Why don't auto makers use the same turn signal relay for all cars?

[dighn]

While I don't think turn signals should all operate at the same speed, changing it would cost less than a penny per vehicle.

Hell, you can't even get companies to include 90 cents worth of diodes to make their "gaming" keyboards NKRO.

you are talking material costs. the design and logistics costs are a lot higher, and for what? this is at most a mild annoyance to those of us who even notice this and a complete non-issue to most people.

 

[3chordcharlie]

This.

The turn signal frequency isn't the same between my car and others of the same make, model, and year even though all use the same relay (or, in the case of older cars, the same thermal flasher unit).

ZV

I was pretty pleased the time I went to buy one of those flashers, and discovered I was now driving a vehicle with a $200 turn signal flasher.

 

[Bignate603]

you are talking material costs. the design and logistics costs are a lot higher, and for what? this is at most a mild annoyance to those of us who even notice this and a complete non-issue to most people.

Even material costs would be more than a penny. These aren't diodes or solid state electronics running low power, there are actually moving parts inside the electrical component that makes your blinkers flash and they run a decent amount of amperage (at least compared to most consumer electronics). Because of how its constructed you can expect variation from one flasher to another, even of the same part number. In a $3 part you're not paying to get everything perfect so that the frequency will be identical. Costs will be higher (much more than a penny) if you're insisting on the frequency to perfect.

 

[HeXen]

I rarely see anyone use them often enough in my area for this to matter

 

[spidey07]

Synchronized blinkers. Just think about it if every blinker flashed at the exact same rate.

Seizures, folks going on mental induced killing sprees, complete kaos in the streets.

What next? You want a full moon every night?

This is TERRIBLE, this idea.

 

[xes]

If it bothers you that much, just stand in front of all the traffic and shout at the drivers at 1 second intervals.
"Turn on indicators NOW. Off NOW. On NOW"

 

[Ben90]

Even material costs would be more than a penny. These aren't diodes or solid state electronics running low power, there are actually moving parts inside the electrical component that makes your blinkers flash and they run a decent amount of amperage (at least compared to most consumer electronics). Because of how its constructed you can expect variation from one flasher to another, even of the same part number. In a $3 part you're not paying to get everything perfect so that the frequency will be identical. Costs will be higher (much more than a penny) if you're insisting on the frequency to perfect.

Cough Cough, except that modern cars that are moving away from WW2 technology. Many vehicles are already using solid state electronics for pretty much all of their lighting.

 

[Rubycon]

Synchronized blinkers. Just think about it if every blinker flashed at the exact same rate.

Seizures, folks going on mental induced killing sprees, complete kaos in the streets.

What next? You want a full moon every night?

This is TERRIBLE, this idea.

If a standard signal was broadcast the flash rate could indeed be synchronized regardless of when activated. Yeah, there's an app for that.

Cough Cough, except that modern cars that are moving away from WW2 technology. Many vehicles are already using solid state electronics for pretty much all of their lighting.

Get rid of the flash, just use a green light for right and red light for left.

 

[spidey07]

If a standard signal was broadcast the flash rate could indeed be synchronized regardless of when activated. Yeah, there's an app for that.



Get rid of the flash, just use a green light for right and red light for left.

Ah yea old mariner. Green = go, red = yield.

 

[LTC8K6]

They should sell an adjustment kit so people who care can sync their blinker to the car in front of them. A nice knob on the dash to adjust the blink rate.

 

[Bignate603]

Cough Cough, except that modern cars that are moving away from WW2 technology. Many vehicles are already using solid state electronics for pretty much all of their lighting.

I haven't changed a flasher in years, so that may be true but it's pretty stupid. The thermal ones literally cost less than $5, lasted longer than the bulbs, and could be changed out in about a minute. If its not broken, don't fix it.

 

[Hugo Drax]

They should use an oven controlled crystal oscillator synced to a vlf time signal and have all automobiles use use one standardized electronics package based on the same ocxo design.

The metal chassis could be used as the vlf antenna for the module, sync the internal oscillator once a week.

 

[spidey07]

They should use an oven controlled crystal oscillator synced to a vlf time signal and have all automobiles use use one standardized electronics package based on the same ocxo design.

The metal chassis could be used as the vlf antenna for the module, sync the internal oscillator once a week.

Dude, seizures. Bad enough women's sync their periods, do you REALLY think syncing seizures is a good idea for people driving tons of metal?

We now return you to psycho seizure robots.

 

[Zenmervolt]

I haven't changed a flasher in years, so that may be true but it's pretty stupid. The thermal ones literally cost less than $5, lasted longer than the bulbs, and could be changed out in about a minute. If its not broken, don't fix it.

The newer solid state units are essentially just a capacitor, and a transistor. Dead simple and even more reliable than the old thermal flashers because there aren't any moving parts.

ZV

 

[spidey07]

The newer solid state units are essentially just a capacitor, and a transistor. Dead simple and even more reliable than the old thermal flashers because there aren't any moving parts.

ZV

I want my clicky relay sound. How else do I know my signal is on?

 

[LTC8K6]

"Sorry officer, I was adjusting my turn signal flash rate while changing lanes and I didn't see the motorcycle."