Sneak a Peek Technology

We at Source Innovations have been testing new (to us) technologies and have redesigned the Phantom Teth-Air. The current model works great but we are striving to give our customers an even better experience.

The current model uses a capacitance sensor to know when your hand is at the throttle. Works great, but needs the rider to wait and allow an "auto-calibration" on start-up. This simply means while starting the motor your hand cannot be on the right hand grip. Or if so, remove it and return it before riding.

Also the current model is wired to monitor engine RPM so it can "Arm" near 3500 RPM (before clutch engages)

We, and Bret Rasmussen, have been riding with a new design lately and are really excited about it.

The New "Laser Phantom Teth-Air" uses a class 1 laser to measure objects to the end of the hand grip. It requires no start-up calibration and now it simply Tee's between the speedometer sensor and the wiring harness with factory style connectors. Additionally one wire is connected to the factory tether plug (Polaris) or connected to the factory "Kill"switch for Cat and Ski-Doo. The install is easier and there is no lower control unit anymore.

This Laser Phantom Teth-Air will now also shut down when your sled rolls away from you at idle as it uses the speed sensor to arm and not the motor RPM. (Polaris arms at 4 km/h, Ski-doo and Cat 6 km/h approx.)

There still is the Roll-Over-Switch too! And both sensors have time delays still. (0.5-3 seconds)

We will release a small build early in the new year. Price is expected to stay near $395 CDN but likely will drive down the price of the remaining current version to near $300.

Unfortunately the 4 strokes with their "normally closed" kill switch will require an automotive style relay to reverse the logic from the output of the new Laser Phantom. The decision to remove our lower control unit with its internal relay was because we found most of our customers did not want to pay for it if they did not need it (2 stroke riders).

Anyway here is the dropbox link to demonstrate how well the laser works.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/02itd7vk1gyje9z/File 2017-12-16, 8 30 11 AM.mov?dl=0



Chris

Sorry what does it do?? Is it a kill type switch

Found it that seems like good technology but seem expensive. An actual teather is super cheep in cost comparison and it's not hard to plug it in and works everytime.

And why would a skidoo owner need a aftermarket kill switch?

PolarisHighlifter said:

Found it that seems like good technology but seem expensive. An actual teather is super cheep in cost comparison and it's not hard to plug it in and works everytime.

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Well...I was doing a side hill along a ridge top last weekend and a little tree 3 feet tall snagged my tether and killed the sled...was a bit of a bitch getting going again. This device would have prevented that. Cheers.

FernieHawk said:

Well...I was doing a side hill along a ridge top last weekend and a little tree 3 feet tall snagged my tether and killed the sled...was a bit of a bitch getting going again. This device would have prevented that. Cheers.

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Yah I hear what your saying but still kinda expensive for what it is. I could see it being priced at maybe double the cost of a factory but that's like 3 times the price. I only spent 80 bucks for the factory one and installed myself in 5 min. Plug and play. I'm sure it has its uses just a bit over priced in my opinion.

I have been using this tether for the past week or so and I have to say I really like it. The install is easy with everything going into factory connections. Is it going to be more expensive than a corded tether? Yeah, but you now have something you don't even have to think about which is quite nice when you're on and off your sled throughout the day. You don't have to worry about branches snagging the cord when you're sidehilling. It also has a roll over switch so if you were to be pinned upside down the machine would shut off automatically (at the desired time limit). The lens of the laser should get cleaned out along with the throttle block when you are rolling the sled in deep snow to get unstuck. Very impressed so far!

We did a poll a couple years ago and only 20% responded that they use a corded tether. Many responded that it was a real pita to use or found they froze up and it failed. Kids don't always listen to words of advice too, when parents tell them to wear a tether. The Phantom is automatic and automatically protects the rider and the sled without someone having to remember to hook it up.

PolarisHighlifter said:

Found it that seems like good technology but seem expensive. An actual teather is super cheep in cost comparison and it's not hard to plug it in and works everytime.

Click to expand...

Technology is expensive, that is true. Corded tethers have numerous disadvantages. If you ride in the trees they tend to snag on branches, sure there is one guy who says he rides in trees and has never had it happen, but it happens more than it doesn't. Some people will lengthen the cord to give them more flexibility, this causes more problems and now the delay in the machine shutting off is longer when you need it to shut down. Ever swap sleds with someone for a few minutes? Now you don't need to worry about someone attaching a tether. Its almost install and forget until it saves you and your sled. As mentioned you can end up upside down under the sled with a corded tether, been there done that. While the track wasn't engaged I still had to grab the cord to pull off the tether. Had the track been spinning against me, that could have been dangerous with seconds to spare.

iceman5689 said:

And why would a skidoo owner need a aftermarket kill switch?

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Its not a kill switch, its a tether. I get what you are saying, why spend more money when they come with corded DESS. The RF DESS has become better than the previous contact DESS but again, see above, the Laser is not only quicker to shut the sled off, but has a roll over "switch" which shuts the motor down when upside down, has no cord to deal with thus being less restrictive and no lost DESS if you keep it clipped properly to the sled.


Like in any industry, safety isn't always cheap. But the cost for many people will be minor given the advantages. I have used all versions of the Teth-Air tethers over the years and this one has checked all the boxes on everything I wanted from a tether. Not everyone will see the value but at the same time not everyone has the same expectations during their riding day other than to have a good time.

Still don't see how it's stopping a two stroke motor doing 8000rpm any quicker then the DESS tether. Def upgrade for a cat or Polaris which don't have a tether system from factory but hard sell for any BRP owner is all I'm getting at

iceman5689 said:

Still don't see how it's stopping a two stroke motor doing 8000rpm any quicker then the DESS tether. Def upgrade for a cat or Polaris which don't have a tether system from factory but hard sell for any BRP owner is all I'm getting at

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If your sled is moving at whatever speed it is engaged, be it 10km/h or 100km/h, take your hand off the grip and sled dies. Now with a cord, you fall off, cord has to stretch its limits before it unhooks/shuts down sled. There are seconds involved but in a shut down situation seconds can matter.

I have a Doo, I see no downside or problems putting it on that sled. How many people used to say how dumb it was to have a muff pot, who would want warm food on the mountain, lol. can't knock it until you try it.

Do you have one for the sidewinder yet ? I know a guy who hates his tether but wasn’t sold on the phantom but this laser thing looks cool.

Factory tether works just fine.

I have owned a couple Polaris pros as well as an Axys and i have put factory Polaris tethers on them all and all of them have failed at some point whether the plunger was frozen down or the tether itself wore out and required a little screw to keep the plunger down. not to mention forgetting to attach it to my body from my bars the odd time and have also heard a few stories over the years of people loosing there tether in bad crashes etc. I personally think its a great idea and was contemplating the former version but really like this concept. I am also of the mind set that I appreciate the fact that there are people out there focused on improving all aspects of this sport and equipment and especially safety features. Keep up the good work Chris!

niner said:

Do you have one for the sidewinder yet ? I know a guy who hates his tether but wasn’t sold on the phantom but this laser thing looks cool.

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Our current version has the NO/NC relay and works great with all brands, 2 strokes and 4 strokes. The laser version would require you to wire up a simple automotive style relay in series connection with your key switch or kill switch. The Laser Phantom then could pull the relay to kill the motor.

iceman5689 said:

And why would a skidoo owner need a aftermarket kill switch?

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Because most guys hang them on the riser and don't use them.

iceman5689 said:

Factory tether works just fine.

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just troll on....

you don't like it, don't comment. you just clutter up informational threads for those that need it.

Lets say I decide to take things to the next level (or the level after that one) and throw down a 300 foot back flip. Will the rollover switch shut my sled off? Because that could be catastrophic.

All jokes aside, if a guy is doing whips and getting the sled someone upside down is it going to shut off?

deaner said:

Lets say I decide to take things to the next level (or the level after that one) and throw down a 300 foot back flip. Will the rollover switch shut my sled off? Because that could be catastrophic.

All jokes aside, if a guy is doing whips and getting the sled someone upside down is it going to shut off?

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Teth-air can confirm but like in previous versions almost all aspects of the settings are user adjustable. So you could turn off the roll over function for whatever period of time you need it off for whips and flips then turn it back on after that.

What about seat grabs? Haha
I dont think freestylers are going to be after
This product.

Good for treeriding and everything else though.
I had the previous version. Had some issues with it.
Great idea though and this sounds like a better version.
Biggest thing is that is plug and play, no hacking into
The factory harness.