Just installed a BackOff module yesterday on my 2004 Shadow Spirit VT1100. As Swifty noted, under the seat is the easiest location--one wire going to the brake lights.
Found the wires while working on the oil in my air filter, I just am not sure what wires to splice into. How do I know which I should be doing this to?
I'm used to sound systems in cars and am not entirely sure what you mean by "pigtails", and since Google showed me SEVERAL different things, would you mind clarifying for me a bit? If it's easier or even just makes a better connection...or just more professional..I am happy to do it the right way.
IIRC the flash module had 2 input wires and 2 output wires (the flashers are in the hard bags and can't check ATM). Would I simply attach the negative to any standard ground, or am I missing something?
1) You want to install a "flash module" into your brake light circuit.
2) Since you never explained exactly what you meant, one poster thought you meant the flash module that controls your turn signals and posted a nice schematic and parts list.
3) You never responded to him, so we are left thinking he either solved your problem or his answer had nothing to do with your problem.
4) Another poster thought you may be referring to a "Back Off Flash Module" but your last post indicates this can't be correct either because you say you have 3 wires on your flash module, and the Back Off Module has 4 wires on it.
5) As it stands right now, you could actually be looking at a 3-wire turn signal flasher that the previous owner installed for something other than controlling brake lights.
6) The other possibility is that you might be under the impression that a 3-wire flasher relay can be used as a brake light modulator.
Until we get some answers as to what exactly you have, and what you are working with, and what you plan on installing (you asked earlier if one flasher would be sufficient), then we are going to continue going in circles as people try to 'guess' exactly what you are doing, and with what.
Didnt mean to make it confusing, I just figured saying brake flashing module would have been obvious since brake lights dont normally flash. But yes I am looking to add the thing that makes brake lights flash when you use the brakes so it will catch the attention of the drivers behind me.
And I didnt mean to ignore him, I must've been in a hurry and didnt think to reply.
The reason I have these flashers is that someone linked them to me and told me it's what I needed and that was confirmed by superbrightleds.
That is about the same as the one I showed. But only one wire out.
So ground the black wire to a frame bolt, put the input red wire onto one side of the green/yellow brake wire after disconnecting the connector, and put the the output red wire to the wire going to the brake lights.
That module says for LED light so I don't know if it will work the same for the standard factory bulbs.
Ok that's what I thought I just wanted to be certain before I go cutting into the wires lol. Thank you for the assistance
I did already install some LED bulbs, though I was irritated a bit by them as they weren't any brighter than the stock bulbs which were already surprisingly bright.
I was just going to use standard butt connectors. Do I need any special tool for bullet connectors? For wires I only have my basic wire splitter/crimper
I have used diagonal cutters to crimp connectors. Just go easy and squeeze it in several spots and it will be tight. You will need to identify which side is the power from the switch and which is out to the lights.Most of the time the female plug side is the power.
Don't know for sure whether Signal Dynamics invented the strobe module for the brake lights, but their "Back-off" label is the generic term a lot of people use for a strobe module. I'm not a huge fan of these devices mainly becuz when traveling at 4 mph etc it's not essential safety-wise and irritating. Albeit, it's an entirely different perspective in emergency braking irrespective of the speed. However for these devices to only have an emergency mode, it has to incorporate some type of accelerator which instantly detects a sharp deceleration such as in a panic stop. I would think most don't have sensitivity adjustments but I guess different sensitivities themselves are available. There use to be a light bulb with an integral accelerator but it was almost $100 and never caught on. Accelerators are probably cheaper today since even smart phones use them and the essential component must have dropped in price.
I'm not a huge fan of these devices mainly becuz when traveling at 4 mph etc it's not essential safety-wise and irritating. Albeit, it's an entirely different perspective in emergency braking irrespective of the speed. However for these devices to only have an emergency mode
The point is to be annoying to the folk behind you as "Back Off" means what it says/performs. As for the yellow emergency wire is concerned on the unit, it allows you to make the brake light an emergency flasher also by installing a separate switch. I really like mine as it really works to inform other drivers to "Back Off"!
Just a mention/note, this switch is a very high quality unit as I use it for on off for my driving lights. Available from Amazon @ $14.
I have noticed on some of the very newest cars that they blink the 3rd brake light a few times when braking. But it seems that it doesn't do it every brake application if there is little time between brake applications. Like it won't do the blinking if repeated braking. Anybody notice that?
I wouldn't dismiss the Back-Off irritation to those who share the same road just becuz there are legit situations where sending a Back-Off message to the driver behind is appropriate. In the big picture, it's not being a good neighbor on the highway. Just an example, what happens when you stop at a light and release your brakes, then a few seconds later, re-engage your brakes while you're still fully stopped? The Back-Off device will start blinking again, won't it? As said, the Back-Off module and the like would work if it incorporated an accelerator which only activates the blinking pattern during a sudden stop and the manufacturers are fully aware of it. As it is, between a Back-Off signal that was necessary and the next Back-Off signal that was necessary, there are hundreds of Back-Off signals that weren't necessary.
OK RONW, I see your point of view but as I mentioned this isn't a plague in our area but where you live it might be don't know. Now if it became a problem I'd would think about rewiring to where the rear brake would activate it as I use mostly the front brake in slow 4mph. traffic but a car/truck, good luck. I also use mine as warning device when I ride lead in a event of a deer/turkey crossing, bad spot in the road, or other chit that may occur.
Sorry I think there are too many "bad neighbors" on the road thus the invention of the "Back Off". Until the law enforces phone use on the road and/or other stupid chit driving habits, it's about the only defense I have against these "bad neighbors" behind me on the road. You see I have been rear ended twice by a drunk and a fellow rider not being aware of dirty intersections which that a given in Indiana. The drunk got stopped in time where it pinned my XL250 into the next car and I went into a high speed crawl over that car as I was reacting to sound of screeching tires w/o looking back.
OK RONW Until the law enforces phone use on the road and/or other stupid chit driving habits, it's about the only defense I have against these "bad neighbors" behind me on the road.
Have "Distracted driver" laws not made it to the US? In Canada you will be given a hefty fine for using your phone while driving. Not only that but the laws extend to anything thats not driving, such as eating, doing make up, arguing with a passenger or being visably angry, stereo too loud, basically anything that distracts the driver. You can even lose your license if you get too many of these tickets. My buddy got 3 and lost his license for a year.
by all means keep using the Back-Off module, free country and all that. It's just that imho them things weren't really ready for prime time. Myself, I use the front brake lever to flash the brake lights. Ride safe.
Yes the US is cracking down on the distracted driving with the very same laws you mention. Those went into effect up here in Washington, at least, last July.
It works very well- for a few months.
Then it is back to the devices.
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