18 replies to this topic

[mullet]

Hi all,

 

I know it's sad that my mini doesn't have a garage or driveway, but as it is a frequently used car it has to be parked outside.  As cars get bigger, the visibility of the mini reduces and people reverse into it.  I have pushbars for protection, but I suspect some drivers actually push the mini to fit into spaces, almost like they think this is the point of the pushbar.

 

I was thinking of creating a battery powered (eg, couple of AAA batteries) LED set up so if pushbar is touched, LEDs will flash (attached inside to the top of the windscreen), thus the reversing driver is warned/discouraged from going further.  I may even have an alternative horn on the same little circuit once I am sure it works well and doesn't leave a horn accidentally on all the time.  At the moment my thinking is this:  I could add a tube over the pushbar that is on the positive circuit (strip of copper inside), and the negative circuit is on the original pushbar at an angle such that if the outer tube is pressed backwards, the circuit is completed and LEDs flash until driver moves forwards  Obviously have an internal off switch for when the car is in use.  If it I make it look like a genuine part of the pushbar even better.

 

Very obscure question, but has anyone tried some kind of detection system like this before?  Or have other ideas around this?  I expect this is becoming a common issue.

 

Curious to hear others' thoughts on this!

[DeadSquare]

How about a board, to extend the observable height, fixed like a roof-rack so easily removable.

 

To make it more noticeable, may a suggest a picture on it, such as a fur rug on which is stretched out, Bridget Bardot.

[mab01uk]

Could you perhaps adapt one of the many different 'Parking Sensor Kits' available online from various suppliers, which would activate an alarm before actual contact is made with your Mini?

https://www.eurocarp...AyABEgKoCvD_BwE

 

[stuart bowes]

^ that was what sprang to mind for me as well, in theory you could use one of those front and rear to trigger the horn.  and use a little timer circuit to make sure it only beeps for like 5 seconds or so, you don't want some genuis thinking it's funny to park up close and walk away leaving your horn going

[mullet]

Thanks for the ideas already!  I can't really have anything that doesn't look like part of the car (like a warning board) as anything like that would get nicked or damaged around these parts, unfortunately.  So I also then wondered about a sensor, but only want it to go on when genuine contact has been made (as opposed cars just getting close; they already have those sensors but still blooming knock into it anyway).

 

I had an idea of using PVC with copper strips (strips used to make stained glass) and this would be a "bar" that sticks out an inch or so further than the normal pushbar.  Spray painted black to look more like it is supposed to be there. 

 

I just rigged up an idea using a bicycle light.  Seems feasible (see video): https://1drv.ms/v/s!...umShbe?e=OHhUem

 

 

[mullet]

^ that was what sprang to mind for me as well, in theory you could use one of those front and rear to trigger the horn.  and use a little timer circuit to make sure it only beeps for like 5 seconds or so, you don't want some genuis thinking it's funny to park up close and walk away leaving your horn going

That's a very good idea.  In fact this has been a problem for years now and I did already buy a circuit board that has a timer on it once activated.  My plan was to rig it up to the horn to beep for 0.5 seconds, but the "switch/pressure detection" had always stumped me.  Now you reminded me I already have the gear, that this pressure-detection system could initiate a time-limited response so the horn is not going to be permanently on should the pressure detection system get stuck on.  Great idea, thank you! 

 

EDIT: the 555 monostable timer switch operates at 12volts.  I'd rather this is aaa/aa battery powered and no part of the car's circuit.  I'll see how I get on with a circuit only being on when someone is in contact with the car.  There are also bicycle horns I could integrate https://www.amazon.c...13794526&sr=8-5

 

Edited by mullet, 22 April 2024 - 02:04 PM.

[stuart bowes]

12v/24v timer circuits are reasonably common, we use stuff like that at work all the time for door entry systems, it's all nice safe low voltage stuff

 

good idea using something on a separate circuit though, makes sense

Edited by stuart bowes, 22 April 2024 - 02:33 PM.

[mab01uk]

Your location shows as France....so is parking by making 'bumper contact' still the norm even outside Paris?

 

"No description needed.... this is pretty typical parking in France."

Edited by mab01uk, 22 April 2024 - 03:20 PM.

[mullet]

Your location shows as France....so is parking by making 'bumper contact' still the norm even outside Paris?

 

"No description needed.... this is pretty typical parking in France."

Haha!  You are correct.  I have heard it called the "Lyon Kiss".

[Quinlan minor]

 

Your location shows as France....so is parking by making 'bumper contact' still the norm even outside Paris?

 

"No description needed.... this is pretty typical parking in France."

Haha!  You are correct.  I have heard it called the "Lyon Kiss".

 

That was the normal way to park in NYC, at any rate. I figured that's why they insisted on those god awful bumpers, that had to be capable of absorbing a 5mph impact without damaging the car.

[mullet]

I've been able to dedicate more time to the mini, including the idea on how to stop people reversing into it.

I bought two doorstops, and a spring button switch which was normally for speedboat use.  Rigged up just millimeters behind my push bar - literally being used as a push bar unfortunately - when someone touches the push bar it will depress the button, no matter what part of the pushbar has been reversed into.  I know to mini owners with pushbars it looks unusual, but I think it will go unnoticed to most and I am sure I can further adapt (cut the doorstops shorter).  For safety, 2 metal ropes discretely attached to the grill will stop the push bar dropping (2 being used = would take both to fail for any danger).  This type of wire:  https://www.amazon.c...T1zcF9hdGY&th=1

In the interior, I have an on off button.  Off when driving, on when parked.  Not quite finished yet, but see picture (yeah, the pushbar needs the rust polished off it):
https://1drv.ms/i/c/...x6Bojw?e=pByVa6

What does the button do?  It illuminates two emergency lights, sucked onto the interior windscreen with shower sucker things.  I am hoping this will reduce people reversing into the car further when they see such flashing behind.  See video:
https://1drv.ms/v/c/...STbuUg?e=YlULz7

This is all rigged up to the car's 12v battery via points under the bonnet.  If this fails because the lights were not enough, I now have a circuit that could be used for other things.  Perhaps the horn.  Or something more silent to not piss the neighbours off.

 

[Ethel]

You could  stick  led strips to the sun visors for less obtrusive front lights. Or have them on a sort of hinge that is clamped by the sun visor hinge - they could even double up as interior lights.

 

Are they contacts that earth via the nudge bars? 

 

It would make for a neat little project for for an Arduino / Raspberry Pi Pico / ESP 32 - especially if you park in range of your home WIFI.  Expect the code for something very similar is already online somewhere.

[mullet]

You could  stick  led strips to the sun visors for less obtrusive front lights. Or have them on a sort of hinge that is clamped by the sun visor hinge - they could even double up as interior lights.

 

Are they contacts that earth via the nudge bars? 

 

It would make for a neat little project for for an Arduino / Raspberry Pi Pico / ESP 32 - especially if you park in range of your home WIFI.  Expect the code for something very similar is already online somewhere.

H Ethel.  Thanks for the ideas.  I didn't think about LED strips and I could add these to the circuit if no one sees the lights and continue reversing.  Make a real lightshow back there for them!  I personally expect there is a "repeat offender" who reverses into the mini.  I don't want to describe as an "offender" since cars are so big now that minis are hard to see.  But I wonder if a small camera could capture the moments this happens and I can politely ask they take a little more care in the future.  I think this is what you mean by "ESP 32"?  I am reading about it now (https://randomnerdtu...e-microsd-card/).

 

It's earthed via a connection under the bonnet.  It's only the switch itself that has anything to do with the push bar.

Edited by mullet, 08 June 2025 - 01:27 PM.

[Ethel]

I almost suggested that in with my Ras Pi comment. There are relatively cheap camera modules for those development/project boards & being plugged directly in to the board means they're easily integrated with other sensors & code. Ras Pi is the most accessible as there's a huge online community to tap in to. There's a good chance what you want has already been done - a wildlife camera would be a very similar project. Youtube should have some content.

[roblightbody]

A traffic cone in front and behind the car