Finally got round to fitting my Shift-i sequential shift light gadget at the weekend. Some after market shift lights have a separate control box and light cluster, but the Shift-i is just one really neat self contained unit. Fitting was actually quite easy once I had figured out where to get the rpm signal from. On an S1 there is a separate rpm signal to the stack, but on an S2 there is just a digital canbus, so no separate wire with an rpm signal. The solution, helpfully provided by Bob C (thanks Bob!), is to use the feed from the ECU to the coil on the no1 spark splug to get an rpm signal. In the photo below you can see where if have spliced into this wire (my addition is the wire in the black spiral wrap).
The unit is entirely programmable, and even automatically dims the LEDs depending on the ambient light. Currently I have first light coming on just after the second cam comes in, with the lights coming on at even intervals up to the final red light and flash at 8200. It all adds to that addictive second cam rush, and the mini GT racer feel of the Exige. I will probably change the settings though so the first light comes on later, say 7k ish.
To be honest I fitted this thinking it just just a bit completely unsensible, boy racerish gadgetry, but I actually found it quite useful to drive with as you never feel the need to look down at the tacho. Not convinced? No, neither am I, but hey, no one bought and Exige to be sensible, and I love it
If any S1 Exigers are interested in fitting one there is a wiring diagram for the S1 on this thread on Elise talk New Shift Light | Page 3 | The Lotus Cars Community (note if you read down the thread this is not the same in Yota engined cars).
This is the one we have in our sprint car Shift light. Its a fantastic little gadget, and Toby has just bought another two, one for my Racing Puma and one for the Exige
You can also specify which colours you want…we have gone for 3 blues and two red…
EDIT: Just found the movie, HERE IT IS
Its not great quality as it was taken on a digi cam, but you get an idea of what its like…and you can just hear the anti-lag in the background
Mark, thanks for posting that information. Do you mind if we use that for an extra inlay in the manual?
As for the comparison between the shift-lights, this device has been developed by an enthousiast Aussie biker. He has bought every single shift-light to look at functionallity and from that, he designed the shift-i.
There’s a lot more stuff going on in this little gadget:
Automatic dimming:
when you cruise, the LED’s will dim not to distract you on long motorway stretches.
the intensity of the LED’s will be adjusted to the ambient light.
Battery monitor:
when switching on, the device will monitor battery voltage and will show you battery voltage.
when the alternator breaks down (overvoltage) the shif-i will automatically warn you (at any stage)
9 ways of representing revs (display modes)
and as already described, it’s fully software programmable. The little gem only has three wires to connect which makes it kind of an easy install.
We also do these for bikes where the package is round and can be stuck on the speedo… and it’s also available in different colours (blue / red)
I’m a gadget man and had thought that such a setup would be brilliant to have, but last weekend I was in someone’s Caterham race car that had a similar, if not identical, setup. In the bright sunlight around Castle Coombe it was too difficult to read or pick out the particular data from a very busy screen and a digital/lcd rev counter just didn’t have the same impact that an old fashion needle one does.
It might be good to download the data for review later, or beam it back to the pitwall, but all you really need are alarms set for various parameters.
I can’t help thinking that when you are trying to circulate around a circuit this would just be sensory overload.
I can’t help thinking that when you are trying to circulate around a circuit this would just be sensory overload.
Steve, I bought one from Yvo last week after reading this thread (excellent service from Yvo, by the way). I’ve not got it fitted yet, but have been reading the manual & sitting in my car thinking about the best place to site the gadget. There’s actually no need to locate it directly in front of you, & in fact I think it’s going to be mounted in my peripheral vision to the left of the binacle. I recommend that you take a look at this website, especially the functions via the Shift-i tab. Clicky
I can’t help thinking that when you are trying to circulate around a circuit this would just be sensory overload.
Steve, I bought one from Yvo last week after reading this thread (excellent service from Yvo, by the way). I’ve not got it fitted yet, but have been reading the manual & sitting in my car thinking about the best place to site the gadget. There’s actually no need to locate it directly in front of you, & in fact I think it’s going to be mounted in my peripheral vision to the left of the binacle. I recommend that you take a look at this website, especially the functions via the Shift-i tab. > Clicky >
Sorry - I’m confusing things - I wasn’t referring to the Shift-i - my post was in reponse to this one:
I’ve fitted it on top of the instrument binacle (not completely on top, fitted in a way that I could just see it)
I have to play around with it and see how good I find it in terms of visibility. If it’s alright, I’ll probably drill three very small holes in the binacle to feed the wires through
My Elise. They are quite visible there and just stuck with double sided tape (supplied in kit) so can easily be moved. On the Exige I have mounted the lights on top of the instrument binnacle - this is the now my preferred location.
![http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y92/ryallm/Shift-ii/DSC02469.jpg[/image]](http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y92/ryallm/Shift-ii/DSC02469.jpg%5B/image%5D){kind=link}
![http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y92/ryallm/Shift-ii/DSC02527.jpg[/image]](http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y92/ryallm/Shift-ii/DSC02527.jpg%5B/image%5D){kind=link}
![http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y92/ryallm/Shift-ii/DSC02530.jpg[/image]](http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y92/ryallm/Shift-ii/DSC02530.jpg%5B/image%5D){kind=link}
![http://www.aimsports.com/images/products/product_mxl_strada.jpg[/image]](http://www.aimsports.com/images/products/product_mxl_strada.jpg%5B/image%5D){kind=link}
