Weak self-cancelling and a near inaudible relay are well documented features of Stag’s (and probably other cars of the time) signalling indicators. For me this has contributed to the potentially hazardous situation of driving through a junction whilst signalling an unintended manoeuvre. Typically this happens soon after the Stag emerges from hibernation in the Spring before I re-familiarise with the ‘70s controls once again.
However this year I set about some modifications to hopefully reduce or even eliminate this particular risk. The first part of the multi-media upgrade was the installation of piezo sounders on the right and left indicator circuits by soldering units on the back of the warning cluster (see pictures). These could have been wired-in elsewhere in the loom but attaching to the warning cluster was convenient and brings the sound output up close to the driving position. The sound is loud but not a particularly pleasant note. I toned them down by attaching small blocks of polystyrene to each piezo but it’s still a bit of a squawk and I will be looking for suitable devices with more pleasing sound in the future.
A supplementary measure was using ultra bright LEDs to replace all the miniature filament bulbs (except the ignition warning as I have a suspicion that current flows via the bulb to activate the alternator fields. Or is this not true with the Stag alternator designs? Can someone confirm?)
LED Illumination is significantly brighter and I would expect thousands of hours life expectancy and improved reliability due to hard wiring versus dodgy screw-in bulb contacts. The light output is more directional and perhaps does not illuminate the segments quite as uniformly as filaments. A minor downside is the loss of the brake circuit warning light check at ignition switch on. There are simple work-arounds although I’m not too bothered by the loss of this function.
I can now report after a summer of driving that there have been no known incidences of ‘inadvertent indicating’ since these modifications, the sound output is unmistakable even at speed with the hood down. Hope this is of interest to someone.
Pictures show new LEDs & piezos, LED illuminated, standard filament illuminated for comparison.
However this year I set about some modifications to hopefully reduce or even eliminate this particular risk. The first part of the multi-media upgrade was the installation of piezo sounders on the right and left indicator circuits by soldering units on the back of the warning cluster (see pictures). These could have been wired-in elsewhere in the loom but attaching to the warning cluster was convenient and brings the sound output up close to the driving position. The sound is loud but not a particularly pleasant note. I toned them down by attaching small blocks of polystyrene to each piezo but it’s still a bit of a squawk and I will be looking for suitable devices with more pleasing sound in the future.
A supplementary measure was using ultra bright LEDs to replace all the miniature filament bulbs (except the ignition warning as I have a suspicion that current flows via the bulb to activate the alternator fields. Or is this not true with the Stag alternator designs? Can someone confirm?)
LED Illumination is significantly brighter and I would expect thousands of hours life expectancy and improved reliability due to hard wiring versus dodgy screw-in bulb contacts. The light output is more directional and perhaps does not illuminate the segments quite as uniformly as filaments. A minor downside is the loss of the brake circuit warning light check at ignition switch on. There are simple work-arounds although I’m not too bothered by the loss of this function.
I can now report after a summer of driving that there have been no known incidences of ‘inadvertent indicating’ since these modifications, the sound output is unmistakable even at speed with the hood down. Hope this is of interest to someone.
Pictures show new LEDs & piezos, LED illuminated, standard filament illuminated for comparison.
many thanks for the info. My low level switch on my header tank is connected in parallel with the PDWA switch so in theory that circuit is tested as well (well the lamp is). If the brake warning light illuminates brightly when the engine is running this means I either have a brake fault or low level in the header tank, either of which its a case of stopping the car and checking the fault.
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