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Sun Jul 16, 2006 4:13 pm

I've got the semaphores on my 54 oval to blink. I ran an additional power wire from the switch through a flasher relay and connected that directly to the bulb. So when the semahore switch is turned on, a constant power is sent to the arm to keep it up through the original wire, while the bulb receives the power through the additional wire that is linked to the flasher relay.

Works like a dream!

If you cannot run an additional wire to the bulb, you could also use the negative wire that is used to trigger the indicator light in the speedo. However, than this speedo indicator light will no longer go on when switching the semaphores on.

- You could live with this, as the flasher relay will make a click clacking sound that will let you know the semaphores are up.
- You can use a red tip indiator switch.
- You can rewire the speedo indicator light. I removed the positive copper connector that connects the to the indicator bulb housing. Instead I connected a negative wire to the indicator bulb housing. To the indicator light itself, I wired the original positive wire that is also used to get the semaphore arm up. Therefor the indicator light is turned on constantly when swtching on the semaphores, even when the semaphores themselves blink. This to give it the more authentic look.

Hope this makes sense.

Chris

Mon Jul 17, 2006 12:56 am

I have seen (can not recall where) in a vintage magazine...like one of the old Foreign Car Guides...an advertizment for bulbs made by Hella or one of the OEM manufactures...bulbs for semaphores that flashed. I would assume these worked similar to blinking x-mas tree bulbs.

Mon Jul 17, 2006 5:29 am

bastardbus wrote: I have seen (can not recall where) in a vintage magazine...like one of the old Foreign Car Guides...an advertizment for bulbs made by Hella or one of the OEM manufactures...bulbs for semaphores that flashed. I would assume these worked similar to blinking x-mas tree bulbs.

Something like that, Rumor has it they will be available again but that's just what I herd.

Mon Jul 17, 2006 10:40 pm

RareAir wrote: Here are some semaphores that "flip flop" up & down rapidly to simulate a flashing bulb.

you would get too many lady bug & fire fly jokes

Sat Aug 05, 2006 10:08 pm

I did it by making a really small electronic flasher relay and putting it in the lense,out of sight. The semafore stayed up and the light blinked!

Sat Aug 05, 2006 10:28 pm

This will get the semaphores flashing, provide blinkers, flashing dash indicator, and brake lights on early cars. This works great for splits. If you have an oval window, I would disable VW’s flasher system and run this setup. This assumes you are going 12 volt. I want to drive my split daily and need bright, 12 volt bulbs and definetly need rear brake lights. (before you wire your split, get an extra wire ran in the harness for each rear taillight--John Henry did mine and it came out bitchen).

You will need to purchase a 2-terminal flasher ($5).You will need dual-filament rear bulb holders as well as an extra wire ran in the wiring harness to go to the taillights out back. (for splits). Go to www.watsons-streetworks.com and go halfway down their VW page. You want #L 10-TSRP. ($50). Follow the wiring diagram that comes with it. You mount this 4 relay-pack under the front trunk liner behind the dash. Then get two 1-ohm 50 watt ceramic resistors (they're big—I ran mine under the cowl) to go from the semaphore switch outs to the semaphore. ($10 each). One on each side, 'cause you'll need the full 12 volts going to the switch for the flasher. You'll get exactly 6 volts going to your sema.

Here’s how it works:

The top post of the sema is for the wire that goes to the dash indicator light. (this is always ‘hot’, and grounds out at the sema when the arm is up to provide dash light).
The bottom post is for the wire from the switch that energizes the semaphore. (coil and bulb). You should have two wires going from the bottom post to the coil and bulb. You want to cut the white wire that goes up to the bulb at the bottom post, and attach it to the top post. Also, now you want to be sure to disable the little strap that grounds out the coil pin on the bottom of the sema coil as you do not want this now. With it disabled, you attach the bulb (white) wire to the top post, along with the dash bulb indicator wire in the harness.

Now, wire it so that when you turn the switch, (right or left), power (12v) comes out of the switch and goes thru the resistor (right or left), and to the bottom post of the respective semaphore using the existing semaphore wire in the harness. You get 6v, and the sema pops up.
Also, you branch off of the switch out (before the resistors), and go to the relay pack (it has two inputs for this-right and left). It will have two sets of ‘outs’, (right and left rear, and right and left front--I used the 'front'--the rears will be for rear blinkers.) Run the front outs(--left and right--) to the top posts of the semaphores, using the existing dash indicator wire in the harness, one to each sema, and now they flash.

You also want to branch off of each of these outs on the relay pack to two diodes( #4001—common diodes—50 cents). At the other end of the diodes tie them both together to a single wire leading to the indicator bulb in the dash, then ground it out behind the dash. (that way, no matter which side is activated, the single dash indicator bulb gets power, and current cannot go backwards through the other wire to the relays). Now the indicator bulb will flash.
As mentioned above, the relay pack has left and right front outputs, and left and right rear outputs. (At this point, you could branch off of the fronts and go to front blinkers as well). The ‘rear’ outs go to the rear bulb holders. This is for your rear blinkers. The relay pack has provisions for the flasher input, and the brake light switch input.

Now the semaphores go up, (6 volt), the semaphore bulb flashes (12v), along with the rear (and front) blinkers, and the indicator in your dash. All together. And brake lights. Cool, huh? The relay pack will distinguish between brake lights and flasher, allowing the flasher to override the brake lights when both are applied. (one on solid, the turn side blinking....). If you have any questions, PM me. It works great. Jim

Sat Aug 05, 2006 10:37 pm

I'm not real computer literate, but I can send a picture to your e-mail or maybe to this forum, if I can figure it out. The unit just fit up next to the pivot point of the unit and the installation required cutting one wire....to the bulb, to install!

Thu Sep 23, 2010 9:27 am

twinwindows wrote: bastardbus wrote: I have seen (can not recall where) in a vintage magazine...like one of the old Foreign Car Guides...an advertizment for bulbs made by Hella or one of the OEM manufactures...bulbs for semaphores that flashed. I would assume these worked similar to blinking x-mas tree bulbs.

Something like that, Rumor has it they will be available again but that's just what I herd. any news on this?

Wed Sep 29, 2010 4:49 am

I know this is link shows the ad has ended but these flashing LED bulbs used to be available
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=920353

Fri Oct 01, 2010 7:19 am

This is a little on the pricy side, but here's what I'm using on my Thing/Kubel for my external-mount SHO's. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=704943

BNMike

Sun May 20, 2012 4:28 am

Hi all,
I assume most of you are using chip's wonderful product? I was looking at all the discussions on flashing semaphores.and LEDs and the wiring diagrams .. Seems to have flashing semaphores, flashing signal and the snowflake portion as the running light only .. It can't be done. Can some one help?? Seems the easiest way is for the snowflake to flash only and the stop / running lights to run same circuit...

I really want to have snowflake as the running lights and the the rest of the vertical LEDs (assume talking with respect to chips product) to work as signal/stop. Bearing in mind we are using flashing semaphores.. Did I confuse anyone?
Ken