The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Flasher that clicks?

I recently put a new 6v. signal flasher in the truck. To my surprise, it is totally silent. I guess it is a solid state device.

I would really like a flasher unit that make a good loud click when it blinks. This tells me if I have forgotten to cancel the signal.

Are these still made? Anybody got a part number?

Thanks,

Kurt

ClassicParts.com and Jim Carter both carry them.

Your flaps can get them from their warehouse cheaper. No shipping charge.

Kurt,

I have an original '54 flasher and I do not remember hearing it click (and, my Suburban is not too noisy to hear a click). I'll check tomorrow.

The old flashers were a simple bimetallic strip set of contacts. Current made them heat and the difference between the two metal's expansion rates made them curve and break contact. A moment's cooling and they clicked back to making contact again. That is the click you heard. I recall people pulling a boat with extra lights pulling current through a standard flasher, and they woul blink like they were epileptic or something.

Thanks Tim.

If I cant find one that clicks, Maybe I can wire in a beeper.

Kurt

I think the Wagner flasher number is 539. Try your local flaps with that number and see. Is it two prong or three prong?

Yes, but do they click?

Kurt

I just checked mine - an original 1954 6v GM flasher and signal system. With the engine off, the clicking of the flasher is barely audible.

My flasher has three prongs.

P = Panel = Pilot = to dash light
X or B = Battery power in to flasher (battery)
L = Load/Lamp = flasher power out to turn signal switch

http://www.ehow.com/how_7789429_test-threeprong-flasher-relay.html

I cannot find a Wagner 539 online.

Various vendors use #535 for a heavy duty 6v 3-prong flasher.

http://www.amazon.com/Bussmann-NO-535-5-2-Thermal-Flasher/dp/B000CSYL3C

http://compare.ebay.com/like/200762...ypes&var=sbar&_lwgsi=y&cbt=y

http://www.st-relay.com.tw/images/product/2007040191.jpg

535 would be correct for the three prong.

535 is how mine is marked. The one you linked to at Amazon seems to feature "an audible click" Think I'll try one. Thanks.

Kurt

That's what they used to do on Honda Goldwing turn signals. I had an early 'wing and I used to PO my HD riding buddies with my beep-beep-beep.

Tim,

I ordered the thermal flasher (Bussman 535) from RockAuto. $3.73

Hopein' it's loud.

Kurt

Kurt,

I hope it is loud, too. It would would be nice to hear an audio recording/report - at 60 mph.

Thanks,

Tim,

I'll post an mp3!

Kurt

Tim,

Well I got the new thermal flasher installed. It clicks, but I can only hear it if the truck is off! I will say however that it flashes the signal lights more consistently than the silent solid state one.

I guess I'll have to install a buzzer or clicker if I want to hear it.

Well I poked around some more on the net and I found This

Turn-Alarm! They even have a 6v version to replace the 535 flasher. Might have to get one of these puppies!

OK, found another at Chevy of the 40's
audible flasher

Kurt

Nice, Kurt

Tell me which one you are getting and I will order the other one. I'll need 3, eventually. We can both report back here.

If you are in a web-searching mood, wouldn't it be nice to have an audible turn-signal-clicker AND an audible lights-on when ignition-off buzzer?

Who cares if they are non-standard. I have already run my battery down to 0 three times this Spring, after leaving the lights on (yes, a sign of old age and of working on too many projects at the same time).

So. If the power in is to the X - that is good. But if the power out is backwards (P & L) the switch will not work? I assume the L wire is hot when the key is on. Mine is. But the P wire is not (mine is not). Could this point towards a bad flasher? It would seem like the directional signals should work but not the lights on the switch.

Well I think the p should go to the dash light, L is for "load" and would go to the signal lights, and x is power in.

My suggestion (this actually was in a different thread, and now we are going to confuse everyone) Was that if the wires to the L and p terminals were reversed, you would be drawing a heavy load through the P terminal, and this might burn something out internal to the flasher. I don't know how the flasher is wired internally, so this is a guess.

If you have a continuity tester or a VOM you could test this.

Kurt

You might

Tim,

I'm going to get the one from "Turn Alarm"> It's $10 cheaper, and looking at the pictures, I think it is the same one that Chevy of the 40's is selling.

I'm also checking to 6 volt relays that click loudly.

Kurt

Kurt,

The Chevs of the 40s is part #552 and they say it is a 6v unit. Turn Alarm says that #552 is a 12v unit.

I am going to hold off on buying one. Please let us know how well it works.

Will do.

Kurt

This isn't as simple but it's a cheap do-it-yourself. The info is for a 12 volt motorcycle but the concept is the same. Lots of good info here and I like that you can wire in volume control and even pick and choose you beeper-buzzer.
http://www.lsvl.info/MotorbikeTurnSignals.pdf

Twotone,

Thanks for the schematics. As it turns out, I just got back from testing my new audible turn signal buzzer. After the conversation with Tim, I went to Radio Shack and picked up a couple of buzzers. Both buzzers will work on either 6 or 12 volts.

They are:
273-0055
7.0 to 17 vdc (will work on 6)
75 db
300-500hz

273-0059
3.0 to 20vdc
75db
2700hz.

I tried them both out by wiring them to the P terminal of the flasher and to ground. Both were a little loud and more than slightly obnoxious. I liked the one that sounds at 300-500hz as it is a lower tone.

I love the idea of putting a potentiometer on there to control the volume , and I will will try that next. I already installed led indicators, so I have that covered.

Tim, I don't think I'm going to buy the buzzing flasher from turn alarm, as I think I just made the same thing for about $4 bucks.

Kurt

I just bought and installed the flasher from Chev's of the 40's. The wife heard it inside the house from 35 feet away. Yes, the truck was engine off, but me, even half deaf, I don't think I'll be able to miss the tone this puppy gives off. I plan to take it out tomorrow and see.
Mike49

6v or 12v?

It is 6 volt.
mike49

What is the part number?

Mind you it's not a clicker, more kind of a buzz tone.
part number from the invoice is: 1335230TA ALL
discription: flasher-turn signal 6 volt, (3 prong) w/audible signal.
price (sit down) $33.75

I know it's steepI'm OK with the cost, I've gone 5 miles down the road with my blinker on before I think to look down, and feel like a fool.
mike49

I have been driving around the past few days with my new "homemade" signal buzzer. Works well. However, if I am driving 60 with the windows down and the cozy wings open, I can just barely hear it buzz. I'could put the louder of the two on there, but it becomes very irritating at a stop light.

Kurt

I've been using a Radio Shack buzzer for ten years now, just put it inline, works great.

Kurt -

You might do better by hooking an indicator light to the panel light prong of the flasher, then mounting the light where it won't be noticed until it flashes.

I'm lucky ... my '54 has a turn signal indicator light at the bottom of the speedo. It gets my attention when I leave the turn signal on. My Signal-Stat 900 is not self-canceling. I see the panel light better than the indicator light on the Signal-Stat. I can usually hear the flasher click, but not always over the engine noise.

I think a pizo buzzer would drive me crazy! But I would definitely turn off the signal.

The easiest thing to do is just accept the fact that you have become THAT old guy who drives around with his left turn signal on all the time.

Yeah, OK. I am that old guy. LOL.

This just wasn't a problem for the first 30 years I owned the truck with no signals. I was quite adept at using hand signals, but after about the 10th time somebody waved at me one day as I signaled for a right turn, I realized that nobody knew what the heck I was doing.

Lonnie, I have installed some cute LED left and right blinkers attached to the left and right signal wires, but they are mounted in the slots of the radio grill, and I still miss 'em sometimes.

LED indicators in 4 way flash mode.

Kurt

Well, I tried the blinker buzzer out on the road. yes I can hear it windows open going down the road at 45. It is quite annoying at stop lights though. I make sure to turn them off as soon as the turn is complete! For me I feel they are worth it although I did see there in another supplier about $10.00 less.
Mike49

Too loud? That is what duct tape is for. Partial cover/full cover to the audible level that works but is not too invasive.

Just picked up one of these for the headlights...
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7213/7369090502_4cf989dcb1_o.jpg

OK, where do you get one of those?

Kurt

Kurt, Check your PMs.