'upgrade' on my 54 has 2 switches (one for left and one for right) done sometime in the early 70's. For hazards you just turn them both on at the same time
Seperate switches are not nearly as good as the later column mounted switch, however it does have a novelty value ;-)

One thing to be wary of - the standard flasher unit is rated for 40 watts amps. If you run all 4 indicator bulbs, that is 80 watts, so the flasher unit may not like that for very long!

[pskipper]

One thing to be wary of - the standard flasher unit is rated for 40 watts amps. If you run all 4 indicator bulbs, that is 80 watts, so the flasher unit may not like that for very long!

Yes, that's why I bought an additional flasher unit (although I suppose you could replace the original with a 4x21W. I like my way because it's easy to just unplug everything and return the car to original condition

[Alec]

Hello Ray,

"the standard flasher unit is rated for 40 watts",

if you have a standard bi-metal strip flasher unit, as you say 40 watts, then with twice that the flash rate should be very rapid, as the flash rate is related to the load.

Alec

[bmcecosse]

But if the engine is not running - as is likely when you need the hazard lighting - then the battery voltage will be down, and the flash rate reduced again !

[Cam]

To get the same flashing rate from a 42W (2 x 21W) flasher unit driving 4 x 21W bulbs (84W) you'll need to reduce the voltage from 12v to 6v. If your battery it's dropping to 6v when you switch the engine off then your battery is well and truly cabbaged!

[Relfy]

Waaagghh!