Software UPS/battery?

**Vineet Singh** · 10-14-2006, 11:39 AM

Using the UPS parts, you WOULD have an external voltmeter, and standard HID class battery/ac reporting. I'm not a programmer (though I did stay at a holiday inn, and do have a Unix/C/C++ associates degree

)

I hate programming. I can try to fix/mod others, but can't create my own

**mm_202** · 10-16-2006, 02:25 PM

So no one knows of any already built drivers/code for this?
I was really hoping to avoid doing it myself

But if I end up writing an emulator, would anyone else be interested in it?

**mm_202** · 10-16-2006, 02:54 PM

So no one knows of any already built drivers/code for this?
I was really hoping to avoid doing it myself

But if I end up writing an emulator, would anyone else be interested in it?

**h3rk** · 10-26-2006, 04:41 AM

Originally Posted by mm_202

Yes, a different reason. Or at least a supplemental one.
I want to be able to start the car when the battery power gets low;
but that has nothing to do with this request (because I already know the voltage and Windows knowing about it plays no part).

Why I want it is a little hard to explain, but I'll try.
Basically, I do a lot of work in Ai and have a main program that runs on my laptop and my home computers (which all have UPSs). My Ai program has built-in logic that if the power goes out (or is getting low, in case of my laptop), it will start turning things off, use less CPU cycles, alert me, save all open files, etc. And because I have all this code written using Window's power management functions, I'd like to be able to use the same exact code for my carputer instead of having two different versions (because the same exact Ai program runs in my car too).

And being able to emulate a battery would also make debugging much easier.

I'd definately be interested in your idea. I'm not much of a programmer, more of an electronics tech. I was looking to do the same, only by using a small 12volt PLC. That's the only way I could accomplish that. That's a big expense, however, but provides a good control interface for the vehicle.

Are you looking to start the vehicle at a point where the voltage is low for a set period of time (as an additional step in your software)? I can see that being advantageous in applications where the puter stays on long-term, for purposes like remote comms/ control.

**h3rk** · 10-26-2006, 06:50 PM

I found this, thought I would share. Sorry however it is not a software solution. Pretty pricey too. But it is a way, I think, to get the appropriate variable inputs.

**mm_202** · 10-31-2006, 11:40 AM

Okay, Ive already started on this little project.
It's going to involve writing device-drivers (which I hate),
but I should hopefully have it done it a week or two.
I'll keep anyone interested posted on the progress!

**h3rk** · 10-31-2006, 01:40 PM

Good Luck

**jnorion** · 11-01-2006, 12:14 AM

Would this help at all?

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show...3&postcount=21

**Rowan** · 02-06-2007, 09:50 PM

I'd actually be quite interested in this, any luck getting it going?

**mm_202** · 03-03-2007, 12:23 AM

Originally Posted by jnorion

Would this help at all?

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show...3&postcount=21

Thanks jnorion,
Thats kinda along the lines of what we're looking for, but something much for detailed. Where you can actually get the _level_ of the battery, too.

Originally Posted by Rowan

I'd actually be quite interested in this, any luck getting it going?

Rowan,
Ive started a bit on the project but kinda abandoned it lately because Ive had zero free time. But Im jumping back on it so hopefully I'll have something usable soon!