Q. Light sensor to turn on a bright light or flash.

[Jim Jones]

Hi,

In the state where I live, there seems to be a surplus of those
assholes that absolutely have to follow a car with their brights on.

Flipping the dimmer on the rear view is out of the question. It
prevents me from seeing what I want to see, at the darker times of
day.

So, I'd like to arrange the following:

Have a couple of bright lights (preferably some kind that get brighter
gradually), facing out the rear of the car.

They would operate by "reading" how bright the following car's lights
are, and the two bulbs would turn on, in proportion to the brightness
registered, as a "dim your hi-beams" reminder.

I would plan to "standardize" "what is bright" by getting about 10
people I know to station their cars behind mine, so I can take a
reading of how brite their lites are.

Now, given the above, how would I begin to go about this project ?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[Garrett Mace]

Now, given the above, how would I begin to go about this project ?

Thanks,
Jim

First, realize that in doing this, what you will instead see in your
rearview mirror will be lights that not only are very bright, but flash red
and blue.

 

[Mark Little]

"Jim Jones" <harley.davidson@mailcity.com> wrote in message
news:smvgov4ll8pggq9rs5eieropd54m90gtak@4ax.com...

Now, given the above, how would I begin to go about this project ?

First consult the local police, since they will be able to tell you the
penalty for such an action, which may include dangerous driving and illegal
vehicle modifications. Probably a tad more traumatic than having to flick
the mirror to night mode.

Flipping the dimmer on the rear view is out of the question. It
prevents me from seeing what I want to see, at the darker times of
day.

If you have to flick the rear view mirror to night during the day because
the lights are dazzling you, there is a vehicle behind you. What else are
you expecting the mirror to tell you?

If it is police cars in particular that you want to look for, this device
will attract them more effectively that a bug to a bug zapper.

From a tecnical perspective, it is ineffective to simply use the light
level, since the day is generally much much brighter than the best
headlights. We just don't normally realise this because the eye can adjust
to a wide range of light levels. You would at least need two measurements.
The ambient light would be needed to ensure that the device does not operate
during the daylight hours and then there would be the one for the light
level behid you. Of course the setting/rising sun and other lights would
probably turn it on, giving the law abiding driver behind you the absolute
shits.

Gice it a miss and adjust the mirror.

Mark

 

[Sir Charles W. Shults III]

Use a mirror on your bumper.

Cheers!

Chip Shults
My robotics, space and CGI web page - http://home.cfl.rr.com/aichip

 

[Jim Jones]

On Sun, 12 Oct 2003 00:01:15 -0500, "Garrett Mace"
<g.ryan@macetech.com> wrote:

Now, given the above, how would I begin to go about this project ?

Thanks,
Jim


First, realize that in doing this, what you will instead see in your
rearview mirror will be lights that not only are very bright, but flash red
and blue.

Uh, realize this that cops don't dont do what I described.
And, cop cars are pretty obvious in comparison to other types of
passenger cars.

What I propose is for those that've not yet learned to keep some
distance between themselves and the car in front of them.

>

 

[Jim Jones]

On Sun, 12 Oct 2003 15:34:26 +0930, "Mark Little"
<markl@sa.apana.org.au> wrote:

"Jim Jones" <harley.davidson@mailcity.com> wrote in message
news:smvgov4ll8pggq9rs5eieropd54m90gtak@4ax.com...
Now, given the above, how would I begin to go about this project ?

First consult the local police, since they will be able to tell you the
penalty for such an action, which may include dangerous driving and illegal
vehicle modifications. Probably a tad more traumatic than having to flick
the mirror to night mode.

With the lack of police around, what cop would be around to notice ?

Flipping the dimmer on the rear view is out of the question. It
prevents me from seeing what I want to see, at the darker times of
day.

If you have to flick the rear view mirror to night during the day because
the lights are dazzling you, there is a vehicle behind you. What else are
you expecting the mirror to tell you?

Unlike most people I use my rear view mirror quite frequently.

A good driver knows what's going on behind them and to the sides, as
well as in front.

If it is police cars in particular that you want to look for, this device
will attract them more effectively that a bug to a bug zapper.

Again, see above regarding the frequency of cop patrols.

From a tecnical perspective, it is ineffective to simply use the light
level, since the day

It would not be used in the day. No reason to.

is generally much much brighter than the best
headlights. We just don't normally realise this because the eye can adjust
to a wide range of light levels. You would at least need two measurements.
The ambient light would be needed to ensure that the device does not operate
during the daylight hours and then there would be the one for the light
level behid you. Of course the setting/rising sun and other lights would
probably turn it on, giving the law abiding driver behind you the absolute
shits.

Even in such a case, note the day light statement I made, the law
abiding citizen (by the way, who would that be), wouldnt be tailgating
in the first place.

Gice it a miss and adjust the mirror.

Mark

NEXT? . . . .. . .

 

[Watson A.Name - "Watt Sun]

In article <smvgov4ll8pggq9rs5eieropd54m90gtak@4ax.com>,
harley.davidson@mailcity.com mentioned...

Hi,

In the state where I live, there seems to be a surplus of those
assholes that absolutely have to follow a car with their brights on.

Flipping the dimmer on the rear view is out of the question. It
prevents me from seeing what I want to see, at the darker times of
day.

So, I'd like to arrange the following:

Have a couple of bright lights (preferably some kind that get brighter
gradually), facing out the rear of the car.

They would operate by "reading" how bright the following car's lights
are, and the two bulbs would turn on, in proportion to the brightness
registered, as a "dim your hi-beams" reminder.

I would plan to "standardize" "what is bright" by getting about 10
people I know to station their cars behind mine, so I can take a
reading of how brite their lites are.

Now, given the above, how would I begin to go about this project ?

the easiest way is to go to the beauty supply and get a couple round
makeup mirrors. Reflect the bastard's light right back at 'em!

Thanks,
Jim

--
@@F@r@o@m@@O@r@a@n@g@e@@C@o@u@n@t@y@,@@C@a@l@,@@w@h@e@r@e@@
###Got a Question about ELECTRONICS? Check HERE First:###
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goes directly to the trash unless you add NOSPAM in the
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Don't be ripped off by the big book dealers. Go to the URL
that will give you a choice and save you money(up to half).
http://www.everybookstore.com You'll be glad you did!
Just when you thought you had all this figured out, the gov't
changed it: http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/binary.html
@@t@h@e@@a@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@m@e@e@t@@t@h@e@@E@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@

 

[Garrett Mace]

First, realize that in doing this, what you will instead see in your
rearview mirror will be lights that not only are very bright, but flash
red
and blue.

Uh, realize this that cops don't dont do what I described.
And, cop cars are pretty obvious in comparison to other types of
passenger cars.

What I propose is for those that've not yet learned to keep some
distance between themselves and the car in front of them.

Is that so? The last time I got a ticket, it was at night on the highway...I
came up on some cars doing 50 in a 55 and decided to pass them. A car
approached very fast while I was passing the third car, flipped on their
brights and got on my bumper, sped up and slowed down repeatedly while
flashing their brights on and off. I decided to speed up and get around the
last two cars and let the wacko pass. As soon as I pulled back into the
right lane, the car followed me and then turned on ALL his
lights...including the red and blue ones. Entrapment, but what can you do.

Again, this is a really stupid idea. Retarded. It's illegal to put such
lights on the back of your car. If you really want to hassle other drivers
and contribute to our huge road-rage problem, allow the other driver to pass
and then follow them with your brights on. Also, a lot of trucks and SUVs
may appear to have their brights on, but they are just taller and therefore
you get to stare directly into their low-beams.

I, unlike you, can be bothered to take the trouble to flick a little tab on
my rearview mirror. Trying to take revenge on the roads will only land you
in the hospital or jail. Relax.

 

[Yukio YANO]

It seems to me, that the solution to the problem is simple, Just press that
large Pedal next to the Gas pedal, lightly, it is supposed to turn on a pair
of Very bright Red lights, Would you closely follow a vehicle under those
conditions . If that fails, push that big pedal a little harder and move
into the Right lane.

YY

"Watson A.Name - Watt Sun" <alondra101@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.19f34c58f8c49f29989792@news.dslextreme.com...

In article <smvgov4ll8pggq9rs5eieropd54m90gtak@4ax.com>,
harley.davidson@mailcity.com mentioned...
Hi,

In the state where I live, there seems to be a surplus of those
assholes that absolutely have to follow a car with their brights on.

Flipping the dimmer on the rear view is out of the question. It
prevents me from seeing what I want to see, at the darker times of
day.

So, I'd like to arrange the following:

Have a couple of bright lights (preferably some kind that get brighter
gradually), facing out the rear of the car.

They would operate by "reading" how bright the following car's lights
are, and the two bulbs would turn on, in proportion to the brightness
registered, as a "dim your hi-beams" reminder.

I would plan to "standardize" "what is bright" by getting about 10
people I know to station their cars behind mine, so I can take a
reading of how brite their lites are.

Now, given the above, how would I begin to go about this project ?

the easiest way is to go to the beauty supply and get a couple round
makeup mirrors. Reflect the bastard's light right back at 'em!


Thanks,
Jim


--
@@F@r@o@m@@O@r@a@n@g@e@@C@o@u@n@t@y@,@@C@a@l@,@@w@h@e@r@e@@
###Got a Question about ELECTRONICS? Check HERE First:###
http://users.pandora.be/educypedia/electronics/databank.htm
My email address is whitelisted. *All* email sent to it
goes directly to the trash unless you add NOSPAM in the
Subject: line with other stuff. alondra101 <at> hotmail.com
Don't be ripped off by the big book dealers. Go to the URL
that will give you a choice and save you money(up to half).
http://www.everybookstore.com You'll be glad you did!
Just when you thought you had all this figured out, the gov't
changed it: http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/binary.html
@@t@h@e@@a@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@m@e@e@t@@t@h@e@@E@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@

 

[CWatters]

"Jim Jones" <harley.davidson@mailcity.com> wrote in message
news:smvgov4ll8pggq9rs5eieropd54m90gtak@4ax.com...

Have a couple of bright lights (preferably some kind that get brighter
gradually), facing out the rear of the car.

They would operate by "reading" how bright the following car's lights
are, and the two bulbs would turn on, in proportion to the brightness
registered, as a "dim your hi-beams" reminder.

Better yet turn them up real bright real quick when they detect the flash of
a speed camera.

 

[Jan Z.]

I can understand your dissatisfaction with bright lights following you. As
you probably have surmised from the comments given, it is universally
prohibited by law in the United States to have a white light visible on the
rear of a moving vehicle. That is why you see everybody that has been in an
accident putting red plastic wrap over there exposed tail lights - keeps em
from getting a ticket.

The theory is that a driver may mistake a white light for a car or
motorcycle in their lane. White lights also destroy a drivers night vision
and depth perception which takes about 20 minutes to fully acquire -
remember the submarine movies were they only use red lights?

There are other reasons than those already given for bright lights. For
example, a person with a heavy load in their trunk will position the lights
incorrectly. I have noticed my lights are a bit high with a full tank of gas
and the back seat loaded with kids.

That being said, there are some entertaining things to think about. How
about a cable that can be reeled from the rear of your car with a high
energy pulse that melts all their wiring?
--
JZ
Anchorage, Alaska
"Jim Jones" <harley.davidson@mailcity.com> wrote in message
news:smvgov4ll8pggq9rs5eieropd54m90gtak@4ax.com...

Hi,

In the state where I live, there seems to be a surplus of those
assholes that absolutely have to follow a car with their brights on.

Flipping the dimmer on the rear view is out of the question. It
prevents me from seeing what I want to see, at the darker times of
day.

So, I'd like to arrange the following:

Have a couple of bright lights (preferably some kind that get brighter
gradually), facing out the rear of the car.

They would operate by "reading" how bright the following car's lights
are, and the two bulbs would turn on, in proportion to the brightness
registered, as a "dim your hi-beams" reminder.

I would plan to "standardize" "what is bright" by getting about 10
people I know to station their cars behind mine, so I can take a
reading of how brite their lites are.

Now, given the above, how would I begin to go about this project ?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[Garrett Mace]

That being said, there are some entertaining things to think about. How
about a cable that can be reeled from the rear of your car with a high
energy pulse that melts all their wiring?
--

Install "The Button" in your dash. When you insert the key card, flip a
toggle to "ARM", and press "The Button" (preferably large and red), your car
instantly lays down a thick smokescreen, jettisons tack strips, and fires a
tear gas grenade through the windshield of the car behind you.

At least that's the logical ending of allowing drivers to take revenge on
each other...or you can look at South Africa where anti-hijacker devices are
legal: http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/africa/9812/11/flame.thrower.car/

They also have a little device where a hidden switch or remote will drive a
12" sharp spike up through the seat...*shudder*.

 

[warren weber]

"Jim Jones" <harley.davidson@mailcity.com> wrote in message
news:smvgov4ll8pggq9rs5eieropd54m90gtak@4ax.com...

Hi,

In the state where I live, there seems to be a surplus of those
assholes that absolutely have to follow a car with their brights on.

Flipping the dimmer on the rear view is out of the question. It
prevents me from seeing what I want to see, at the darker times of
day.

So, I'd like to arrange the following:

Have a couple of bright lights (preferably some kind that get brighter
gradually), facing out the rear of the car.

They would operate by "reading" how bright the following car's lights
are, and the two bulbs would turn on, in proportion to the brightness
registered, as a "dim your hi-beams" reminder.

I would plan to "standardize" "what is bright" by getting about 10
people I know to station their cars behind mine, so I can take a
reading of how brite their lites are.

Now, given the above, how would I begin to go about this project ?

Thanks,
Jim

Jim I just slow down until they get fed up with that and they pass me. WW

 

[Ross Mac]

Hope you are not in California...That's a ticket there!
If you must, I would just use a photocell tied into either the ignition
switch or the headlights (it would only work if your lights were on), an
optical isolator to keep the photo cells from popping and of course....the
searchlights.....
Hey, how about a digital display....You could just tell the guy behind you
he was the ass&*%$ of the month and not get those "red & blue" lights!
Good luck on this one!!! Ross


"Jim Jones" <harley.davidson@mailcity.com> wrote in message
news:smvgov4ll8pggq9rs5eieropd54m90gtak@4ax.com...

Hi,

In the state where I live, there seems to be a surplus of those
assholes that absolutely have to follow a car with their brights on.

Flipping the dimmer on the rear view is out of the question. It
prevents me from seeing what I want to see, at the darker times of
day.

So, I'd like to arrange the following:

Have a couple of bright lights (preferably some kind that get brighter
gradually), facing out the rear of the car.

They would operate by "reading" how bright the following car's lights
are, and the two bulbs would turn on, in proportion to the brightness
registered, as a "dim your hi-beams" reminder.

I would plan to "standardize" "what is bright" by getting about 10
people I know to station their cars behind mine, so I can take a
reading of how brite their lites are.

Now, given the above, how would I begin to go about this project ?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[Ross Mac]

How about a 50mm mounted on your Hummer!! I had a friend that asked a Hummer
dealer if they could do this.... They answered "You'd be surprised how many
have asked"
The road rage crowd is arming themselves to the teeth!!
Later, Ross


"Garrett Mace" <g.ryan@macetech.com> wrote in message
news:FRjjb.32199$pg7.17682@twister.rdc-kc.rr.com...

That being said, there are some entertaining things to think about. How
about a cable that can be reeled from the rear of your car with a high
energy pulse that melts all their wiring?
--


Install "The Button" in your dash. When you insert the key card, flip a
toggle to "ARM", and press "The Button" (preferably large and red), your
car
instantly lays down a thick smokescreen, jettisons tack strips, and fires
a
tear gas grenade through the windshield of the car behind you.

At least that's the logical ending of allowing drivers to take revenge on
each other...or you can look at South Africa where anti-hijacker devices
are
legal: http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/africa/9812/11/flame.thrower.car/

They also have a little device where a hidden switch or remote will drive
a
12" sharp spike up through the seat...*shudder*.

 

[Ross Mac]

One other thing.....the only way those lights will be legal, at least in my
state, is if they are covered. That's why you see so many 4 wheelers with
light covers.....
Have fun and stay out of the pokie!....Ross


"Ross Mac" <macroeng@example.invalid> wrote in message
news:OpVkb.186679$0v4.14424682@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...

Hope you are not in California...That's a ticket there!
If you must, I would just use a photocell tied into either the ignition
switch or the headlights (it would only work if your lights were on), an
optical isolator to keep the photo cells from popping and of course....the
searchlights.....
Hey, how about a digital display....You could just tell the guy behind you
he was the ass&*%$ of the month and not get those "red & blue" lights!
Good luck on this one!!! Ross


"Jim Jones" <harley.davidson@mailcity.com> wrote in message
news:smvgov4ll8pggq9rs5eieropd54m90gtak@4ax.com...
Hi,

In the state where I live, there seems to be a surplus of those
assholes that absolutely have to follow a car with their brights on.

Flipping the dimmer on the rear view is out of the question. It
prevents me from seeing what I want to see, at the darker times of
day.

So, I'd like to arrange the following:

Have a couple of bright lights (preferably some kind that get brighter
gradually), facing out the rear of the car.

They would operate by "reading" how bright the following car's lights
are, and the two bulbs would turn on, in proportion to the brightness
registered, as a "dim your hi-beams" reminder.

I would plan to "standardize" "what is bright" by getting about 10
people I know to station their cars behind mine, so I can take a
reading of how brite their lites are.

Now, given the above, how would I begin to go about this project ?

Thanks,
Jim