Anyone ever considered a pedal switch for lighting?

[OFC Ranger]

So early morning ponderings. Generally I like to wire forward cruising lights to simply be high beam tapped. It keeps the mechanics of it all simple and in a natural place to be activated while not having to remove one's hands from the wheel. Instant on/off function in a split second without having to think too much.

I've considered a more novel idea, since the proliferation of LED sealed headlights are becoming a bit more of a complicated affair than simply tapping good old fashion power wires in halogen assemblies.

So I am thinking, what is the next general passive way to have instant access to forward lighting that needs to be manipulated safely and quickly? (ie; oncoming traffic)

Well I generally dont sit with my legs spread, meaning I don't rest my left foot on the dead pedal (or whatever they call it). Couldn't I use this space to my advantage? What do you think?

These switches can be found in standard on/off or as dead men configurations (momentary).

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[KJRR]

Not a new idea. One reason that high beam switches are no longer on the floor is because they would corrode from water, mud, snow, salt... and no longer work. Unless the switch is sealed, same thing would likely happen.

 

[Dgc333]

I would tend to agree that the floor mounted dimmer switch is subject to corrosion but I have had quite a few vehicles with them in my 50+ years of driving in New England winters and never had an issue with them.

You can get the floor mounted dimmer switch for $5 - $10 and a pig tail with the appropriate connector for around $5 too. I have installed one in my FFR Speedstar hot rod in place of the supplied dash mounted toggle switch.

 

[DukeCanBuildit]

I like the way you think Jack - a floor switch would be handy. But you’ve never taken the easy way out before, what about paddle shifters that activate lighting instead of the transmission?

 

[MountainGoat]

I would tend to agree that the floor mounted dimmer switch is subject to corrosion but I have had quite a few vehicles with them in my 50+ years of driving in New England winters and never had an issue with them.

You can get the floor mounted dimmer switch for $5 - $10 and a pig tail with the appropriate connector for around $5 too. I have installed one in my FFR Speedstar hot rod in place of the supplied dash mounted toggle switch.

Would be neat for nitrous!

 

[Msfitoy]

The auto high beam do all the work for me...probably the best functioning feature on the 5G...

 

[OFC Ranger]

The auto high beam do all the work for me...probably the best functioning feature on the 5G...

The problem arises when you have 6 mounted mini-suns that trigger with high beams that turn night into day. All of a sudden the auto detection system assumes there are like 100 on-coming cars and deactivates the high beams.

 

[OFC Ranger]

Not a new idea. One reason that high beam switches are no longer on the floor is because they would corrode from water, mud, snow, salt... and no longer work. Unless the switch is sealed, same thing would likely happen.

My worry about such matters is basically 0%. The pedal switches I am looking at are completely sealed units, or in the absolute worst case scenario are priced in the consumable throw-away range should they need to be swapped out.

I like the way you think Jack - a floor switch would be handy. But you’ve never taken the easy way out before, what about paddle shifters that activate lighting instead of the transmission?

My second idea is to have a machine shop fabricate a thick aluminum "bar", flat in the middle, with wings on either side for mounting small latching buttons that could be installed. This bar could be mounted to the top of the steering column right behind steering wheel so in a fixed position just like wiper/signal stalks.

I would have thought such products would already exist, but apparently not.

I'd love to do steering wheel mounted buttons (similar to motorcycle aux buttons) - but that got into the realm of clockspring wiring and the juice isn't worth the squeeze.

 

[Msfitoy]

The problem arises when you have 6 mounted mini-suns that trigger with high beams that turn night into day. All of a sudden the auto detection system assumes there are like 100 on-coming cars and deactivates the high beams.

Ah...I didn't realize you're hooking up extras to the high beam...

 

[OFC Ranger]

Ah...I didn't realize you're hooking up extras to the high beam...

You know I just realized, my ZR2 only has one stalk on the steering column (left side). I guess I could make another "Stalk" that bolts to the right side that controls buttons. It just needs to be stout enough to not sheer and break over time from button presses. Is 3D printed stuff that durable yet?

 

[Dgc333]

The auto high beam do all the work for me...probably the best functioning feature on the 5G...

I consider the auto high beams (and the rain sensing wipers) to be the most useless and annoying feature on the Ranger (and my wife's Jeep too). I gave them about a months try and turned them off and haven't touched the setting in the 30k miles since.

The constant up and down when they should just stay down drives me nuts and it is down right dangerous when you meet a vehicle coming the other way that has them and they flip the highs on before they are completely past my vehicle and I get a close range blast of high beam.

 

[OFC Ranger]

I consider the auto high beams (and the rain sensing wipers) to be the most useless and annoying feature on the Ranger (and my wife's Jeep too). I gave them about a months try and turned them off and haven't touched the setting in the 30k miles since.

The constant up and down when they should just stay down drives me nuts and it is down right dangerous when you meet a vehicle coming the other way that has them and they flip the highs on before they are completely past my vehicle and I get a close range blast of high beam.

Same here. Always disabled the function. It is especially sporadic in areas with lots of hills combined with twisting roads. (same problem automatic cruise control functions have)

 

[Msfitoy]

I consider the auto high beams (and the rain sensing wipers) to be the most useless and annoying feature on the Ranger (and my wife's Jeep too). I gave them about a months try and turned them off and haven't touched the setting in the 30k miles since.

The constant up and down when they should just stay down drives me nuts and it is down right dangerous when you meet a vehicle coming the other way that has them and they flip the highs on before they are completely past my vehicle and I get a close range blast of high beam.

Sorry to hear about your experience...seems not all auto high beams are made the same...mine are near perfect...occasionally, it'll turn on just as a car rounds the corner and flashes for a second then off...they probably thought I flashed at them lol...other than those rare incidences mine works as expected...I don't have rain wipers to comment about...

 

[Dr_Strangelove]

Jack the foot switches you've posted look beefy enough you could probably still use the dead pedal as the switch probably requires a bit of calf muscle to actually depress the pedal. At any rate you could add a stiff spring to the pedal so that it takes more than a tap to activate.

 

[TJC]

Sorry to hear about your experience...seems not all auto high beams are made the same...mine are near perfect...occasionally, it'll turn on just as a car rounds the corner and flashes for a second then off...they probably thought I flashed at them lol...other than those rare incidences mine works as expected...I don't have rain wipers to comment about...

I generally like the auto hi/low beam. I wish Ford had the low end speed setting at 20mph instead of 30mph. The Mazda version is slightly more robust / accurate at reading traffic vs still lights or red reflectors, and they come on at 20mph. Driving through rural neighborhoods at 25 with deer crossing the roads at every turn keeps you on your toes. And we have herds of 20 or so at a time.

I wish that there was a setting in Forscan to allow me to change the mph the auto on/off threshold activates.

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