Driveway Warning Light

[Jack Olsen]

I'm kind of stuck for a good, low-cost idea on this.

I park my daily driver under a cover in my driveway. To get out, I open the gate and back down a short incline to the street. There's a small retaining wall on both my and my neighbor's property.

Here's an old picture showing the covered area and the path out.

And here's the opposite view from this morning. (It rained last night.)

Backing out, I'm unable to see the sidewalk. Rationally or not, I worry about hitting someone one day. So I've thought about putting in a warning light -- something people on the sidewalk would see that might get them to notice that I'm backing out.

This isn't the toughest thing to engineer. I've already got a 12V warning light that would work. But the trigger is something I haven't figured out. I don't want a 'crying wolf' problem with the light going off when there isn't a car coming. So...

It can't be a simple motion detector, since my walking in the area would trigger it.

It can't be that the gate opener is operating, since it's often open for reasons having nothing to with the car going in or out.

The old service station pressure-triggered hose is a great idea, except for the cost. There's a place that sells a hose and a bell setup, but it's $88 for their cheapest model, and it's 110v and a bell alarm. I'd prefer super cheap and 12V and a light, I think.

A weight sensitive switch seems like a smart way to go. I think the service station hoses used air pressure as the trigger. It seems like some kind of weight-sensitive pad should be available, somewhere. But I haven't found one.

The traffic light loop sensors pick up on either a car's mass of metal or its ignition, I'm not sure which. But if I could get my head around electronics, it seems like I could have a trigger that involves a wire loop and some fancy electronics.

So I'm throwing it out to all of you on the off chance that someone can think of a good, cheap-or-free way to trigger a momentary light when a car moves out of its spot -- but is not triggered by other objects moving past it and isn't triggered by the car simply being gone.

Any ideas?

 

[vartz04]

remote control on a key fob. press it, turns on, back out, press again, turns off, drive away.

could put a timed circuit on it too if you are worried about forgeting so it will shut off after say 2 mins or so. even a foot tap switch mounted near where you park that you could flip and would shut off via timer after 1 min or 2 mins or whatever time you need to back out.

 

[Alchymist]

The old service station pressure-triggered hose is a great idea, except for the cost.
A weight sensitive switch seems like a smart way to go. I think the service station hoses used air pressure as the trigger. It seems like some kind of weight-sensitive pad should be available, somewhere. But I haven't found one.

Any ideas?

How about one of the pressure sensors from a furnace stuck into the end of a hose, with the other end of the hose plugged. The kind of sensor that colses switch contacts when the exhaust blower builds pressure.....

 

[snorky18]

First idea I had - Why not back in instead? (Assuming minimal traffic flow on the street)

When you back in you have the opportunity to drive just past the driveway with full view of any pedestrians that may be in harm's way, then back into the space that you just verified was free of obstructions.

And you're not depending on a pedestrian's intelligence (or lack thereof) to recogize your device, realize it means there's a car backing up, and make sure they avoid you. Even if you had a "red light" for pedestrians, that doesn't mean they would pay any attention to it.

You could also ask yourself WWOD...

What would OSHA do? Require a backup beeper.

I believer you can get the ones that go into your reverse light sockets.

Ultimately, if I were afraid I may hit someone backing out of that driveway, any solution that had me backing out of the driveway and depending on others to stop would still scare me. If I"m going forward slowly and can see better, I'm in control.

 

[vartz04]

First idea I had - Why not back in instead? (Assuming minimal traffic flow on the street)

When you back in you have the opportunity to drive just past the driveway with full view of any pedestrians that may be in harm's way, then back into the space that you just verified was free of obstructions.

And you're not depending on a pedestrian's intelligence (or lack thereof) to recogize your device, realize it means there's a car backing up, and make sure they avoid you. Even if you had a "red light" for pedestrians, that doesn't mean they would pay any attention to it.

You could also ask yourself WWOD...

What would OSHA do? Require a backup beeper.

I believer you can get the ones that go into your reverse light sockets.

Ultimately, if I were afraid I may hit someone backing out of that driveway, any solution that had me backing out of the driveway and depending on others to stop would still scare me. If I"m going forward slowly and can see better, I'm in control.

backup beeper would be the way to go to be honest, really simple and would work. Everyone recognizes that sound with something backing up.

 

[nmk_61802]

Just throwing this out. What about a series of photoeyes and reflectors. I think they could be installed a 4' intervals with a requirement that two would need to be broken at a time to trigger the light. This should cut down on the false reads. This may be to cost prohibative.

I also found this, but I am not familiar with the manufacturer:

http://www.emxinc.com/outdoor-buried-driveway-sensor-carsense.html

They seemed to have lots of automated solutiions if this does not fit your needs.

 

[aandpdan]

I'll be the third to say it, get a backup beeper.

Its all nice and self contained.

 

[-Brent-]

Jack, you could do something triggered by the gate being open.

 

[RECox286]

Keep It Simple:

Backup alarm of your choice wired to the B/U light fixture.

No bells and whistles to complicate things. No brainer.

Uncle Bob

 

[gsport]

how about just continuously tapping your horn while backing out...

 

[A_Pmech]

The traffic light loop sensors pick up on either a car's mass of metal or its ignition, I'm not sure which. But if I could get my head around electronics, it seems like I could have a trigger that involves a wire loop and some fancy electronics.

A loop detector is just a big metal detector.

For your project as you describe it, all you need is a standard single channel vehicle loop detector with constant presence output. (Any time the detector loop senses a vehicle or metal object, the output relay is closed until the vehicle leaves.) Install the loop the last 20 feet or so of your driveway. Whenever there is a metal object over the loop large enough to trigger the detector, the light will come on.

To install, make several saw cuts in your driveway for the loop wire (5 turns of #14 machine tool wire usually), then run the ends of the loop back to the detector. When a metal object is present over the detector loop which causes a frequency shift above the set threshold, the detection relay will close.

Here are the manuals for a Sarasota 625:

http://proteccontrols.com/catalog/Documentation/Sarasota625X.pdf
http://proteccontrols.com/catalog/Documentation/LoopSizes.pdf

Whether it's a good idea or not to have a "private traffic signal" I'll leave up to you.

 

[ZRX61]

Simple answer:

Just reverse INTO the driveway instead...

 

[nehog]

Anyone who drives a truck with a backup alarm will tell you that such a warning device won't be any good. Bottom line: no one pays attention!

I think a better solution would be either a mirror (across the street?) or a (couple of) video camera(s) that you can monitor the sidewalk and see if someone is there.

 

[luvit]

i'd do the backup beeper which you can switch-off.. the backup beeper noise is universal.
a jogger or dog walker wearing an ipod earphones may hear and recognize a backup beeper.
but if they are pre-occupied with children, dog, or jogging, you may have a hard time competing with a visual on a bright sunny day along with a non-standard buzz.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Thanks, guys.

It didn't occur to me, but a back-up beeper is pretty foolproof. I'm going to see if I can also do a strobe -- improve the chances of a jogger with an mp3 player.

I'm not thinking this has to be a foolproof solution -- I always back out slowly -- but if it reduces the (slim) likelihood of me bumping a jogger or baby stroller, then it's worthwhile.

So I'll try to work out a beeper and strobe on the back-up light circuit.

 

[vartz04]

Relay and one of these mounted somewhere on your bumper. https://speedtechlights.com/product_detail.php?iid=1&catid=2&id=33

relay signal comes from the reverse light circuit and then you can power both the beeper and the strobe off of the relay.

i have those strobes on my truck they are super bright for the price.

 

[Rentawrench]

Time to BUY a New car , I seen an Ad for ,I think a Infiniti RX with a Back up system that Stops the car IF something comes into it's view. Kid running an stopping to look at you backing up.

http://www.youtube.com/user/Infiniti?v=nBRjlwfH2jI

 

[volvo]

...
$13.07....Wireless remote 8-chime doorbell, 490 ft range, 12 V,
add small fence post sun cell to recharge. Things are loud & you could modify with timer & flashing lamp if want to go wild.


http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garde...ferralID=e87ab51a-8fd2-11e1-9e8b-001b2166c62d

 

[JamieK]

Or a convex mirror mouted on a pole down beside the curb.

 

[was2]

Some garage door opener remotes have second or third button to control garage light or other devices. Could someone use the accessory button of a remote to turn a garage power source on/off?

Maybe a low voltage lighting transformer in the garage serving your low voltage warning light(s) along the drive. When you are pulling in at night you could also trigger them for landing lights.

 

[Jack Olsen]

I thought about the wireless door alarm with a strobe. The downsides were 1) that I don't think the duration of the strobe was adjustable, and 2) I would still need to make a switch, since I don't want to have to remember to hit a second button every time I back out.

I think the back-up beeper/strobe is the most sensible, in terms of simplicity and cost. But if you've got other ideas, I'm still listening.

 

[MoonRise]

Nah, you're going to have to go all Cali-safe and run multiple, triple-redundant audio and visual and physical safety systems. Add in permitting fees (hey, Cali is broke, right? They gots to make up the money somehow), inspection fees, licensing fees, public performance bonds (it goes across a public sidewalk and into a public street), seismic compliance review fees, engineering design consultation fees, signage fees, environmental regulation compliance fees, Save-the-Whale fees, Save-the-Condor fees, Save-the-Mountain-Frog fees, and probably a few more that I somehow missed.

So mutiple warning sirens/klaxons, multiple blinking/flashing lights (have to make sure the blink/strobe repetition rate is not in the trigger-zone for epileptic or other neurological sympton compliance), multiple drop-down barrier gates or barricades, and signage warning of the upcoming Jack-crossing.

I'd say 6 years and $3.8 million in today's dollars.

Or put a convex mirror(s) on/by the driveway gate so you can see onto the sidewalk zone(s).

A backup-beeper that is built-into the backup light is just going to annoy you and be ignored or not even heard by the jogger with the headphones on. Even if they did hear it, they'll be looking for a truck that is backing up somewhere and while they are looking all around them for the truck that they can hear backing up, they'll walk right down the sidewalk and into your car's path.

 

[VHF]

There are a variety of "loop detectors" for use with either burried vehicle detection loops or an above ground "probe". A common application is to automatically open a driveway gate for exiting vehicles, but this could certainly be used to operate a warning beacon by the sidewalk. Some of the loop detectors are configurable for how much delay they have, so it could operate the warning for a few seconds after you drive by the loop/probe.

Here's one loop detector and probe bundle, although this company sells quite a variety of loop detectors, so you might be able to assemble a less expensive solution.

http://www.gateopenersunlimited.com...LP-Probe-Kit-Vehicle-Loop-Detector_p_578.html

 

[srmofo]

Back up alarm on the vehicle with a toggle switch...unless you want it going off everytime you back up

 

[aandpdan]

The one good thing about a backup beeper is that it is a standard noise. Anyone hearing it should know that something is backing out.

Flashing lights or strobes, people won't know what they mean as nothing is standardized. They might think its an alarm but not realize it means a car is backing out.

Any passerby's that are to occupied to hear the beeper are probably not going to see a strobe either.

 

[RECox286]

Well, you could put up an electric fence. I should think that would keep the

dogs and baby carriages out of the way...as for the joggers, I dunno.

Uncle Bob (hee hee)

 

[BD1]

Hey, how about "THE CLAPPER"

 

[Jack Olsen]

Thanks. $20 would be my budget cap for this, in order to keep it in the cheap or free column.

The crazier part of me thinks this: use the intermittent hot pulse from the turn signal to trigger the transmitter for a tone/strobe wireless doorbell setup like this and then remember to flip on the signal when I back out. It would only trigger the flash/tone when I'm nearby.

Of course, if someone with the same doorbell lived near enough to a corner where I was turning, they might get a very annoying (and relentless) ding-dong-ditch.

The back up tone is probably the best path. It's a recognized warning sound, like aandpdan notes. If I can also get a strobing bulb for one of the back-up lights, that's cool. I'm trying to decide if the annoyance factor would be high enough to merit wiring in a toggle switch. I think I've become a cranky enough old man that I might not mind the back-up tone at other times. But that might be something I discover is not the case when it's actually beeping at the valet stand, or whatever.

 

[HOTFR8]

1, How about using the alarm and light they use for factory security gates ? They have a time delay to turn off once activated, you know alarm and light then gate opens and shuts after a time, may be expensive but could be done with out the gate.

2, A warning light and alarm on a hard wired system using a time delay switch that turns off say after a couple of minutes. I use these on lights so I can see to shut doors and lock up then after a time they turn off.

3, Back up alarm would be the best on tha car and as mentioned with a switch to shut it off. Option 3 would come well under the $20-00 as you can buy a globe with a back up buzzer fitted and just fit it to your car reverse lights.

 

[djkeev]

It's already been said once, I'll repeat it though, my first thought was......

BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY.

It's a no brainer, if You can't see backing out ....... then back in.
The cost of doing this is ZERO ($0.00) and it solves the problem entirely.

Dave

 

[HOTFR8]

I wonder if it is harder to reverse into than out ?

It's already been said once, I'll repeat it though, my first thought was......

BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY.

It's a no brainer, if You can't see backing out ....... then back in.
The cost of doing this is ZERO ($0.00) and it solves the problem entirely.

Dave

Just hit the horn befor you cross the footpath

 

[garboui]

It's already been said once, I'll repeat it though, my first thought was......

BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY.

It's a no brainer, if You can't see backing out ....... then back in.
The cost of doing this is ZERO ($0.00) and it solves the problem entirely.

Dave

+1 for the vis standpoint. Used to have to do it for scrape reasons when I had a lowered car but still do it now in the element for the safety benefit.

Oh, its also incredibly handy for those times you need a quick getaway.

 

[Isaac-1]

They sell wireless "rearview mirrror" like video cameras for camping trailers,etc. so the tow vehicle can see what is tailgating them, you could get one of these mount it in a front window of the house with an overview of the sidewalk and the display in your vehicles so you could see people approaching on the sidewalk, no noise to anger the neighbors while they are sleeping, etc. I am not sure how much they cost now, but saw them 2-3 years ago for around $200, at the time the big complaint was lack to transmit distance (worked fine on shorter trailers, but when you started getting into the 34+ foot models and crew cab trucks they did not work so well .

Ike

 

[jamesemery728]

How about a backup camera? They are pretty cheap now.

 

[steam_mill]

Not sure if this would help....

It's a motor for a gate. And the motor is hooked up to a flashing light while the gate opens. This is used in Portugal and I imagine other european countries.

http://www.belconsegurancaeletronica.com.br/home.php?valor=portões eletrônicos

It's pretty cool and you could also have a gate.

Google translate to read it.....

 

[NUTTSGT]

Back up alarm on the vehicle with a toggle switch...unless you want it going off everytime you back up

Thinking the same thing.

 

[58Yeoman]

Problem solved...

 

[superdutymike27]

Or a convex mirror mouted on a pole down beside the curb.

Exactly what I would have suggested!

 

[nehog]

i'd do the backup beeper which you can switch-off.. the backup beeper noise is universal...

Thanks, guys.

It didn't occur to me, but a back-up beeper is pretty foolproof. ...

Again, read my other post! People IGNORE that sound, think it is not for them, and that you are looking and can see them! At least half the time I find people walking directly behind my truck when backing up, ignoring the backup alarm either because they have no clue, or they just don't give a f...

 

[luvit]

A lot of these ideas are way beyond the $20 budget.. even $30.
The same people that ignore backup beepers are probably not going to take heed with any noise unless it's enough to make the neighbors jump too.
One thing about a stand-alone solution that's not part of the vehicle is that it will work for anyone who pulls-out.. including visitors.
Here is a start for $14.

It can start a beeper as soon as you block the beam.. as soon as unblocked, the beeping stops.
Locate it more towards the house so the the beeping stops after the fact that your tail is already blocking the sidewalk.
This may be the beginning of a $30-$40 project, but cheaper that putting beepers on multiple cars.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Retroreflective-Photoelectric-Sensor-w-Reflector-Panel-/280866492450?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4164f29022#ht_1995wt_1163

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