Headlamp flasher ??????

[billwill]

On the S3, the second microswitch enabled the flasher circuit.

But most have been disabled nowadays, I think, there is some doubt that they are legal nowadays.

Best disconnect it.

[spridget]

Oh nice ! Thank you very much Meg for this explanation
Of course I will keep it connected !
I?m sure to have plenty of success in a Lotus meeting

Franck

[ricarbo]

Unlike Higs' car my Sprint only flashes the lights if they are up with the light switch in the off position. They stop flashing if the light switch is on or the lights are down. Can't imagine why you would want the lights to flash when down. Also, can't imagine how you would wire it all to work with just one micro switch. Would be interested to know. regards
Richard

[Quart Meg Miles]

Unlike Higs' car my Sprint only flashes the lights if they are up with the light switch in the off position. They stop flashing if the light switch is on or the lights are down. Can't imagine why you would want the lights to flash when down. Also, can't imagine how you would wire it all to work with just one micro switch. Would be interested to know. regards
Richard

The "microswitches", an ironic term for those crude bits of sliding metal, both connect to relay coils, the other sides of which come from antagonistic poles of the lamp switch (that is, only one of them is live at a time) so only one of the relays can ever switch on at a time. If the lamp switch is operated fully while the lamps are up then the flasher relay drops out and the main/dip relay energises. I was surprised to find that the microswitches weren't joined together for extra reliability though my single one has never given any trouble. Neither had my brake lamp switch until yesterday!

Hope that's clear enough, Richard.

[ricarbo]

I see, I see. Many thanks QMM.
regards
Richard

[YellowS4DHC]

Back in the days when the Elans were very fast cars compared to the average saloon the flasher was a vulgar warning to the cars in front to get-out-of-my-way but is hardly acceptable today. There are limits to authenticity and I recommend disconnecting it!

Generally I'd agree with that, especially as I tend to drive a bit slower than I did when I was younger.

However, here in CA during rush hour, when driving in the car pool lane at 70 MPH while all other lanes are barely moving, it's awfully nice to have a visual warning to help dissuade people from abruptly pulling into your lane at basically 0 MPH.

I hooked up my flashers specifically for this driving environment and have no regrets using them. My Elan has excellent brakes but nothing stops that fast.

Rick

'72 Europa TC
'69 Elan S4 DHC
'67 S800 Coupe
'57 T1 Speedster

[billwill]

Does an Elan carry enough people to qualify for driving in the car pool lane?


{we don't have them in the UK as far as I know; we had Olympic Games lanes though......}

[ericbushby]

Bill, there is a car pool lane on the Leeds ring road and one on the M606 Bradford. Driver only,- prohibited!
Oops! off topic, I`ll go.
Eric in Burnley 1967 S3SE type 45 (running well)