Beeper as in what you guys are trying to accomplish. I know at least the '06s and '07s have them.

 

Ah '06 is the first year that they did the card key system.

It is standard on the Shinka (Grand Touring) edition.

 

I've come up with a lot of new ideas... maybe it's time to start a new thread... something like "interest in whatever-it-is-called"?

Would that be OK as long as no pricing is involved?

D2.

 

Why not just stick with this thread? We're all following this one already.

 

Well it all started out as a "beep when lock/unlock" module... and it still is, but also much more.

The base "controller" module has a beeper and a bunch of inputs that can monitor signals in the car. It also has one relay to control windows/locks/something.

With the inputs it can look at the "Alarm Flash" and the lock/unlock wires and beep a number of times when you use the remote to lock or unlock the car.

With another input it could look at the trunk light and maybe beep differently when the trunk is open and you're trying to lock the car.

Right now it has 11 inputs so it could monitor a bunch of different signals... monitor speed and lock the doors when over 10 mph? Lots of possibilities.

One of the things that bothered me about the module we have been thinking about is the complicated wiring, especially through the door boot and headliner.

This controller module has a one-wire communication bus that allows it to talk to remote relay modules. For example, if you want to control the windows, you put a relay module in the door and run one 22 gauge wire through the door boot to the controller.

If you also want to control the sunroof, again one wire to a relay module by the sunroof controls. You can have up to 16 relay modules, each has two 8 Amp DPDT relays.

All this was pretty easy to do from an electronics standpoint.

The controller is configured by connecting it to a computer. A software program will let you set how the controller works. For example, "If light flashes once and doors lock then beep 3 times" or "If light flashes two times and doors unlock then beep twice". Don't worry, it will be easy to use

If you have a carputer you will be able to look at all the inputs in real-time and directly control all relay modules.

Comments?

D2.

 

Sounds like you're a genius, frankly. Auto-lock doors over 10mph would be freakin' cool. Everything sounds cool but it sounds like you're about to exhaust the practical options. I'd step to getting a working model done as you have the plan now and go from there. If you need a test subject........FIRST!

 

That sounds pretty damned genious there Dutch2. Sounds like me thinking to myself about options to add to the car. Already in there why not!

 

Well I've ordered parts for a few test units. After they get here in about a week I'll design and order the circuit board which will take about 3 weeks.

Then there will be assembly, testing, and software development... maybe it will be warmer by the time this things is ready

Input wanted!

D2.

 

This sounds great. I would like to see this get off the ground a lot of these small features would be really nice to have.

What are you thinking in regards to the software development side of things? I'm currently a programmer and am looking for some side projects to occupy some of my free time.

 

I have a reasonable amount of experience (not with the 8.....yet) with being inside a door panel, running wires around, etc..... If you want a willing test subject......*raises hand*!

 

damn man, with all those features would this be cheaper than the viper or clifford alarm which offers all these features too?...if so i might be interested

 

Thanks bsteimel for the offer to help out with the software development. The hardware and software are so closely tied together it will be easier for me to develop the software then to explain it to somebody else though... also, my time is "free"

I can handle all the development stuff, it's the car wiring that I'll need the most help with. So sonicblue6, maybe you'll need one of the first units

sssuperman82, this is not an alarm although I guess it could beep angrily when you open a door Hmmm... I guess a relay could drive a siren...

For as far as price goes, we're not talking about that yet although I can't imagine it will ever be as much as a Viper alarm.

D2.

 

Hey if your doing all of this, how hard is remote start capability?

 

Well I'm not sure exactly what it takes to start a car Any idea where I can find info?

Since it is electrical it will be possible... I have some fun ideas for remotes too!

D2.

 

Check out this thread

 

Thanks RCW for that link. It's a great DIY.

Question for all... how much current should the relays be able to handle? Is 8 Amp enough for most general electric motor & lights related functions?

From what I can tell from the fuses, it can handle the windows and sunroof without any issues, and even a headlight draws less that 8 Amps I believe.

D2.

 

WOO-HOO!

 

http://www.carstereo.com/help/Articles.cfm?id=20 will help you with your calculations.
cars are on a 12V system, therefore if something were to be pulling 8A then using the formula V*I=P, you get 12V*8A=96Watts
that being said, simply check what the power consumption is on the motors etc. I can't imagine any of them at 96W+

 

intersting..

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OK, all the parts are in! I've started designing the circuit board for the controller and all the parts fit on the board

One question... any idea how much current the window motors use?

It can't be too much because although the driver window uses relays because the auto mode, the passenger side window motor current runs straight through the door switches.

I was going to use an 8 Amp relay... anybody ever measure the window motor current?

D2.

 

Doesn't the $50 alarm that you buy additional do that? Hm..

 

Both run through a 30A fuse, so I would guess they are both well under 15A each. I personally wouldn't use a relay rated less than the fuse you will be using or you could have some burned contact issues and I am assuming for cost reasons, you will not be using replaceable relays. Don't want a bunch of people sending them back to you I'm sure!

 

Good point jstkilntim, I'm looking at some 25A automotive relays now. Thanks for your input

D2.

 

Wow This is a really interesting idea. Basically adding more features to what i have already done. Basically what i did was take a DEI Window Module and a couple of Pac Audio TR-7's to allow you to Open or Close the windows/sunroof with just your Factory remote. In the thread i started i explain how to do this, but the idea is that the TR-7 allows programming to a specific set of input pulses. I set one of these to 2x and hooked it up to the Lock Pulse in the door to the Lock motor. The other one is set to 3x and hooked up to the unlock. These then trigger the Window Module to Roll up or down the windows when they are triggered. For the sunroof no module is necessary, but you do have to reconfigure the wires to allow the sunroof to work whenever the car is off.

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-interior-audio-electronics-24/auto-down-up-windows-factory-alarm-100712/

If you need help figuring out the wiring for sunroof or windows, just let me know. My explanation seems a bit hard to follow now when i read it, so I could take my sunroof switches off and take some pics.

 

btw 25A relays are huge for a car. what do you need this kind of power for? The windows should get by with 10 or 15. The sunroof ( if you do it the way i did) doesn't draw power thru the switches so you just need a small amount of power to signal the motor. If you look at Lurch's Window/Sunroof DIY thread, he took apart the entire motor in the sunroof so he could control the motor with the window module on the draw side instead of switches. It is safer this way, but i think a little unnecessary because the motor has built in protection. If you hold down the sunroof switch you won't burn out the motor.