Its wooooooorrrking...
First, thanks again for everyone's input. But, in the event, I just decided to run the board directly off the motorcycle accessory wire. I did check it and at idle, it shows 14.5 volts. (Interestingly enough, it goes down to the mid 13's as the rpm is increased.
Here was my rational...
1. (I live near Sacramento CA and try to shop for this kinda stuff at Metro Electronics. But when I went there, they were all out of 12v regulators.
2. So I just purchased a couple at Radio Shack. When installed, and power was switched on/off, about one time in 3 or 4 only about 5 volts would be produced.
3. So I got to think'n... all this stuff is pretty cheap (at Metro ) so what the heck, I will just wire it up directly and if works, fine. If it doesn't, its pretty cheap to remove/replace and try again. In the event, I have been using it for several days now and everything is working just fine. Of course, that could change over time.
So anyway, for any of you who are curious as to just what I am trying to do, here goes.
I know there are all kinds of motorcycle turn signal solutions out there but I just have not liked anything I have seen.
I based the logic of my system on the idea that it is (1) much easier to remember to terminate a process you are currently doing than (2) initiate a process that you are not currently doing.
My basic requirements were:
a. T/S goes on when I manually switch it on.
b.T/S goes off when I manually switch it off, but switching it off requires terminating an action I am currently performing.
c. System is simple and comfortable to use.
So I sorta-kinda designed one of my own, (logic-wise), then purchased the Cana-kit, then posted my question here.
Basically here is what I did. My original T/S switch is a typical slide switch that stays on once pressed. To cancel, one must press a button in the center of the switch. THAT, of course, is the problem. Too many times I forget to punch that button.
So I disassembled the switch and disabled that 'press to reset' button. Now the switch is mom-on.
But it was very awkward to hold the left or right turn signal on while releasing the clutch handle. So I decided I need a simple mom-on push button switch near my left thumb and a time delay on the turn signal switch. The sequence of events being...
(1)tap the left or right turn signal switch which applys that T/S for ,say, a maximum of 3 seconds.
(2)Within the time period, move my thumb down to the 'thumb' switch which keeps the T/S on until I release it
(3) Release the 'thumb' switch when I want to cancel.
I have had it all working for a few days now and am very happy with it.
Its my best guess this could be done more simply than I have, but If you promise not to laugh, you can see my circuit **broken link removed**...