Introduction: Automatic Activated Blink Signal

Have you ever gotten in an accident while riding a bike at night or close to an accident? Gotten honked at because of irresponsible drivers who aren't paying attention to the road? Or simply just want to make bike riding more safe? Riding visibility on a bike is at all time lows during night time considering of little space we take up and as well as us not being able to have car headlights blinding everything and everyone. If you agree with at least one the above statements, then the Automatic Activated Blink Signal is just for you!! Check out the awesome EL panel, lighting up like lightning! Drivers will be sure to notice you riding, and not crash you! It will ensure 100% safety when you're riding your bike through dark streets at night as well as having hands free operations.


This project will automatically turn on an EL panel with a mercury tilt switch. By extending your arm or raising it slightly, the mercury will complete the circuit, resulting in the EL panel to light up brightly whether solid or blinking. Give this project a try, and you'll be amazed.

Step 1: Materials

First, you'll need to gather the necessary materials for this awe-inspiring project:

1. EL Panel w/ AA-powered AC Inverter  [2] *these may be separate or if you'd like to have solid EL panels, soldering might be required)
2. Mercury Tilt Switch [2]
3. Velcro strips [4-6 pairs]
4. 1.5V Button Cell--LR44 / AG13 [2]
5. Electrical Tape
6. Armband [2]


[#] indicates the amount needed

Step 2: Placing the Button Cells

First, grab a piece of electrical tape--just a tiny piece, enough to double side and fit snugly attached to the battery.
Next, use the piece of electrical tape and "loop" it so that both sides are sticky.
Stick it to any side of the button cell and place it in the battery compartment--with the negative side of the button cell touching the spring of the battery compartment.
Repeat these steps for the second battery compartment. 

*The negative side is the side without writing!*

Step 3: Inserting Mercury Tilt Switch

Now for this step, you'll have to be very cautious because the tilt switch contains mercury--which is very toxic.
Put the mercury tilt switch into the battery compartment to fill in the available spot.
Manipulate the mercury tilt switch so that the two wires are on opposite sides of each other.
MAKE SURE to bend the leads slowly and flex them accordingly! You don't want to make this more difficult for yourself.
Make sure that one wire is on the positive side of the battery compartment and the other wire is touching the button cell.
If you wish to make it more secure, solder one of the ends to the positive side where an AA battery is suppose to go.
This will ensure the switch does not slip out while riding.
Slide the cap back on to seal it tight.
Repeat this step for the other battery compartment.

*Point the mercury filled bulb toward the positive side*

Step 4: Testing

Plug in the battery compartment to the EL Panel plug.
Raise the battery compartment to about 15 degrees so that the mercury completes the circuit.
If you were successful, then the EL panel will have lit up once you plugged the battery compartment to the EL panel. 
If not, then open the cap back up and manipulate the tilt switch a bit more until it works.
Make sure to not break the mercury tilt switch because of MERCURY POISONING.
Repeat this step for the other completed EL panel.
There should be two options, whether it be blinking or just fully on. Make sure to switch this on to test it, tilt the battery compartment up and down. 
ALSO, THE CONNECTIONS FROM THE PACK TO THE EL PANEL IS FRAGILE. TRY NOT TO BEND IT A LOT OR YOU WILL NEED TO SOLDER IT BACK.

Step 5: Placing the Velcro

Grab your two sets of velcro.
Cut them accordingly so they will stick onto the back of the EL Panel and the battery compartment
Do the same for both!

Step 6: Placing the Velcro Onto the Armband

For the bands, we cut off shirt sleeves. 
We did not purchase LED armbands because they were expensive in stores and if they were cheap we had to order online.
It's summer so might as well make a sleeveless shirt.
After cutting off the sleeve, but a thin enough strip for the velcro to have about 1/2 and inch of clearance on both sides (top and bottom)
We had couple sets of Velcro lying around. The adhesive on the velcro does not hold onto cloth very well.
So we had to stitch them on. There are many methods of stitching. Go google it. For our method, we just went around in circles.
Mainly stitch down the corners
Make sure both pieces of Velcro are not on the same side of the band. When you loop it around your arm, you'll understand why it won't make any sense.
Put one on the end (doesn't matter which side) and the other on the back side of the opposite side.
When you loop it around your arm, the two pieces of velcro should attach itself so it's a matching pair!
DO THIS FOR BOTH BANDS! 

Step 7: Placing the Velcro That Corresponds to the EL and Battery

Now, we must put on the velcro that corresponds with the battery pack and EL panel. 
Fuzzy goes to spiky remember. 
See how there is the stitching from the back of another piece of velcro. 
MAKE SURE YOU STITCH THE CORRESPONDING VELCRO ON TOP OF THE STRAP THAT OVERLAPS THE OTHER.
THEN STITCH THE OTHER ONE IN THE MIDDLE. 
It doesn't matter which one goes where as long as it turns out like this. You can just spin it around and stick them to the corresponding piece of Velcro.
The double layered velcro will take some muscle to puncture and pierce with the needle. Do with caution.

Step 8: Velcro on Your EL and Battery

Place the band on your arm. Fit it accordingly.
Make sure the velcro corresponding to the EL panel is on the back part of your arm and the battery pack in the front or near the front.
Just stick the EL onto Velcro and just angle it however you want. However you want.
Make sure to point the arrows toward the ground so when you do lift your arms, they do point to the designated direction. 
Same with the battery pack.
When you attach the battery pack, make sure the wiring goes up your arm and toward your body. This means it will trigger when you lift your arm and not drop your arm.
Angle it according to how high you want to lift your arm. Test it for how you fancy. 
Attach EL first and bring the wire toward your body and place it on the velcro, this will ensure the wire will not be flying everywhere and get caught on anything. 

Step 9: Finished Product and Trouble Shooting

Now you're iron man with blink  signals.
BE SAFE OUT THERE!
When removing, make sure you remove the pack or panel before unstrapping the entire band.

TROUBLESHOOTING!
-Flickering and loose connection.
Nothing a little piece of tape securing the ends of the switch to the battery can't help
-Light not turning on. 
Make sure the ends are touching either battery and positive plate and mercury is touching ends
Battery is dead. or could be wire disconnecting.
-The EL panel and wire have disconnected.
Solder it back. Be careful not to melt anything!