Warning buzzers for auxiliary lights?

[98 SNAKE EATER]

I have my bumper and rack lighting switches mounted on the center console and there have been a few occasions where either the wife or our dog would lean over and hit them by mistake

During the daytime, you really can't tell they're on until someone pulls up and flips you off for blinding them with 400 watts of rear spotlights

The little indicator lights on the switches themselves do nothing for me, so I've been thinking about adding warning buzzers to the switches (at least to the rear and side lights) just to remind me that they're on

Unfortunately, the ones I have are too large to fit under the switches and way too loud even when wrapped with tape

Any suggestions for small buzzers that are just loud enough to get my attention and not deafen me?

 

[blkprj80]

I saw some radio shack chime that might work?
It said 80 dB sound pressure so that might be too loud.
If the lights are in the back, put the chime in the back?

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

Not looking to mount them outside, just a regular door chime like the stocker will work, but small enough to fit in the console under each switch

I guess sumthin like this will work....

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062399&clickid=prod_cs#

Not sure where the wires go though

 

[Photoman]

It would also be possible to use a delay timer relay or two and have the buzzer start after the lights had been left on for so many seconds or minutes. Further it should be possible for the buzzer to turn off after so many seconds in case the lights were needed to be on for an extended period and the buzzer was getting annoying. The relays would have to be mounted remotely from the switches and buzzer but it is just running wires.

Bill

 

[superjuice]

If you had a second relay to output a ground signal, it could be tapped into the door pin switch. This way if the ignition is on and the ground signal is sent, the door light would illuminate and the dash light would indicate the door was open.

This is what I did to remind me my swing out was open.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/446681-swing-out-open-alarm.html

 

[CruiseOrlando]

Another thought - why not just use a switch with a cover on it? Something like this?

http://www.amazon.com/Racing-On-Off-SPST-Toggle-Switch/dp/B006FTIH78

 

[lugueto]

much better idea to have the cover on the switch, having a buzzer would most probably be an iffy installation and quite frankly become a pain in the ***

 

[turbo5s]

90's BMW's have a chime module, has several different tones. It's about 1.5" round by 2" tall cylinder. I think at least one of the tones is a soft ding that might be good for a reminder. Probably more than you need, I just like the part because you can use it for other warning tones (low oil pressure, overtemp)..

though a cover does sound better so you don't accidentally hit it..

 

[ironhippy]

what about a indicator light on the dash? A little LED would let you know one of the AUX lights are on.

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

It would also be possible to use a delay timer relay or two and have the buzzer start after the lights had been left on for so many seconds or minutes. Further it should be possible for the buzzer to turn off after so many seconds in case the lights were needed to be on for an extended period and the buzzer was getting annoying. The relays would have to be mounted remotely from the switches and buzzer but it is just running wires.

Bill

I have 3 huge boxes filled with adjustable timer relays I've pulled from city buses, but I'd rather keep things simple with a little noise maker

The majority of the time when I use the rear or side lights for extended periods, I'm rarely inside, so it won't get too annoying.

The rest of the time is just to blind some a-hole behind me with his high beams on

The light relays are all mounted on the rack in the compressor box and I'd rather not run anymore up there

If you had a second relay to output a ground signal, it could be tapped into the door pin switch. This way if the ignition is on and the ground signal is sent, the door light would illuminate and the dash light would indicate the door was open.

This is what I did to remind me my swing out was open.
https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/446681-swing-out-open-alarm.html

I like this idea

I take it your alarm won't arm unless the swing out is closed?

Another thought - why not just use a switch with a cover on it? Something like this?

http://www.amazon.com/Racing-On-Off-SPST-Toggle-Switch/dp/B006FTIH78

That would work fine in my old hotrod, but not on my nice clean cruiser dash

I plan on tapping into unused filter light in the cluster for my strobe lights just to keep things clean

much better idea to have the cover on the switch, having a buzzer would most probably be an iffy installation and quite frankly become a pain in the ***

I prefer OEM style switches just so everything looks factory

And the install should be a breeze

If the buzzer is small enough to fit under each switch, it would probably take five minutes to splice the wiring with new female connectors and just plug them in

 

[Mr Cimarron]

What about adding a "hot" switch like some do for in cab winch controls. You can make a OEM switch work for that keeping the clean look. At least that way two buttons have to be pushed for lights to be on.

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

What about adding a "hot" switch like some do for in cab winch controls. You can make a OEM switch work for that keeping the clean look. At least that way two buttons have to be pushed for lights to be on.

All of my OEM slots have already been filled

 

[Mr Cimarron]

All of my OEM slots have already been filled

What about removing the plug and adding a switch where the hand throttle would go?

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

What about removing the plug and adding a switch where the hand throttle would go?

You mean the spot where I have my hand throttle?

 

[Dazrin]

You mean the spot where I have my hand throttle?

It sounds to me like the only thing left to do is take out some of your mods and donate them to some of us who are less fortunate! That will free up some space for you.

The door chime option that superjuice mentioned seems very slick to me although I wouldn't want it to turn on my dome lights (especially if you have LEDs). Maybe have a hidden switch under the dash or in a console to disable the aux lights?

 

[CruiseOrlando]

One more thought ... Well, two really. One, get a key switch, and set any aux lights off a relay that has to be energized (by the key switch) before the lights can come on. You can put the key switch somewhere hidden if you're out of spots.

Speaking of out of spots, there was a thread a few days ago with a NICE switch "plate" at the base of the dash. I would like to it but I'm on my phone right now. I even mentioned how I was waiting for you to see it, knowing your switch situation.

The last thought is a derivative of the first. Instead of a key, use another master switch. If it isn't on, the others can't work. Put that one somewhere out of the way, like in the glove box area. Oh wait... That's where your camera recorder is... Hah!

 

[superjuice]

Question asked:
I take it your alarm won't arm unless the swing out is closed?

It's not really an alarm, just an idiot light, it mimics an open door. So if you turned the roof lights on, the relay would ground the door pin switch, turning on the dome light and showing an open door on the dash. No annoying buzzer when they are on, but you probably couldn't miss both the dome light and the dash light if it was turned on by mistake. Plus it's OEM style

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

Question asked:
I take it your alarm won't arm unless the swing out is closed?

It's not really an alarm, just an idiot light, it mimics an open door. So if you turned the roof lights on, the relay would ground the door pin switch, turning on the dome light and showing an open door on the dash. No annoying buzzer when they are on, but you probably couldn't miss both the dome light and the dash light if it was turned on by mistake. Plus it's OEM style

no, I meant your factory alarm (if you have one)

It's usually triggered when a door is opened and won't arm if a door isn't closed all the way (or when the idiot light on the dash is on)

I would think your added circuit for your swing out would make the alarm think a door is still open and won't arm

Also, wouldn't it trigger the alarm if someone opens up the swing out while it's armed?

 

[motorcoach123]

I have 3 huge boxes filled with adjustable timer relays I've pulled from city buses...

Many of the transit buses I work on have a faint audible beeper when the turn signals are activated to remind the operator that they have their foot on the switch and the signal is on. It wouldnt be so loud as to annoy you, only a reminder. Not sure if they are 12v or 24 volt though....Just an thought.
FWIW

Cheers,
Gord

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

I have 3 huge boxes filled with adjustable timer relays I've pulled from city buses...

Many of the transit buses I work on have a faint audible beeper when the turn signals are activated to remind the operator that they have their foot on the switch and the signal is on. It wouldnt be so loud as to annoy you, only a reminder. Not sure if they are 12v or 24 volt though....Just an thought.
FWIW

Cheers,
Gord

The ones I've pulled from City buses are way too big to fit in the switch holes