License Plate strobe light

[almostJDM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSbjgXbDUzo&NR=1

[GeoffM]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSbjgXbDUzo&NR=1

That's nasty. But at the same time a good idea. What really bothers me though is that I might forget it....

[almostJDM]

yea you go to get in your car and grab the wheel, which I do every time i get in, but then again its more then likely tied into the alarm

[GeoffM]

Or it only works when the car is on?
I think you'd need P/S to make it happen

[MadSpleen85]

This thread made my day. LOL

To answer the poll question, YES, as soon as those lights accidentally activate or something if there is any Law Enforcement Officer anywhere nearby, off duty or on, you will instantly have their attention and will be stopped. Police do not like to be impersonated and for good reason. If you want the attention of Police you are better off driving by flipping them the bird. Much lesser offense then impersonation.

Sounds like a very paranoid move IMHO. Unless there is a W16 in place of the backseats and trunk.

That much electrical work and then going with red and blue strobes... Too much that could go wrong and end up in you being on the receiving end of a felony car stop, your car impounded and you sitting in jail.

If you are that concerned about someone breaking into or stealing your car. I would suggest looking for a new place to live or at least a new place to park at night.

There are much easier and tested methods. Alarms, Clubs, detachable steering wheel... Hell buy a wheel boot. If its an audio system you are concerned about, think about reconfiguring it so that it is hidden, detachable faceplate, etc.

The average car thief wont mess with a vehicle that is alarmed, has a club installed or something else visible like that. Usually a kill switch or series of kill switches is not enough to deter a thief from smashing your window and getting inside the car, simply because they don't know that such a thing is there.

Just my two cents.

[DariuszZ]

i like it.
Are you going to have a kill switch on your TCS as well?
Just wondering

[DariuszZ]

on a second thought... i dont think this is gonna work on Christmas man hahaha

[GeoffM]

on a second thought... i dont think this is gonna work on Christmas man hahaha

What?


I like the armed idea. I might just use one of those LEDs (I'll have a lot) and stick it under my dash...

[DariuszZ]

well, if its xmas and someone steals your car, the lights will start blinking eh? So if the cop sees it, he/she's going to think that this is just another decoration for your xmas car!

[CB7Nub]

What's the point?
Other than for evading police or trying to sneek past speed cameras.

[GeoffM]

well, if its xmas and someone steals your car, the lights will start blinking eh? So if the cop sees it, he/she's going to think that this is just another decoration for your xmas car!

Not the way I (plan to) have it set up

What's the point?
Other than for evading police or trying to sneek past speed cameras.

Did you read any of the posts?

[EJX_Michael]

Just get a set of ricer strobes at autozone or something and stick them in the rear tail lights.
Do the whole switch thing and then you can have them for your alarm thingy, then flip them on and feel like a badass on the tuner scene.

[GeoffM]

I almost have all my supplies. I'm going to another radio shack tomorrow to get a bread box. The 'shacks' around here have slim pickins in terms of components now a days.
Anyways, enjoy the images!

This is the one I'm going to build first. I can vary the flash rate by using different capacitors, so I bought a variety pack

This is the other one I was thinking about. Don't know why, but in the store I thought 600 hz would be too fast. Thinking about it now it would probably be perfect.

I hooked the 'blue' LED up to a 9v. It's VERY bright. I actually left it, and aimed it at the door. I'm interested to see if it'll still be on in the morning.

Aimed at the door

Today's haul, with LEDs.

LEDs and included resistors. First thing I've ever imported!


Quickly leaking spark plugs takes priority over this project. But after I get those done, I'm building these!

[GeoffM]

Alright, after lots of trial and error, I realized the 600hz one as it was designed was flashing too fast for the human eye.
I ended up using this schematic, but for R2 I used 220k and 100k.

Here's a video of them in action:


When I used the 100k on the blue circuit, it sped up more to my liking. I might go back and use a 50k, just to see how fast it goes.
Also, the red led isn't as bright as I would've liked. I'm hoping that once I hook it up to the 12v car circuit that it gets brighter.

[GeoffM]

I've got the circuit built and in an enclosure.
To tired to put them in my extra plate lights, so you get a video of them on a breadboard!