[Charles]

I would like the carputer screen to be mounted where the radio and HVAC controls are. So I have been looking for a way to control the HVAC with my PC. I tink I have found the solution.
This will completely replace the HVAC controls (which I could eBay for quite a bit as it is pristine) and make the A/C AUTO -- just like JDM! And you can also use it to turn on the rear defrost!

The controller:

The servos for controlling vents:

Remote LED showing temp (celsius)

Slick.

Charles

 

[crxfisher]

Nice, I like that! I wonder how well it actually works.

 

[Charles]

I have written to the guy asking if anyone in the states is using it.

 

[jfish360]

OHHhhhhhhhhhh So high tech looking ....drool

 

[jfrolang]

I assume you'll be using a touchscreen?

 

[SETI20]

creamed.... :shock:

 

[Synoptic]

i'm 100 Euro away form installing this.... Since I already have the carputer fitted in.... hmmmmm....... damn.... 100 Euros.....

 

[Charles]

I would kick in $20 for you to install it. If some others helped dout, you could be our tester. It would be worth $20 to me for you to document the installation. Anyone else?

 

[bobski]

Conveniently enough, everything in the CRX is already electricly operated, with the exception of the temperature control. I take it you intend to fabricate a bracket to mount the servos and hold the two cables in their proper positions?
It's too bad they didn't use a PWM circuit for the fan speed. Then you could have constantly variable speed instead of 3 or 4 set speeds.

 

[coldtotouch]

great find Charles... you just changed my life.

just curious, what do you need to study in school to have the ability to do this!? electrical engineering???

 

[Charles]

Conveniently enough, everything in the CRX is already electricly operated, with the exception of the temperature control. I take it you intend to fabricate a bracket to mount the servos and hold the two cables in their proper positions?
It's too bad they didn't use a PWM circuit for the fan speed. Then you could have constantly variable speed instead of 3 or 4 set speeds.

I have asked him to come to this conversation. I am not sure if he still monitors his email or is still working on the board. With our input, he may ba able to build some specific to our cars. The manual and software are on his site.

Are you any good at electronics? Perhaps you could modify what he has developed and design another board. You could make a few bucks and become a legend among our tiny community.

 

[Charles]

great find Charles... you just changed my life.

just curious, what do you need to study in school to have the ability to do this!? electrical engineering???

That would be overkill. His board is pretty simple electronics. Still beyond my ken, but I know a programmer and can probably find an electronics person if we don't have one here. The servos look like the 5V versions they use for RC plans and such. I think it is a DC stepper motor so you can precisely position the rotation.

What really gets me excited about this is that I would be able to mount my LCD higher up in place of both the HVAC and radio. I would like to have a false front to cover the screen when I have to park at a mall or some other thief-infested area.

Unlike a lot of others who build carputers, I don't want one for the gee-whiz factor. I am not going to watch movies while I drive. I want it for:

1) Navigation
2) HVAC
3) Music/Radio/Podcasts (news, education, and other stuff for my brain)
4) Engine management and monitoring (sensors for everything -- I don't want a bunch of gauges when i can display it on one screen with datalogging and modify the ECU on the fly with the Ostrich I think it is called).
5) Cameras for the blind spots
6) Internet while I am out and about (as I always am)
7) Security - Like GPS tracking of vehicle if stolen and remote control of ignition or fuel cutoff.
8) Oh, and a targeting system for the forward and rear pellet guns along with rear oil sprayer, nail drop, and smoke screen. :lol:

 

[mastero]

Hello Charles and everyone here.

How can i help you?

Mastero

 

[Charles]

Excellent! The man himself!

How difficult is it to modify the current board to be more compatible with Hondas - specifically the CRX (which would work with the Civic as well)?

It's too bad they didn't use a PWM circuit for the fan speed. Then you could have constantly variable speed instead of 3 or 4 set speeds.

I am not sure how important this is. Mine is always on full or off.

Here are the circuit diagrams. Do they help?

 

[crxfisher]

Welcome Mastero. And Charles, me and you have the exact same visions as far as a carputer. I've wanted my car to be internet-enabled for a long time. Add to your list...

Remote security monitoring that sends pictures up to a server on the internet when motion is detected around the car.

Other than that, I want everything that you want. Someday I will take the time and energy to put it all together. Some day.

 

[Charles]

Mine will have an PC Card slot for my EVDO card so I will have internet while driving. Then 802.11 for when it is in my driveway so I can remotely work on the PC from inside the house... as well as automatically download podcasts and other things I will listen to while commuting.

 

[ryan_long_01]

The "gee-whiz" factor on this is pretty high, but I really don't see the point. All that work and you end up, if you're lucky, to have exactly the same functionality of the stock controls, and a higher possibility of things going wrong (with all the servos, motors, software and hardware issues, etc.)

If I wanted to make room for a big LCD mounted up high, I'd just relocate the HVAC controls to the storage box under the stereo and mount he LCD in the stock radio/HVAC location...or relocate it to the glovebox, or the center console, or something...this just seems like a lot of money and effort with no real gain in functionality (to me).

I like carputers, but for stuff like ECU/datalogging, mp3 playing, security, cameras, etc...I used to run an old laptop in my car, years ago, with an external USB numeric keypad to control Winamp, with the audio routed through the stereo...so I'm into the concept -- and most of the stuff you are talking about isn't possible without a computer in the car, that part I totally dig. Controlling stuff like power windows, doors, HVAC, and the like are very possible (and dependable) with the stock controls, so I really don't get it, aside from the fact that it's then possible to say, "I control my x through a touchscreen-enabled computer in my car". No offense and good luck with it all, but it would be money and effort that I personally would spend elsewhere.

 

[Dilbert]

The servo that pulls on the two wires for the heater core would have to be pretty strong! I find the wires are stiff as hell.

 

[mastero]

Charles i dont understand what you want me to do ...?

Please tell me what you want to do ...? besides the funtions of the unit ...!

Cheers
Mastero

 

[Synoptic]

I would kick in $20 for you to install it. If some others helped dout, you could be our tester. It would be worth $20 to me for you to document the installation. Anyone else?

I'm in for that !

Here's my current setup.