Custom TA indicators for switch plates

[Kendreth]

Evening Folks, I usually make my own switch boxes/ plates for my vehicles. i know that their are better options prefab that you can buy, but its something i enjoy doing.
i would like to do a custom led array for a traffic adviser with indicator lights like the ones found on the Feniex 4200 controller or the code 3 narrowstik controller. anyone know where i can get a wiring/ circuit schematic for this? i need to see it drawn out on paper thats how I learn this kind of stuff. i want to experiment with the idea but i don't even know where to start.

 

[Jarred J.]

just tap an individual led to each output of whatever flasher...

 

[Jarred J.]

sorry i cant edit....

but this is my sho me flasher and it has status leds built on to it... just relay some out like this...

 

[Kendreth]

DISCLAIMER: i am in no way an expert or 100% proficient with 12v automotive electrical systems or electronics. my knowledge is based off the best reliable information i can find on "the google" or life experience. with that out of the way thanks for the video! I do understand how to get it to indicate that its on or off with a single led. im trying to figure out the circuit to make a row of 6 or 8 leds display whatever the pattern is running on the ta at the time. if i had it on warning mode in pattern alternating between heads 1,3,5 and 2,4,6 i would want the led indicator lights to light in the same pattern showing 1,3,5 lit while 2,4,6 are dark ect. what i'm asking for is what i would need. relays? resistors? custom pcb? (if that's what it would really take) if i wanted to fabricate the led setup of the above pictured controllers from scratch. what does the internal circuitry look like where i take for example the grey wire for right arrow to a TA. i add power and get a right arrow pattern on the unit. how do i tell my switch panel which leds to light on the indicator? i dont know enough about this level of wiring to understand if this is even possible to do in a home garage setting.

thanks for the help!

 

[Jarred J.]

Ok it depends on the leds you want to use and their voltage. Their are surface mount 12v leds. You would ground them all together the run the positive of one led to one output of your flasher as in the one in my video....

Might need more in put from you

 

[MtnMan]

take for example the grey wire for right arrow to a TA. i add power and get a right arrow pattern on the unit.

Sounds like you have a TA with a built-in pattern controller, correct?

If so, you would need to run a bunch of wires (one per TA lighthead) from the TA to back the control panel, then connect each wire to an LED indicator with a resistor.

 

[Kendreth]

Yea! that's what i was wondering. so if i had an off the shelf TA i would need to run a separate cable from the TA to the panel with individual wire dedicated to the led array on the switch panel with resistors at the panel.

so maybe this is my lack of knowledge in this area but how do the off the shelf controllers perform this function without the extra cable? is it logic built into the pcb?
was going to try to build a fancy switch panel for the new rig but may be more effort than its worth to just save up and buy a control head.

thanks guys!!

 

[Jarred J.]

You wouldn't need resistors.... your not backfeeding from the feedback display to the arrow... you need to know the voltage of the control wires then buy leds rated for that amperage....

 

[Kendreth]

that helps keep it simpler. i'm trying to hand draw out the wiring now ill let you guys know if i work it out. this is the type i usually build. this was for my s10. red covered sw was main power. 2 led indicators were "idiot" lights on the response mode front and back sw3 was scene lighting and sw4 was my cheapie asian ta. looking to expand my knowledge base and try new things.

very much appreciate all you professionals sharing your knowledge.