Home-made Shift Light is now running!!!

Navigator · August 27th, 2011, 10:50 PM

Here's a short video of my shift light in action. You'll notice that the 2 red LEDs at the top of the screen will light up at ~8,000rpm. I can set it to light up anywhere from 4,500rpm ~ 13,000rpm, in 600rpm increments, using DIP switches.

Link to original page on YouTube.

The LEDs are great in the dark but somewhat hard to see in bright sunlight. I need a different type of indicator I think.

Overall it's great to have because it is so much easier to use than the tach. I now focus more on the road ahead because I can see the light from the corner of my eye, no need to shift my focus to the tach while I ride.

BTW this is an analog version of a shift light, there's no microprocessor in there.

Installation is simple only 3 wires to connect. First wire to +12v, 2nd wire to ground, and the 3rd wire is wrapped around (no connection) the sparkplug wire, 5 turns only, to act as a pickup antenna.

CZroe · August 27th, 2011, 11:44 PM

Good job! Looks like ninja250/KC has some competition!

TheMojoRider · August 28th, 2011, 12:11 AM

Dang that is cool! I want one but with brighter/larger light

leed · August 28th, 2011, 02:27 PM

Try a more powerful LED, but also a Blue or Violet light. They tend to stick out more. Red is the worst.

ducducgooseit · August 28th, 2011, 02:33 PM

And now for additional feature requests - Can you program an array of leds so that as you approach the programmable limit more of the leds light up? Using say 5 leds, the first four blue and the actual limit light as superbright or physically larger red led?

Indy250r · August 28th, 2011, 02:45 PM

You could try this: http://search.digikey.com/scripts/Dk...AN-CY0C0461-ND

Super bright (~20,000 millicandella) Same current most likely as what you are using now. It will probably be way too bright at night though.

Navigator · August 28th, 2011, 03:46 PM

Thanks everyone!!! The LEDs are actually much brighter than what can be seen on the video. The camera angle was off to one side and missed the LED light beam entirely. I also increased the current to the LEDs and they are so much brighter now. I'll post another video soon.

I need to make a board for it since what I have is just a rat's nest held with tape to the bike.

Testing the concept first before making the final version.

@ Ducducgooseit: This version does not have a program running. The function was implemented using a different concept and would need a lot of additional components to include the functions you requested. But I do agree it would be nice to have!

Navigator · August 28th, 2011, 07:01 PM

I need to tidy things up a lot!!!

Amazingly this contraption held fast for >120kms distance travelled.

trevor_shiggs · August 28th, 2011, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Navigator

I need to tidy things up a lot!!!

Amazingly this contraption held fast for >120kms distance travelled.

What the FU*K hahahhaha. Wow.

jonnyc · August 28th, 2011, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Navigator

I need to tidy things up a lot!!!

Amazingly this contraption held fast for >120kms distance travelled.

Please tell me you were kidding

Good mod still. Prob will do myself. Thank you.

Navigator · August 28th, 2011, 10:15 PM

Here's a much better video that shows the light better. Brighter too.

Link to original page on YouTube.

Had to lower the trip point to 5,000rpm so as not to stress the engine so much (no load + high rpm). In actual use I set it at ~11,000rpm for hard break-in.

CZroe · August 28th, 2011, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leed

Try a more powerful LED, but also a Blue or Violet light. They tend to stick out more. Red is the worst.

Actually, human eyes suck at blue. It's why they switched from blue to red backlighting in version 2 of the Logitech G15 keyboard. Despite the backlighting, you still couldn't read the keys in the dark!

Navigator · August 28th, 2011, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonnyc

Please tell me you were kidding

No I'm not, that's how it's wired actually.

Kevin2109 · August 28th, 2011, 11:50 PM

green (I think..) is the brightest color your eyes see. Just like in lasers, green is much brighter at the same output as a red or blue

ducducgooseit · August 29th, 2011, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Navigator

I need to tidy things up a lot!!!

...

So, uh, indeed, you did use a different concept than some programming.

August 27th, 2011, 10:50 PM	#1
Navigator ninjette.org member Name: Lester Location: Philippines Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250R, 1979 Elsinore 125R Posts: 16	Home-made Shift Light is now running!!! Here's a short video of my shift light in action. You'll notice that the 2 red LEDs at the top of the screen will light up at ~8,000rpm. I can set it to light up anywhere from 4,500rpm ~ 13,000rpm, in 600rpm increments, using DIP switches. Link to original page on YouTube. The LEDs are great in the dark but somewhat hard to see in bright sunlight. I need a different type of indicator I think. Overall it's great to have because it is so much easier to use than the tach. I now focus more on the road ahead because I can see the light from the corner of my eye, no need to shift my focus to the tach while I ride. BTW this is an analog version of a shift light, there's no microprocessor in there. Installation is simple only 3 wires to connect. First wire to +12v, 2nd wire to ground, and the 3rd wire is wrapped around (no connection) the sparkplug wire, 5 turns only, to act as a pickup antenna.

August 28th, 2011, 11:50 PM	#14
Kevin2109 KThanksBye Name: Kevin Location: Orange County Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2006 zx636r Posts: A lot.	green (I think..) is the brightest color your eyes see. Just like in lasers, green is much brighter at the same output as a red or blue __________________________________________________ ----> My Youtube! <---- Unregistered, watch my youtube page!

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August 27th, 2011, 11:44 PM	#2
CZroe CPT Falcon Name: J.Emmett Turner Location: Newnan, GA Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 CP Blue EX250J, '97 unpainted EX250F, 2nd '97 unpainted EX250F (no engine), '07 black EX250F Posts: A lot.	Good job! Looks like ninja250/KC has some competition!

August 28th, 2011, 12:11 AM	#3
TheMojoRider ninjette.org member Name: Ninja Location: CA Join Date: Aug 2011 Motorcycle(s): Ninja! Posts: 77	Dang that is cool! I want one but with brighter/larger light

August 28th, 2011, 02:27 PM	#4
leed ninjette.org sage Name: David Location: Loves Park, IL Join Date: Feb 2011 Motorcycle(s): Time will tell Posts: 969	Try a more powerful LED, but also a Blue or Violet light. They tend to stick out more. Red is the worst.

August 28th, 2011, 02:33 PM	#5
ducducgooseit Name: ... Location: ... Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): ... Posts: 999	And now for additional feature requests - Can you program an array of leds so that as you approach the programmable limit more of the leds light up? Using say 5 leds, the first four blue and the actual limit light as superbright or physically larger red led?

August 28th, 2011, 02:45 PM	#6
Indy250r ninjette.org member Name: Brad Location: Indiana Join Date: Aug 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2011 KTM 990 ADV Posts: 234	You could try this: http://search.digikey.com/scripts/Dk...AN-CY0C0461-ND Super bright (~20,000 millicandella) Same current most likely as what you are using now. It will probably be way too bright at night though.

August 28th, 2011, 03:46 PM	#7
Navigator ninjette.org member Name: Lester Location: Philippines Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250R, 1979 Elsinore 125R Posts: 16	Thanks everyone!!! The LEDs are actually much brighter than what can be seen on the video. The camera angle was off to one side and missed the LED light beam entirely. I also increased the current to the LEDs and they are so much brighter now. I'll post another video soon. I need to make a board for it since what I have is just a rat's nest held with tape to the bike. Testing the concept first before making the final version. @ Ducducgooseit: This version does not have a program running. The function was implemented using a different concept and would need a lot of additional components to include the functions you requested. But I do agree it would be nice to have!

August 28th, 2011, 10:15 PM	#11
Navigator ninjette.org member Name: Lester Location: Philippines Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2011 Ninja 250R, 1979 Elsinore 125R Posts: 16	Here's a much better video that shows the light better. Brighter too. Link to original page on YouTube. Had to lower the trip point to 5,000rpm so as not to stress the engine so much (no load + high rpm). In actual use I set it at ~11,000rpm for hard break-in.