Recommendations for shift lights?

[treynor]

... subject says it all. I'm looking for something small and unobtrusive, but BRIGHT, to keep the yellow beast in check. Under WOT in that thing the only place I'm looking is straight ahead

 

[Mike Brunton]

Ben,

I am 100% biased, but we make shift lights... I have about 15 of them in Vipers at the moment. Website is www.hightechspeed.com. If you like the look, shoot me an email or give me a call and I will take care of you.

 

[varanus]

Mike, I sent you an email about 3 weeks ago to get one and never heard back. Are they in stock?
My friend told me they can be used as a window switch for nitrous too. Is that correct?

 

[HP]

Mike, I sent you an email about 3 weeks ago to get one and never heard back. Are they in stock?
My friend told me they can be used as a window switch for nitrous too. Is that correct?

Don't put Mike on the spot, I was the one that posted the possibility -
since the control for the lights can be set for a low and high RPM -
I gave a set-up for wiring 2 relays in series with the hot wire to the on/off
manual NOS switch - Of course this is all speculative since it depends on
the current from the control box being sufficient to activate the lights and
relays - I have 3 or 4 things going on with my car - and am finally at
this point - hopefully I can check it out next week - but the possibilities are
there - whether the current can handle the light and relay - is yet to be seen.

 

[NOMERCY]

I have one from http://www.raptorperformance.com/

It is small, bright and looks pretty good.

 

[Mike Brunton]

Varanus,

I don't think I got your email - I am slow but usually a few days at worst . I did get an email from a gentleman in Canada about using it to control an air shifter - was that you?

Well, anyways, you could use it to control a NOS setup, BUT, the thing to remember is the power draw of what you're controlling. The lights run at 5V, 0.15 amp, so if you were controlling something like an NOS solenoid, it's probably gonna draw a good amount of power. You could/should use either a relay or a power transistor to control any kind of solenoid. It's not so much how much power the box can handle (the transistor that switches the light is rated at 40V, 0.8amp, but we use a resistor inline to limit the LED current.

If you could give me the power requirements of what you're driving I can get a part number for a relay or transistor that would work for it. I actually have a ton of power transistors sitting around and a few relays so maybe I even have something I could throw in the box that would work for you.

 

[1TONY1]

Mike, I sent you an e-mail also.............

Does the Viper have a tach wire to hook into...I need it to log rpm along with a w/b 02 signal, if so...what and where. My e-mail was about when are the covers going to be ready, I have "done PR" and no these guys are hounding me.

 

[Mike Brunton]

Tony,

Did you get my email on Monday about the covers? I emailed you and Scott and the other few Viper guys waiting.

As for the shift light I will PM you right now....


EDIT:

Tony I PMed you... one thing too - I just noticed my email in my profile is WRONG. That might be the problem. I had my AOL email in there but I cancelled my AOL account a couple of months ago (they keep my email for 90 days in case I 'change my mind' I guess). I will update my profile but my email is [email protected] (home) or [email protected] (work).

Sorry for the confusion - I am updating my profile now.

 

[varanus]

Thanks Mike. I like the light. I have a NX wet kit I got from Albert Chlouber for my 97 GTS. I will try to find out the the power requirements, but thought I'd tell you in case you know what they typically draw.
thanks.
BTW Smokin' V10 told me about the nitrous activation idea.

 

[Vip-RT10]

I would get this one. It is similar to the one used in the new Yamaha R1
http://www.eautoworks.com/html/ORD-Auto~Performance-Pivot~Product-No-1897-none.cfm

http://harlan-engineering.com/store/shiftlight/shiftlight.html

http://www.spa-uk.co.uk/design/sequential.htm

 

[HP]

Varanus,

I don't think I got your email - I am slow but usually a few days at worst . I did get an email from a gentleman in Canada about using it to control an air shifter - was that you?

Well, anyways, you could use it to control a NOS setup, BUT, the thing to remember is the power draw of what you're controlling. The lights run at 5V, 0.15 amp, so if you were controlling something like an NOS solenoid, it's probably gonna draw a good amount of power. You could/should use either a relay or a power transistor to control any kind of solenoid. It's not so much how much power the box can handle (the transistor that switches the light is rated at 40V, 0.8amp, but we use a resistor inline to limit the LED current.

If you could give me the power requirements of what you're driving I can get a part number for a relay or transistor that would work for it. I actually have a ton of power transistors sitting around and a few relays so maybe I even have something I could throw in the box that would work for you.

Mike, its not the NOS solenoid- that you would be switching - just the power switch wire to activate the NOS relay - this should take very little current -
It been months since I made that post - so I feel bad that I haven't followed
up on it - I'm just finishing a few things and wanted to do all the wiring at
one time - hopefully next week. If someone don't beat me to it - I will post
next week. Also if someone is interested I can give them a wiring setup for
the 2 relays.

 

[varanus]

Thanks Hugh. i will be looking for your post on it in the next few weeks

 

[GaryA]

I have the AutoMeter Quick-Lite installed on my steering column. You can see it here:

http://www.autometer.com/hp/2001_catalog/electronic_accessories/electronic_accessories_art/5330_large.jpg

It's small and unobtrusive. I've thought about relocating it inside one of the AC vents (where I have my remote radar detector display).

 

[Snakester]

I am also very interested in this idea of using a shift light as a window switch because I also have a NX wet N20 setup from my last car and I've been looking into adapting it to the Viper. I understand that MSD has a modded window switch available, but having a shift light take care of switching the N20 on and off would kill two birds with one stone.

So any and all info on the feasibility and setup of a shift light window switch would be appreciated.

-Dean.

 

[Mike Brunton]

If any of you guys who are interested in controlling a NOS setup could take a look at that relay and let me know what, if any, markings are on it, that would be great. I presume it's a 12V coil relay, whereas our box is a 5V output, and if that's the case, a transistor and resistor would be needed to switch the higher voltage of that 12V coil.

So, the only missing piece is the relay used - if anyone could look and tell me the part number on it or something that would be great. In the meantime I'll check NX and NOS's websites and see if I can determine the PN from the info they give.

 

[HP]

Mike, I'll get a relay and check it out today - Keep in mind, if you're
looking for relative info on the NOS website - your only looking at the
+ switch wire (that goes from 'the manual arm switch' to the NOS relay).
I think I have tested these relays before
with a flashlight battery - I don't think they are volt specific for switch
terminal current- they are rated for volt/amp on output current -
But I will report back.

 

[HP]

Well - all I had was an assortment of 30/40amp relays and
it does take 12v to switch them - however the amps I used was less than 0.01 .
A 30amp is such overkill - maybe I can find a relay with a lower amp rating or volt rating. Othewise we will have up the volts from the light control box.
I'm sure an answer can be found.

 

[ElDiablo Viper]

I had a shift light from Mike B. It was a two collor one however it was not bright for me to have it during a day. It is nice and small, I'm waiting for the upgrade to the bright one.

 

[LTHL VPR]

Ben-
I think you have seen the one in my car before, right? You'll like it because it has a yellow backing cup. Very small and slim Autometer with mounting bracket and RPM box calibrated for a Viper. APEX has them in stock. If you want to see mine, let me know.
-W

 

[Snakester]

I was just checking back to see if someone knew if there was a solution now using the shift light as a trigger/cutoff for a NX N20 setup.

-Dean.

 

[Jack B]

Autometer make an auxiliary relay that can be tied to the control module, however, it doesn't make sense for N2O. You will be shifting at 4600, however, the shut-off should be at approximately 5800 (a little shy of the factory rev limiter). You will have to run the MSD window switch. Set it at 3000 and 5800 and use it in series with a 3/4 throttle switch and you have your safeguards.

If you run a wet gas system you may also want to put a low fuel pressure switch in the series circuit. If you are interested I can post a schematic of this set-up.