Floor mounted dip switch

[stevesey]

One of the things I liked about my MGB was the foot operated dip switch, leaving your hands free to steer (unless you are changing gear, but then both hand and foot are busy).

Anyway now I have an auto - I quite like the idea of being able to flick main beam on and off instantly through a series of S bends using my unoccupied foot.

Seems an obvious mod on an auto - anyone tried it?

Switches are available for £10, just need to figure out a suitable mounting.

 

[Diesel Benz]

I don't understand the issue. If you want to have hands free for steering, then you already have your hand at the reach of the dip switch, don't need to leave your grip from the steering wheel if you want to flick main beam.

A different thing if your intention was to use one hand for the cell phone and the other one for a cigarette and flick with the other foot. I would suggest quitting smoking

 

[TonyVianoAmbiente]

I don't understand the issue. If you want to have hands free for steering, then you already have your hand at the reach of the dip switch, don't need to leave your grip from the steering wheel if you want to flick main beam.

The problem arises when you are negotiating a bend and neither of your hands is close to the stalk with the dipswitch. It means you have to move that hand. So I can see Stevesy's point.

My first car had a foot dipswitch, but it had a manual gearchange and you couldn't dip the lights while changing gear. It would be a far better proposition with an automatic gearbox.

Don't some American cars still use floor switches?

 

[BTB 500]

I once had a Cavalier with a foot-operated dip switch ... when you operated it the interior lights flashed! This was a nearly-new company car, too.

 

[st13phil]

Don't some American cars still use floor switches?

Yes, they do. Not that long ago it took me a few seconds as I familiarised myself with a rental Chevy's controls before driving off to realise that the dip switch was on the floor.

 

[whitenemesis]

I think a foot operated dip switch a great idea!

As already stated when negotiating bends you simply cannot operate the stalk without releasing one's grip on the wheel.

I seem to remember my Dad's old Cortina had a fot operated wash-wipe switch!

 

[Diesel Benz]

The problem arises when you are negotiating a bend and neither of your hands is close to the stalk with the dipswitch. It means you have to move that hand. So I can see Stevesy's point.

My first car had a foot dipswitch, but it had a manual gearchange and you couldn't dip the lights while changing gear. It would be a far better proposition with an automatic gearbox.

Don't some American cars still use floor switches?

Is that a typical scenario to flash lights? I accept it can happen.

If something is used on a typical American car design, I don't take it as a supporting argument.

I would not have problems flashing lights on a manual when changing gears, but I believe you have the problem with a RHD cars. Well, some early Japanese cars had the stalk on the right, or was is just the blinker.

 

[imadoofus]

My method is to briefly dip my lights before the bend. I can then see if anyone is coming the other way, and if not, main beam goes on again.

Surely it's better to anticipate a hazard than to devise a method for dealing with it quickly because you didn't anticipate it.

 

[stevesey]

Regards the queries about "why" - I think it's one of those things you don't appreciate until you've tried it.

It's not a method for dealing with hazards, usual anticipation is needed etc, it's just that is makes it so, so easy to flick back and forth between dip and main beam when cornering, no need to make sure your hand is aligned with the stalk, stretch you fingers off the wheel etc, just instant on/off with you free foot.

Will have a look at the weekend, wondering about a mounting bracket that comes off the back of the hand(foot)brake mounting and places the switch on the foot rest.

 

[fredfloggle]

I don't understand the issue. If you want to have hands free for steering, then you already have your hand at the reach of the dip switch, don't need to leave your grip from the steering wheel if you want to flick main beam.

A different thing if your intention was to use one hand for the cell phone and the other one for a cigarette and flick with the other foot. I would suggest quitting smoking

Funny that - I'd suggest throwing the phone out of the window.

 

[television]

Funny that - I'd suggest throwing the phone out of the window.

Yes but he omitted the emptying of the nose at the same time

 

[imadoofus]

It's not a method for dealing with hazards, usual anticipation is needed etc, it's just that is makes it so, so easy to flick back and forth between dip and main beam when cornering, no need to make sure your hand is aligned with the stalk, stretch you fingers off the wheel etc, just instant on/off with you free foot.

I'm sorry, I still can't see it. 99.9% of people don't have a floor-mounted dip-switch, and they are not forever crashing into trees or oncoming cars because they have to move their hands on the wheel.

If you're driving so close to the limit that a small movement of your hand is a problem, then you're driving inappropriately for the conditions.

Bur by all means knock yourself out and put a floor-mounted switch in there. Maybe you can relocate the stereo controls to the driver's door armrest so you can operate them with your elbow.

In fact, if you convert the car to hand controls, then your feet will be free to work the lights and the windows.

If you end up driving with your foot resting on your new switch, then there's a danger you'll inadvertently press it at the wrong time. If you drive with your foot off the switch, then moving your foot onto it to press it will probably be as distracting as using your hand in the old-fashioned way, and it may well be slower too.

I just can't help feeling that you're trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist.

PJ

 

[Diesel Benz]

Regards the queries about "why" - I think it's one of those things you don't appreciate until you've tried it.

It's not a method for dealing with hazards, usual anticipation is needed etc, it's just that is makes it so, so easy to flick back and forth between dip and main beam when cornering, no need to make sure your hand is aligned with the stalk, stretch you fingers off the wheel etc, just instant on/off with you free foot.

Thanks for the scenario clarification. I thought the opposite. But I do drive unlit roads a lot and sometimes switch low beam shortly before a corner, I have no problems doing it with my car while holding the steering wheel with both hands (not that I would be afraid of loosing it), but it is automatic.

Now I lost which car was discussed, on modern ones you would have to have to get wired to the stalk as the signals are transmitted via CAN bus to the front SAM. Unless you are able to build a device connecting to the CAN bus (these exist for other purposes).

 

[grober]

White knuckles on the wheel!!

I was thinking someone was going to go all nostalgic and talk about the Ford vacuum operated wipers. You havn't experienced true fear till you try overtaking an articulated truck in the wet with only these to clear the windscreen.

 

[TonyVianoAmbiente]

Is that a typical scenario to flash lights? I accept it can happen.

We aren't talking about flashing the headlights, we are talking about dipping them in the face of oncoming traffic.

If something is used on a typical American car design, I don't take it as a supporting argument.

It was merely an observation, not an attempt at a supporting argument. But suit yourself.

I would not have problems flashing lights on a manual when changing gears, but I believe you have the problem with a RHD cars. Well, some early Japanese cars had the stalk on the right, or was is just the blinker.

My W124 has a single stalk on the right. I don't mind having a single stalk, but I would much prefer it to be on the left. The reason being, I drive two other vehicles, and they both have the lights and indicators on a stalk on the left. When I drive one of those vehicles I often end up turning on the windscreen wipers rather than the turn indicators.

 

[imadoofus]

When I drive one of those vehicles I often end up turning on the windscreen wipers rather than the turn indicators.

I have the same problem. However, unlike Tony, I am firmly of the belief that it's the other cars that need changing, not the W124

 

[Diesel Benz]

We aren't talking about flashing the headlights, we are talking about dipping them in the face of oncoming traffic.



It was merely an observation, not an attempt at a supporting argument. But suit yourself.



My W124 has a single stalk on the right. I don't mind having a single stalk, but I would much prefer it to be on the left. The reason being, I drive two other vehicles, and they both have the lights and indicators on a stalk on the left. When I drive one of those vehicles I often end up turning on the windscreen wipers rather than the turn indicators.

I actually already clarified on post #13 that I had overlooked the other scenario.

I had just learned that the stalks are on the same hand on a RHD and LHD car and now I learn that on an older MB the indicator stalk at least is "symmetric". Is this some sort of cost savings or have I understood it wrong for the new cars too (on a LHD car the stalk is at the left).

 

[stevesey]

I'm sorry, I still can't see it. 99.9% of people don't have a floor-mounted dip-switch, and they are not forever crashing into trees or oncoming cars because they have to move their hands on the wheel.

Every little helps..., but its ease of use really, left hand is moving around with the wheel at not always adjacent to the stalk, left foot is idle, so share the jobs more evenly.

If you end up driving with your foot resting on your new switch, then there's a danger you'll inadvertently press it at the wrong time.

Good strong strings in the switches make for a very deliberate press and most of us manage to avoid suddenly twitching the other foot and accelerating into the car in front. But footrest will be immediately adjcent anyway.