Sequential turn signals :D

logikfive · Oct 11, 2011

Having been stuck with OEM headlights for a year since I ditched the POS LED front lights and aftermarket headlight housings, I've really been itching for some change.

Tonight I got ambitious and wired up my sequential kit I've had sitting around for a few years now. Still have to install them in the truck, however I wanted to bench test them to make sure they work as intended. Different bulbs will be used.

First I enlarged the hole on the side marker light on the aftermarket clear housings to fit a socket and 3157 bulb to get the full "sequential" effect. :mullet:

Test lit:

Wired and lit.. Little video!

Not sure if I'm going to keep them in the aftermarket clear housings or not, or get another set like the ones I have in my '01 silver Durango in my signature. I'm so tired of the quality of the aftermarket stuff, though

chuckyshamrok · Oct 15, 2011

That's Ill, interested in doing a write up? or is it stupid simple to do?

PDR1878 · Oct 15, 2011

I can't watch the video on my phone. What does it do?

I want to set mine up like the ford mustang tail lights. Instead of all blinking they get bright one by one from the inside out.

caulk04 · Oct 15, 2011

PDR1878 said:
I can't watch the video on my phone. What does it do?

I want to set mine up like the ford mustang tail lights. Instead of all blinking they get bright one by one from the inside out.

Yeah, that's what sequential is.

Looks good, I just wonder how it will look with the actual flash rate in the truck. Would be nice if you could slow it down for a better effect with the seqentials.

logikfive · Oct 15, 2011

Here it is on one side of the truck installed.. Only took about an hour to do, just have to get aftermarket headlight housings and do a projector retrofit again.

I agree I would like the rate to be a little slower, but I don't want to make the LED tails flash real slow to match the front lights.

TazRango · Oct 15, 2011

I like that. I'm interested in seeing what it would look like with LEDs..

You might be able to do something about the flash, as long as the sequencer can reset itself (1-2-3-OFF-1-2-3-OFF) with a constant feed. I couldn't really tell in the first vid if you were make/breaking the connection to make it reset. If it doesn't reset with a constant feed (1-2-3-HOLD until power is removed), this won't work.

Basically you would just need to install a diode and capacitor on each side inline with the positive turn feed. The capacitor would hold enough of a charge to make the 'flashed' 12v into a constant. The diode is simply to keep the stored voltage from backfeeding. That way, the tails would flash at the turn signal rate, and the fronts would run at whatever rate the sequencer is set for.

If they don't reset, there is still a way to do it.. Let me know if you need it and I'll draw up a diagram.

PDR1878 · Oct 15, 2011

I got on the laptop and able to watch the video. That's exactly what I was looking to do. I did a little research on my spare time a few weeks ago. The Mustangs have the same feature, so looked for what device did that.

If someone could package these up for a plug & play connection, they would make a killing on these from a lot of members on here!

I too would be intrigued to see how these would look with LEDs. I'm sure much more 'crisp'.

Consider making these for money..I'd buy a set.

TazRango · Oct 15, 2011

You wont find one plug and play. Even the ones designed for Mustangs (which is probably what he's using) require cutting, because the sockets are all wired together and must be separated. Have you ever priced OEM connectors? IF you can get them, the first price break is at like 5,000 pieces. The expense of the connectors alone would add an unreasonable cost to a kit made by a member, versus the hour and a couple connections to just hardwire it.

PDR1878 · Oct 15, 2011

Let me correct myself, because I did get ahead of myself -

You are right, I forgot the sockets - I was thinking just splice in, however everything is already pre-wired so the end user would only need to snip/seal 8 ends of contact. (or however many wires are back there, I never took apart the Durango)

TazRango · Oct 15, 2011

That's what he's using. They sell the sequencers, he didn't build it from scratch.. :huh:

PDR1878 · Oct 15, 2011

TazRango said:
I like that. I'm interested in seeing what it would look like with LEDs..

You might be able to do something about the flash, as long as the sequencer can reset itself (1-2-3-OFF-1-2-3-OFF) with a constant feed. I couldn't really tell in the first vid if you were make/breaking the connection to make it reset. If it doesn't reset with a constant feed (1-2-3-HOLD until power is removed), this won't work.

Basically you would just need to install a diode and capacitor on each side inline with the positive turn feed. The capacitor would hold enough of a charge to make the 'flashed' 12v into a constant. The diode is simply to keep the stored voltage from backfeeding. That way, the tails would flash at the turn signal rate, and the fronts would run at whatever rate the sequencer is set for.If they don't reset, there is still a way to do it.. Let me know if you need it and I'll draw up a diagram.

add-on to make it more functional. Also he could buy a pack of shrink wrap from harbor freight for each splice wire (for a water tight seal) and go as far as to marking which wire is which as I assume durango/dakota share the same wire harness in that aspect -so the white/green and white wire would carry the same path vs different model trucks.

TazRango · Oct 15, 2011

PDR1878 said:
add-on to make it more functional. Also he could buy a pack of shrink wrap from harbor freight for each splice wire (for a water tight seal) and go as far as to marking which wire is which as I assume durango/dakota share the same wire harness in that aspect -so the white/green and white wire would carry the same path vs different model trucks.

I don't know if it works that way, that's why I asked if the sequencer resets itself or does it depend on the "Off" part of the flash to reset it. If it requires the "Off" part of the flash, then my suggestion is moot and it would have to be done another (more complicated) way.

PDR1878 · Oct 15, 2011

I'm trying to find Whelen signal alert for my tails. Maybe one day I'll research this stuff. Be neat to have the fronts and backs different.

logikfive · Oct 16, 2011

It doesn't reset itself. I had to manually disconnect and reconnect to make them resequence.

There is no reason for it to reset by itself, since power is pulsed via the stock flasher unit.

The kit I used is from http://www.webelectricproducts.com/ STS-1 and it's a universal kit. Designed for three bulb sockets, which I had to cut and splice in a third plug on each side. Wasn't a big deal. They do sell a two-bulb unit that can be used with the factory two-bulb front light system, but I prefer the look of the three bulbs.

Everything was cut, spliced, soldered and shrink wrapped for ultimate preservation.

NoStopN · Oct 23, 2011

That's cool for the 3 bulb setup. LEDs would make the sequence more noticeable. V-leds.com switchback LEDs?

logikfive · Oct 24, 2011

I thought about switchbacks, but I'm not willing to spend $70 a pair on bulbs, only to find out they can't work that way. Not only that, but I think it's absolutely ludicrous that they are $70 a pair. Money better spent elsewhere? You betcha!

NoStopN · Oct 26, 2011

logikfive said:
I thought about switchbacks, but I'm not willing to spend $70 a pair on bulbs, only to find out they can't work that way. Not only that, but I think it's absolutely ludicrous that they are $70 a pair. Money better spent elsewhere? You betcha!

Everyone has a price point, no debating. The fact that your Durango is a '99 at least makes it easier for the LEDs to not hyperflash. Plus, your truck uses 3157s instead of the twist style 1157s like mine. If they don't work as they should, pull 'em out & turn them around & plug 'em back in. Other than Switchbacks, they offer standard LEDs, or you could shop superbrightleds.com. For single color bulbs, price is still more than some people want to pay. But, I can say that they are good about having a noticable difference between the bright & dim light output. Dim for tail lights, bright for brake lights.

logikfive · Oct 27, 2011

Not exactly the reasoning behind why I suggested they may not work. I've got LED's in every other lighting fixture in my '99 Durango. I even ran the aftermarket LED front corner lights for a few years until I got sick of them.

If you notice, on all the switchback operation videos on Youtube, they delay a bit. They don't instantaneously switch from white to amber. I fear that may be too long of a delay to properly work with the sequentials.

For example:

I'll try it someday if I ever feel like blowing $200 on bulbs for my front lights.

NoStopN · Oct 29, 2011

Just to clarify, when you run the park lights, the Switchbacks would be white. When you go to use the turn signal (& activate the sequential signals), they instantaneously turn amber. It's when the signal turns off & goes back to the park lights that the delay occurs. The same can be seen with my Switchbacks & the videos I posted.

RedKota99 · Oct 29, 2011

little pricey for my taste, but I would like to do this myself.

Sequential turn signals :D

logikfive

chuckyshamrok

PDR1878

caulk04

logikfive

TazRango

PDR1878

TazRango

PDR1878

TazRango

PDR1878

TazRango

PDR1878

logikfive

NoStopN

logikfive

NoStopN

logikfive

NoStopN

RedKota99

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