Commercial shutdown controller

**Steinola** · 06-02-2004, 09:05 PM

I guess I'm a little surprised at the lack of options for a commercially manufactured/available shutdown controller.

I remember even as far back as Win NT and Win98 (perhaps even Win95), we would hook our servers up to a UPS via a serial cable. If the UPS sensed a powerloss, it would, of course, keep you going for a couple of minutes... but then it would send a signal via the serial cable to the PC and Windows would automatically shutdown. This was a built-in feature of Windows. Indeed, I just checked my Win2K machine and my XP machine and they still have the same UPS configuration dialog that allows you to set this up.

So it doesn't seem like that far a stretch for a DC-DC (especially one that connects via cigarette lighter... ie - made for automobile use) to incorporate this same functionality directly in the converter. Provide a serial out that behaves like a UPS and sends a signal to shutdown Windows.

I've searched and searched in these forums and have only seen a mere mention of this functionality. I've goggled for a couple of hours and haven't found much more.

Any comments?

**vcbb5** · 06-02-2004, 09:09 PM

New shutdown controller - software

Ghetto Startup/Shutdown Control for Inverter

**starfox** · 06-02-2004, 09:49 PM

Using the UPS function in Windows is a good idea, it's simple and it should work for a lot of people..

I would've used something like this myself, but i ran into a problem. If my amplifiers and car computer both power up according to when the accessory line goes live, the amplifiers switch on, then a few seconds later the car computer switches on. I'm using a SB Live! and it doesn't have a speaker protection circuit on its output. This makes my speakers produce a really loud thump.. >_<
Also there isn't a way to cut the power to the computer completely. This isn't so great because there's always some parasitic current drain from the inverter / morex psu and it might run your battery dead in the long run.

So instead i decided to go all out and build my own shutdown controller, which is detailed on this thread:
shutdown controllers
and also this website:
http://starfox.ucc.asn.au/carcomp/
Obviously this isn't for everyone though because it's quite annoying to build a circuit without a nice PCB

I guess there aren't many commercial solutions around because it is a niche market, and the cost of developing, printing a pcb, manufacturing might not outweight the number of products which you'd sell.. There's a few commercial ones around.. ITPS and Opus includes one, plus some people selling homebrew ones (Jeff's shutdown controller and Maestro's).

**MikeH** · 06-02-2004, 10:51 PM

So it doesn't seem like that far a stretch for a DC-DC (especially one that connects via cigarette lighter... ie - made for automobile use) to incorporate this same functionality directly in the converter.

We'll be shipping on in a couple of weeks. www.carnetix.com

**LESLIEx317537** · 06-02-2004, 11:02 PM

I just bought my second shutdown controller.

I got this one from Mastero, I hope it's in the mail.

**14.4vTech** · 06-03-2004, 06:46 PM

http://www.soltronixstore.com/Detail.bok?no=7 quick easy set your timers googd to go

**zootjeff** · 12-08-2004, 10:28 AM

www.mpegbox.com/microsdc/

This one is good too, and available on this site..

-Jeff

**Nic** · 12-08-2004, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by Steinola

I guess I'm a little surprised at the lack of options for a commercially manufactured/available shutdown controller.

I remember even as far back as Win NT and Win98 (perhaps even Win95), we would hook our servers up to a UPS via a serial cable. If the UPS sensed a powerloss, it would, of course, keep you going for a couple of minutes... but then it would send a signal via the serial cable to the PC and Windows would automatically shutdown. This was a built-in feature of Windows. Indeed, I just checked my Win2K machine and my XP machine and they still have the same UPS configuration dialog that allows you to set this up.

So it doesn't seem like that far a stretch for a DC-DC (especially one that connects via cigarette lighter... ie - made for automobile use) to incorporate this same functionality directly in the converter. Provide a serial out that behaves like a UPS and sends a signal to shutdown Windows.

I've searched and searched in these forums and have only seen a mere mention of this functionality. I've goggled for a couple of hours and haven't found much more.

Any comments?

Whats wrong with the startup/shutdown controllers on the opus and carnetix?

edit: just realised this was quite an old thread

**LESLIEx317537** · 12-08-2004, 12:30 PM

Nice, the controllers are getting more advanced.
I like the function where it doesn't start till it senses 13 volts on the line where the batt is stable and the alt is charging. Good for those real real cold cold temps <32F where the battery voltage is not as high.

It's gonna be time soon to build a new box, I'm still using the same board from my first carpc and its running great still in my new car. My new one will include a one of these I guess.