Smart Signals -- Great product!

[700rpm]

I received my new Smart Signals today, and had them installed in under five minutes. They are wireless, and attach magnetically to the car. The magnets are very strong and have a protective covering on them so paint doesn't get scratched. Being wireless and magnetic, I can put them anywhere on the car, and, even better, I can switch them around to any one of my three Model A's, depending on which one I'm driving. They're made completely in the USA, and the quality is top notch. The cost is what I'd spend to put conventional signals on three cars, so it's a wash, and installation was much easier and quicker.

In addition to turn signals, the control panel allows for emergency flasher and driving lights. The control panel tucks conveniently on the gas tank under the dash rail below spark rod, but being magnetic, you can attach it wherever it's convenient for you. I can't say enough good things about these. They are simply a wonderful solution to my signal quandary.

I am not affiliated with Smart Signals in any way, just a very happy customer.

Here's their web site: http://smartsignals.com/cms/

[29ModelA]

Every time I see a set of signals intended for a vintage car, I wish they made them look at least somewhat vintage.

The mounting and wireless though would be awesome.

[redmodelt]

Ray brought the tudor by the shop with them on. Vintage looking or not looks like a great idea.
MarkG

[Russ/40]

I notice their site wont divulge price. Can you give us that please.

[mccsix]

Their site gives you every thing you need to know about the lights except the price?

[700rpm]

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Originally Posted by Russ/40

I notice their site wont divulge price. Can you give us that please.

You should contact them directly. There's an email link on their site.

[SDJason]

From the "Buy Now!" page:


The SmartSignals® deluxe set includes:
The SmartSignals Deluxe Set

• 4 individual SmartSignals® (2 for front, 2 for rear)
• 1 magnetic SmartSignals® controller (for turn and hazard lights)
• 4 rechargable lithium-ion battery packs (Batteries ARE included)
• Plug in charger (charges all 4 signals at once)
• Carrying case
• One year warranty
• 30 Day Trial

The pricing on the the deluxe set is US $389 which includes all of the above.

[AL in NY]

Their site states a price of $389.00, but they don't have any available right now. But for a $25.00 refundable deposit, you can get in line. To me, that price is high.

[H. L. Chauvin]

Hi Ray,

Thanks for taking the time to share -- most importantly, these could easily save lives.

I have noticed on many of today's modern cars that the rear turn signals are very visible at night.

However, on the front, some of the turn signals are provided immediately adjacent to & on line with modern head lights; hence, with blinding headlights on in front, after dark, the turn signals are not very visible.

Appears to be a good idea to try different turn signal locations & positions in front in order to carefully place turn signals where headlights out front are not blinding & impeding the view of front turn signals.

[SeaSlugs]

love the idea, im all for making these cars more noticeable in todays traffic but i also love the "factory fresh" look. this way you can cruise around and be safe but once you get to a show or whatever you can remove them and noone would ever know.

the open spark plugs dont interfere with the transmitting?

[700rpm]

Originally Posted by SeaSlugs

love the idea, im all for making these cars more noticeable in todays traffic but i also love the "factory fresh" look. this way you can cruise around and be safe but once you get to a show or whatever you can remove them and noone would ever know.

the open spark plugs dont interfere with the transmitting?

Nope, no interference at all, though they do warn you about pacemakers.

[chopo]

they look WAY odd on an A

[Pinstripe]

This company is also developing a third brake light to go with the set. I think this setup is ideal considering how quickly it can be removed, or switched over to a different car. Thumbs up

[jhowes]

The pacemaker remark caught my interest. Can anyone elaborate on this warning?




























/
/

[Ron/IA]

I have looked at these, and will someday buy a set. I just need to save up my dimes and nickels.

Yes, they are pricey. But what if there use prevented damage to your Model A? The expense of the damage would far outweigh the turn signal cost. It could also save personal physical harm or death.

Any turn signal system mounted on a Model A is not going to look "antique". The system that would utilize existing tail and cowl lights would retain the "look" of the car, but they can be difficult to see; especially from the side.

Sorry, I just don't see the arguments.

[glenn in camino]

Maybe competition will bring the price down and the design more suited to vintage cars. I hope so.

[1931 flamingo]

LOTTA MOOLLA>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>JMO
Paul in CT

[SDJason]

Took a look again today - looks like there's been a price drop:

"Limited time offer: The pricing on the the deluxe set is US $359 with proof of any antique club membership. Five $25 discount coupons are included with each set, to share with your friends."

[rons49]

Ray, I'm glad that you are happy with them. Mine are to be delivered in the next week or two. I ordered them from John in the middle of November. Left a $25 deposit and the total cost is $360 with shipping. Very nice folks to deal with. Don't forget, if some day you wish to sell your car, you can remove them and either place them on another vehicle OR, sell them to another hobbyist. BTW,I like the front area that you mounted them. They offer a bracket that mounts on the As bumper bolts. Ron

[700rpm]

Not to be too defensive (because I don't have any investment in whether you buy these or put any safety features on your car at all), but we often hear and read comments about "cheap Chinese junk" and "why can't they just make it right" and "they don't make 'em like they used to" and "buy American". Here is a product that is high quality, well made completely in the USA, by a fellow enthusiast, specifically for the hobby. So are you gonna walk the walk or just talk? Here's where you can put your money where your mouth is. If you've got a $10,000+ car does $359 seem like too much money to help prevent some fool running into you? Seems like a bargain to me.

If Henry Ford hadn't understood the value of quality, we wouldn't have the Model A's we have now. Buy quality, and buy it once.

[johnsor]

I have installed LOGO lights on three of my A's ($220. ea. kit). I like them as they mount discreetly between the bumper bars and do not detract from the looks of the "A". Each light has a number of LED's in them thus are very bright and last a very long time. Easy to install also.

[700rpm]

Originally Posted by rons49

Ray, I'm glad that you are happy with them. Mine are to be delivered in the next week or two. I ordered them from John in the middle of November. Left a $25 deposit and the total cost is $360 with shipping. Very nice folks to deal with. Don't forget, if some day you wish to sell your car, you can remove them and either place them on another vehicle OR, sell them to another hobbyist. Ron

Great Ron. It would be good to hear what you think of them. Please post your experience.

[msmaron]

very interesting as you can move them from car to car.. they do seem a bit bulky BUT if doing some cross country driving or Highway tours I can see the safety in them. They are high priced though..

[RobertB]

Wonder if you could cut the back out of a repro Model A tail light and insert these...maybe an antique appearing small fog light fro the front?

The A I've purchased (hasn't been delivered yet) apparently has two tail light and license plate brackets installed, with a 31 plate on one side and a new plate on the other.

For side view, you could install a "jewel" on the side of the repro lights.

Just thinking out loud, or actually with my fingers?

[H. L. Chauvin]

Hi Ray,

Again, appreciate your taking your valuable time to share such life safety information with other Model A owners who may want to consider them.

No matter the cost nor the looks ........ common sense guys & gals can see these highly visible turn signals used on a rainy or foggy night are still much cheaper than buying a 6 foot long fancy box with an accompanying land plot & a few flowers hanging on an easel.

[Bob-A]

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They are nice, but I still like the "antique" or at least "vintage" look of the old arrow signal lights. I collected a bunch years ago and plan on using them on my '31 roadster and maybe my '29 Chevy. My '29 roadster has the cowl lights/tail lights turn signal set-up. Plus, I like using arm signals.

Bob-A

[Brother Hesekiel]

Can't think of anything uglier to put on a classic car than those clunky lights. If I wanted to install turn signals on my Model A, I would either install them in the cowl lamps, or inside the head lamps, hidden, like street rods have 'em.

To some people esthetics don't matter much, to me they are very important.

[700rpm]

Originally Posted by Brother Hesekiel

Can't think of anything uglier to put on a classic car than those clunky lights. If I wanted to install turn signals on my Model A, I would either install them in the cowl lamps, or inside the head lamps, hidden, like street rods have 'em.

To some people esthetics don't matter much, to me they are very important.

Safety trumps esthetics when I'm on the road with my grandchildren. And to some people good manners don't matter much, but to me they are important.

[Allanw]

Originally Posted by chopo

they look WAY odd on an A

Originally Posted by Ron/IA

Any turn signal system mounted on a Model A is not going to look "antique". The system that would utilize existing tail and cowl lights would retain the "look" of the car, but they can be difficult to see; especially from the side.

Originally Posted by RobertB

Wonder if you could cut the back out of a repro Model A tail light and insert these...maybe an antique appearing small fog light fro the front?

The A I've purchased (hasn't been delivered yet) apparently has two tail light and license plate brackets installed, with a 31 plate on one side and a new plate on the other.

For side view, you could install a "jewel" on the side of the repro lights.

I think the thing with the Wireless setup, is that if you usually drive locally and have no issues, then want to travel further away and worry about the safety, and you want to maintain the original look most of the time, these will be what you want.

We felt unsafe ALL the time in ours, so I'd never consider driving without them. Before we fitted the additional lights, people really had no clue what we were doing or where we were going. Turn signals and a decent brake light are essential for allowing faster traffic past around here - there are so few places for traffic to pass, you really need to show you are letting them past, and will do your best to let them past safely.

Also, brake lights flashing as turns were never very common here, so it confuses people too - nearly all vehicles here had orange turns - we had very few american cars that used the flashing brake light system.

We fitted 2x repro lights and brackets: Rear Amber turns (with orange bulbs too); standard tails; inners are V8 rears- both brake and tails light as Brakes plus a hi-lighter brake in the back window.


V8 cowl lights as front turns, with orange bulbs.


Very visible from both ends, and the difference in the reactions from other drivers was immediatly noticable - they actually seemed to have some idea what we planed to do

The only thing hard to reverse is the holes for the left side bracket, but it's not impossible - besides, as long as we own it, it'll be driven often, so will need the lights.

Hadn't thought about the "Jewel" before! Though the rear lights are only obscured as you approach an angle fairly perpendicular to the car (The angle is no worse than my Wife "modern" or my VW van, the front are actually a little better, due to the domed lens, and they are under the overhang of the front fender.

Plus if a brake or tail burns out, there are spares now

[Pat Martone]

I am very happy with the Logolites product (logolites.com) that I installed about 2 years ago (cost was about $200 from Snyder's). I really like the emergency 4-way flasher feature, and that they are wired completely independent of the car's existing electrical system, making this modification to my car easily reversible. I recently sent my 4 Logolites LED units sent back to the manufacturer for an "update", which included new LEDs that improved the off-axis visibility considerably. They are not any brighter "head-on", but are much brighter from the sides, and that was important to me. (However, I cannot recall the nominal cost for updating the LED units.)

[davehc]

I also decided I wanted turn signals on my car , mostly for being safer , and the fact that most of todays generation thinks you are giving them a " High Five " when you use hand signals around here , because they don't know what they are . So with my very limited budget I looked at e-bay . I got a set of lights that will fit between the bars ,[ four lights ], a flasher , and a mini toggle switch , all for $11 including shipping . I will leave my original wiring 6 volt , and use a lawn mower battery , 12 volt , and a bit of wiring, I already have . It's already tested and ready to put in , when it warms up here again .
At least I'll have the safety of the signals ,staying well within my budget , and the fun , to me , project of hooking it all up . Not a thing against the Smart Signals , or any other system anyone uses , I am just doing what works for me and my budget .

[Brother Hesekiel]

Originally Posted by 700rpm

Safety trumps esthetics when I'm on the road with my grandchildren.

A personal decision, no doubt. My point was, and still is, that additional safety and esthetics don't have to be mutually exclusive. There are countries that require even antique cars to have turn signals front and rear, and the folks who live there have often come up with solutions that don't look out of place.

[Mitch//pa]

Ray,
Thanks for sharing your experience

[oliverguy]

I think they would be really handy for a brass era car or an all orginal car like my model T roadster. I like the idea of being able to move them around to different cars. When you get to a show you can just take them off.

[Growley bear]

This sounds and looks like a great product. Great for driving and quickly and easily removed if showing the car or having it judged. Also sounds like a quality product.
Chet

[A Really Nice A]

I agree with you Ray 100%...
I've got a set and I'm very happy. They have extended my hours of use during the good weather into the evenings! I now can drive the car at night without thinking about if someone on the road can see me. With them, you would have to be blind not to see me.

As for how they look, I don't know many of us that really care how they look if they are going to help to prevent an accident. They are compact and are of high intensity light.

I've driven on the highway through Boston traffic and everyone was giving me "thumbs up". The trip I took was from Providence, RI to Stowe, VT about a 6 1/2 hour trip. Left during the late afternoon but stopped for dinner and got home in the dark. I think more than once I could have been "road pizza" without them. I'm not suggesting this as your first experience but on Route 95 here in New England there are A LOT of cars, none of which ever do the speed limit. Making sure they see me as far back as possible was and is worth the price.

With the new break light coming out, I'm going to get the upgrade ASAP as soon as its available.

I take the lights off when the car is being judged. I'm not 100% sure but I believe the safety concern with the pacemaker is due to the very strong magnets in each unit.

[700rpm]

FollowUp
I have had my Smart Signals now for seven years. They were and are very good. But the company is out of business and my rechargeable batteries are dying and need replacement. They are low voltage long life high output, and are about $15/2. But the catch is they are lithium, and the wires need to be soldered on, which is a specialty service because the heat from the soldering runs the risk of the batteries exploding. So this is hardly a DIY project. I’m stymied as to how to proceed. I really like these lights. But I may have to go to Logo Lites.

[katy]

What voltage are they? Maybe a different battery or external?

[700rpm]

3.7 v 1600 milliamps, must hold charge for 24 hours. No way to accommodate external batteries

[California Travieso]

Have you tried Batteries Plus Bulbs? There are two stores listed in Portland. They have all types of batteries and they replace batteries for cellphones and other electronics. Maybe they can provide a substitute or do your repairs. I got a 6 volt battery for my Roadster at the store in Rancho Cucamonga.

David Serrano

[jayvee34]

What I like about my (conventional) turn signals is you don't know they are there until you
turn them on.(right or left or flashers) My front signals are the cowl lights and the rear signals are in the tail lights. Of course if you look inside you can see the control lever.
Same with the Smart Signal. Cost: $75.00 plus 2 hours of my time to install.

NOT KNOCKING THE SMART SIGNAL, just stating my preference. "To each his own".

[old31]

Jay, what brand are your signals?

[jayvee34]

Originally Posted by old31

jay, what brand are your signals?

"everlasting"

[700rpm]

Originally Posted by California Travieso

Have you tried Batteries Plus Bulbs? There are two stores listed in Portland. They have all types of batteries and they replace batteries for cellphones and other electronics. Maybe they can provide a substitute or do your repairs. I got a 6 volt battery for my Roadster at the store in Rancho Cucamonga.

David Serrano

Yes. They don’t have them, and they said even if they did they wouldn’t try to resolder them because of the danger of heating lithium batteries. They recommended a couple hobby shops that do small soldering and they also refused. I might be able to buy them from the manufacturer, Sure Fire, if I can find them.

I wonder if some kind of cold solder or even Super Glue would be conductive and safe. Anybody know?

[jayvee34]

There is a steel reinforce epoxy sold at Walmart, and Auto parts stores, it is also
available in aluminum and copper form.
Hope this helps.
John

[700rpm]

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Thanks John. A quick search found Wire Glue, a conductive adhesive. This may solve my problem!

[SHEC]

Thank you for the information and the input regarding the actual product, quality and value wise. Can you put a price on safety? I know many of us are self taught and frugal so the initial cost can be overwhelming. Then you are confronted with a newer vehicle cutting you off or worse ..... then this system makes good sense and a proven value.

I like the portability aspect of it as we can move from vehicle to vehicle. And if a newer car has an electrical issue, then this would provide temporary safety as a stop gap measure.
Thanks again....🇺🇸✔️

[henry's 31]

Hi Ray:


Do you have a link where I can order the Smart Signals? The website given mainly describes it and talks about the specifications.

[700rpm]

Originally Posted by henry's 31

Hi Ray:


Do you have a link where I can order the Smart Signals? The website given mainly describes it and talks about the specifications.

Unfortunately, they are out of business.