I've been working on something, mentioned in another thread, based on automatic brake lights which are triggered by engine braking.
Given that the brakelight is the sign we should give when we decelerate, it seems odd to think that we can use strong engine braking and not light the rear brakelight - to the point that some safety organisations suggest dabbing the rear brake when you're slowing in that way.
I've made an accelerometer based brakelight switch which integrates with the bike in the following ways...
1) it retains the existing hand and foot brake switch functionality
2) it adds engine braking brakelight activation
3) it adds a foglamp option, where the brakelight is held on at about 30% brightness to greatly improve visibility while allowing a braking signal to still be clear
4) if the brakelight hasn't been illuminated for at least ten seconds then the next activation by the hand or foot brake causes the brakelight to emit 2 quick flashes before staying on steadily. *not used with engine braking, as the engine braking activations will be relatively frequent
5) very heavy braking causes the brakelight to modulate at full brightness until the braking level recedes again
I'm going to be doing a long term trial on my bike now, and wondered if there were a couple of other people who might be interested in testing it for me. Ideally you would be a frequent use biker. Installation is simple, a red and black wire goes to a switched 12V and 0V respectively, and then a cut in the brakelamp wire itself is made, and the two new ends attach to two other wires from the box. The foglamp activation is done by switching a fifth wire to ground.
The unit is probably best located under the seat, just in front of the brakelight unit, with some double sided tape. There will be an arrow on the top of the case dictating which side should point forwards. The calibration routine is simple and should only need to be carried out once, after installation.
So, if you're able to install it and don't mind being a guinea pig, in return for getting a free unit, please let me know and I'll try to get building soon.
EDIT - I think I can make a 9er version which is completely plug and play (with the exception of the foglamp function, you still need to add a switch to set that wire to ground level.)
Edited by fixitsan, 29 April 2016 - 04:48 pm.