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What do you think about an automatic headlight shutoff?

G

gotstang

Member
After working on Craig #2's problems: http://www.stangfix.com/testforum/index.php/topic,3751.0.html

I got inspired and started thinking about what else I could do with the parts. After I thought about it enough, I realized that it would make a great auto-headlight shutoff. You could have it just like a newer car, if you accidentally leave the lights on, they would shut off after 15 minutes.

Would you guys be interested in something like this? It could be a very cheap item, and it seems a heck of a lot more useful than hacking up the wiring to install a buzzer that you can ignore until the battery dies. :rofl
 
I would go for 2-5 mins. at the most. Enough to get out of the car and unlock the house door. Going 15 mins. would be to long for me. Sounds interesting though.

Could use one to install in many different, newer cars too.
 
"AzPete" said:
I would go for 2-5 mins. at the most. Enough to get out of the car and unlock the house door. Going 15 mins. would be to long for me. Sounds interesting though.

Could use one to install in many different, newer cars too.
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Good point Pete, I didn't know how long to keep the lights on...I know the newer Chevys are 45mins and then off, but that seems way too long. I can set it up for any amount of time, I just didn't know how long to make it. I guess I'll plan for 5-8mins and see what happens when I build one, lol.
 
"tarafied1" said:
you what would be really cool? Intermitten wipers!
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Eh, Ford made all the parts to do it, just takes a little creative junkyard searching for a mid-80s pickup and the right switch to fit your car...I'd just do that, but what can I say, I'm just lazy. :D
 
So, if you do the auto off, will this option also have the sensor to turn them on when it gets so dark and the car is running?
 
"AzPete" said:
So, if you do the auto off, will this option also have the sensor to turn them on when it gets so dark and the car is running?
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+1 You would need a sensor of some kind, but is the only way i see it to be worth the trouble.
 
Hey, since we are into this, how about a timer/dimmer on the interior lights so they slowly dim to off after the car is started.......lol
 
"AzPete" said:
So, if you do the auto off, will this option also have the sensor to turn them on when it gets so dark and the car is running?
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I was just after a solution to "ohmygod, I left my headlights on', but fully automatic headlights wouldn't be hard to do. Only catch is that there are auto systems so cheap that I couldn't build them fast/cheap/nice enough for it to be worth it.

Here's a good/cheap full auto headlight kit: http://www.amazon.com/Directed-Electronics-545T-Nite-Lite-System/dp/B000CJ24YY

The nice thing about my idea is that it is VERY cheap and fairly easy to build and could be sold in mass cheaply. It makes Craig's taillight controller look like a space shuttle computer...that's why I was so taken with it Vs. getting fancy. Plus I'm just lazy. :rofl

PS: Pete, these things have all of 2 interior lights. :rofl
 
Yea, but I have to turn them on and off as opposed to automatically dimming to off like the new cars......plus I was kidding......you know, making them more like the new cars.....taking away the "classic" operation. Your option sounds good, for sure if the wife drives it more....
 
I got this circuit out of a magazine - it turns the headlights on when it's dark, and holds them on for two minutes. I've built it, and it seems to work fine. Not installed yet, though.

275_28_11_09_7_34_34.jpg


Gotstang, I can email you a pdf if you'd like.
 
"AzPete" said:
Yea, but I have to turn them on and off as opposed to automatically dimming to off like the new cars......plus I was kidding......you know, making them more like the new cars.....taking away the "classic" operation. Your option sounds good, for sure if the wife drives it more....
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Hehe, just f'n with ya pete. I agree though, add too many widgits and you don't get the full experience. Rumbly, noisy and smelly is where it's at. :rp

apollard, I might send you a PM later on. I started on a design and googled a bunch of other designs (and somehow yours looks very familiar), but for now, I'll take it slow with this idea unless someone wants one or I can find an excuse to build one soon. :rofl I've got to agree though, that auto headlight kit is a real mood killer...I knew they were cheap, but I happened to look em up and DAYUM...eff DIY. :D

Craig #2: I hit the f-ing motherload of car related geek projects, thanks to google, and much to my surprise, they had DIY intermittent wipers all figured out, on the super cheap/easy. Only thing was they expected you to adjust the speed with a pushbutton....WTF? :headac
 
"gotstang" said:
Craig #2: I hit the f-ing motherload of car related geek projects, thanks to google, and much to my surprise, they had DIY intermittent wipers all figured out, on the super cheap/easy. Only thing was they expected you to adjust the speed with a pushbutton....WTF? :headac
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hmmmmm, it still might be better than constantly turning them on and off in a drizzle. That's the modern gadget I miss most when driving my Stang in the rain!
 
"gotstang" said:
After working on Craig #2's problems: http://www.stangfix.com/testforum/index.php/topic,3751.0.html

I got inspired and started thinking about what else I could do with the parts. After I thought about it enough, I realized that it would make a great auto-headlight shutoff. You could have it just like a newer car, if you accidentally leave the lights on, they would shut off after 15 minutes.

Would you guys be interested in something like this? It could be a very cheap item, and it seems a heck of a lot more useful than hacking up the wiring to install a buzzer that you can ignore until the battery dies. :rofl
Click to expand...

Hello,

I would be interested...don't need anything fancy just something that kills the power to headlights after x minutes when car not running in case I leave them on...

It has been known to happen occasionally :craz

Marc Cramer
 
Same here, I've left them on before and was going hunting for one of those fuse box buzzers but an auto timer would be nice.
5 min. max I would say, just to get in the door as mentioned. I take it you can hide it easily under the dash?
Jon
 
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