Headunit controlled system startup

brooksware2000 · 08-31-2004, 07:49 PM

I just had a thought (Damn scary, I don't get those to often). I've been working on my own startup/shutdown controller for a while now (can't seem to settle on the features I want so I keep changing it) and was thinking of using the amp turn on lead from my headunit to trigger my startup/shutdown controller. That way the system will start when I turn on the headunit and shut down when i turn it off.

What do you guys think? Will it work? Also, if you can provide any suggestions to throw into the controller I will add them. I plan to release everything to the forums when I am done. Including schematics and code. Heck, i'll even burn some PICs for those that want to build their own controller. Cost of pic and shipping will be needed of course, but no profit for me.

jbors · 09-01-2004, 01:00 PM

You can use schematics from the I-Tuner sequencer and get it connected to the headunit instead of ignition key. The downside is when you start your engine, you don't want cputer to be on honestly, so it should be combination of both at least.
Also you may need to see the differences in bus implementations on different cars. Not sure you will be able to use it on those which don't have CDC/AUX In controls...

jbors · 09-01-2004, 02:26 PM

Hmm, Just reread it and realized that you still have to parse/understand HU commands. So simply taking I-Tuner won't work. In addition to it: all HU have different signal levels and structure to translate it to TTL.
I would say it will be a challenge to have something generic.

Tidder · 09-01-2004, 02:32 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by brooksware2000

I just had a thought (Damn scary, I don't get those to often). I've been working on my own startup/shutdown controller for a while now (can't seem to settle on the features I want so I keep changing it) and was thinking of using the amp turn on lead from my headunit to trigger my startup/shutdown controller. That way the system will start when I turn on the headunit and shut down when i turn it off.

What do you guys think? Will it work? Also, if you can provide any suggestions to throw into the controller I will add them. I plan to release everything to the forums when I am done. Including schematics and code. Heck, i'll even burn some PICs for those that want to build their own controller. Cost of pic and shipping will be needed of course, but no profit for me.

I have mine set up to power up and down like this, though much simpler. I just have a relay and a cube timer. Relay gives power to inverter, then computer powers up, switching another relay to give power to inverter as well. If I turn off my headunit, my relay switches over to the cube timer, which pushes my power button for about 1.5 seconds. My computer hibernates, then powers off my inverter. I'd like to see what you do though...

sagekoala · 09-01-2004, 02:35 PM

i think that brooks is trying to do something different that that. if I"m getting it right he wants to use a simple probably 12v trigger lead to control his ... controller. i don't think he is meanning to do anything with the bus wheter it be ip or unilink or what not.

falconey · 09-01-2004, 02:37 PM

From the little understanding I have on this if you have XP you can use the remote turn on coming from the head unit and run it to pin 8 on the comport, set up the fake UPS in windows and you then have a shutdown controller. Start up is another story though....

sagekoala · 09-01-2004, 02:41 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by falconey

From the little understanding I have on this if you have XP you can use the remote turn on coming from the head unit and run it to pin 8, set up the fake UPS in windows and you then have a shutdown controller.

would this really help for startup though? i assume you probably mean a serial port ... do most boards have a setting where you want wake off of a serial port ... I'd check but I'm running a sun machine right now

Ricky327 · 09-01-2004, 02:45 PM

I guess hes on about using something similiar to the signal from the HU to turn the power antenna up/down?

brooksware2000,
Hows the coding going? decided to make a completely different shutdown controller now?

PM me if you need some helps.

Good luck.

falconey · 09-01-2004, 02:48 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by sagekoala

would this really help for startup though? i assume you probably mean a serial port ... do most boards have a setting where you want wake off of a serial port ... I'd check but I'm running a sun machine right now

Don't know, but the port would only be used for shutdown....now if he had it set up to wake on something else when it sees power(however his carpc is getting power) then that could be his start up. Really a simple way to do it unless he has an inverter(like me) in which he'd have to set up an additional relay for the inverter.

Ricky327 · 09-01-2004, 02:52 PM

The problem with the simple serial port startup/shutdown controller is that...if the PC has locked up during the shutdown process then theres no way it can shut down by itself. A hardware timer is really needed to cut off the power to the PC after 3 mins timeout regardless if the PC has locked up or has shutdown properly.

falconey · 09-01-2004, 02:53 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Ricky327

I guess hes on about using something similiar to the signal from the HU to turn the power antenna up/down?

If you were referencing me here I'm speaking about the remote/amp turn on lead that many aftermarket hu's have. It's usually only 5v.

falconey · 09-01-2004, 02:54 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Ricky327

The problem with the simple serial port startup/shutdown controller is that...if the PC has locked up during the shutdown process then theres no way it can shut down by itself. A hardware timer is really needed to cut off the power to the PC after 3 mins timeout regardless if the PC has locked up or has shutdown properly.

I gotcha there, but I guess my simple suggestion is for those who haven't had problems with lockups.

jbors · 09-01-2004, 03:41 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by falconey

If you were referencing me here I'm speaking about the remote/amp turn on lead that many aftermarket hu's have. It's usually only 5v.

That may work. In this case the PIC program from I-Tuner needs to be changed so it accepts 2 signals( HU+ Ignition ) and send shutdown/startup to the PC...

Ricky327 · 09-01-2004, 05:20 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by falconey

If you were referencing me here I'm speaking about the remote/amp turn on lead that many aftermarket hu's have. It's usually only 5v.

Sorry I should have said who it was for.

It was for the reply about the bus and making a universal unit. Im just saying that to make a universal SDC unit then the power antenna or the amp on/off signal is the best one to take rather than the HU bus line...which Im sure what brooke is trying to say.

Tidder · 09-01-2004, 06:00 PM

You guys are making it too hard. I have a cube timer. What it does is when power is applied, it closes a circuit for a set amount of time, in my case 1.5 secs. I power off my HU, it switches power over to my cube timer, I have my cube timer hooked to my power switch pins on my motherboard. voila!