License Plate strobe light

[GeoffM]

I've been toying with the idea of kill switches, and it got me thinking:
I could have all my k/s in one area, and a separate switch in a different area.

The extra switch would control the license plate lights, and if it wasn't hit, the lights would rapidly flash. Therefore attracting attention of (hopefully) the police.

Good idea? Vote
Any ideas of how to make them flash?

[C91BLX7]

Press Alt+F4 and they will.

[tru2037]

Press Alt+F4 and they will.

lol, ass

blinker relay would flash them, but I dont know how much good it would do.... I had a messed up alarm on my civic one day, the damn thing started going off while driving (siren and lights) - I made it all the way home and no police ever checked anything out. I also had a neon licence plate wired directly to the parking lights (having neons on is a number 1 reason to be pulled over in Michigan) and it took about 6 months till I was pulled over.

Coming from Detroit I had heard of a lot of cars just being stole with a flat bed so I did the pager alarm setup - someone messes w/ your ride, the remote will warn you whether its just a bump or if a door opens. It can also be tied into the electronics to keep the car from starting.

I always wanted to get a auto tazer... havent seen them in awhile but it looked like a club.

[GeoffM]

Press Alt+F4 and they will.

I remember when the first time I told someone that! It was back in the day, before tabs so it would just close instantly, and not pause to ask you if you were sure.

[JoshM]

The extra switch would control the license plate lights, and if it wasn't hit, the lights would rapidly flash. Therefore attracting attention of (hopefully) the police.

Why would you want to attract attention?
If you wanted to, you could also just blare the horn when they're around. That way they don't think you're trying to impersonate an officer.

[GeoffM]

Why would you want to attract attention?
If you wanted to, you could also just blare the horn when they're around. That way they don't think you're trying to impersonate an officer.

Ah, I see.

I would have my bank of kill switches, and this would be located elsewhere.

That way, if the thieves managed to find and bypass the switches, they could possibly miss this one. If they missed it, they wouldn't be able to turn off the light show, and it would attract attention. Sort of like a hidden SOS for my car.

If I was driving, I would turn it off. I would turn it back on when I parked.

Edit: Since the thieves wouldn't know it was there, it would essentially be a big sign that says "Pull me over!"

[tru2037]

I thought this was a great approach to dealing w/ theifs....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDrzMGdYWZc

[KB7]

Ah, I see.

I would have my bank of kill switches, and this would be located elsewhere.

That way, if the thieves managed to find and bypass the switches, they could possibly miss this one. If they missed it, they wouldn't be able to turn off the light show, and it would attract attention. Sort of like a hidden SOS for my car.

If I was driving, I would turn it off. I would turn it back on when I parked.

Edit: Since the thieves wouldn't know it was there, it would essentially be a big sign that says "Pull me over!"

except they will know SOMETHING is there, because you have to flip the switch EVERYTIME, just get a two way alarm, its much better

[GeoffM]

Eh, I'll work it out. Most likely I'll only use the more extreme ones when I go to a bad area.

AND I found LEDS! Super cheap too:
http://cgi.ebay.com/100x-WHITE-EXTRA...70522613696224

[blu35p4rr0w]

This sounds plausible. Like if you put it somewhere away from the switch, so if someone who just finds the one kill switch will get it to start and drive away, not knowing that the license plate light is flickering because they did not look at the plates to get the car started.

[GeoffM]

This sounds plausible. Like if you put it somewhere away from the switch, so if someone who just finds the one kill switch will get it to start and drive away, not knowing that the license plate light is flickering because they did not look at the plates to get the car started.

EXACTLY!!!
That's exactly what I'm planning.

[GeoffM]

I figured anybody(cops) driving by would be more attracted by red and blues, so that's what I ordered! 100 of each
Here are the links:
Red
Blue
White

Kinda bummed because I didn't notice the reds don't come with resistors.

[GeoffM]

lol, ass

blinker relay would flash them,

As fast as the hazards? I was looking for something a little faster than that...

[Ralphie]

Is it just me or is it going to be fucking hilarious when something shorts out and this fool gets pulled over on the highway with guns drawn and gets his car impounded and locked up for impersonating an officer ROFL.

[GeoffM]

Is it just me or is it going to be fucking hilarious when something shorts out and this fool gets pulled over on the highway with guns drawn and gets his car impounded and locked up for impersonating an officer ROFL.

I was just thinking that. I'm going ot have to work out a balance between failsafes.
I'll probably run my own wires, with these features:
After a failed attempt starting with the killswitches, the light will automatically kick on.
When the light kicks on, a dim hidden led will light, indicating that the system is on.
The switch will still be able to turn them off. Probably use a soft switch for the relays, and a hard switch for the entire light system.