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Why do turn signals blink faster when cold?
This is one of those questions that I have been meaning to ask for about 8 months now and just now remembered to ask while I am on line.
When it is cold(er) outside my turn signals flash much faster than normal. This isn't too huge of a problem but whenever I sit at a red light and some dude is in front of me and his signal is flickering more rapidly than most others it kinda bugs me a bit. Why would turn signals flash, flicker, pulse, whatever faster? Any ideas? anyone elses do this? ------------------ Leland Pate ___79 SC Targa |
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08-15-2000, 11:34 AM
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Superconductivity!
(someone had to say it--now back to your regularly scheduled post) Just speculation, but could it be the switch? If I don't engage my signal lever fully into the detent, my turn signal flashes faster. Perhaps the cold causes plastic in the switch to shrink, and as a result the contact in the switch is a bit iffy. Well, that's my guess, anyway. What's the frequency difference between "cold signalling" and "warm signalling"? Does it change as the car warms up? bleeeyoo |
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08-15-2000, 12:02 PM
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The signal blinker is a bi-metal switch
When dc current passes thru it the two pieces of metal heat and seperate causing an open lamp circuit.When the metal cools the switch closes causing a closed circuit and your lamp turns on again.Cold weather accelerates this process. |
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08-15-2000, 12:05 PM
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Most electronic components have less resistance when cold, so operation is faster because the RC time constant is lower when the resistance is lower. I believe the newer Porsche flasher relays have not used the bi-metallic elements in about 30 years.
------------------ Warren Hall 1973 911S Targa |
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08-15-2000, 12:26 PM
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Superconductivity. (I wanted to say this too).
Actually electricity does travel better along a colder conductor than a warm one. Probably not enough to make much difference. ------------------ '83 SC |
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08-15-2000, 12:36 PM
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Well thank christ it wasn't an easy question to answer anyway.
Oh well as long as no one writes back and says that fast turn signals are a bad sign of complete Porsche meltdown: (where the car literally melts into goop" I guess I'll just live with it. Thanks, ------------------ Leland Pate ___79 SC Targa |
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08-15-2000, 01:36 PM
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