benvolioT

So I've got a Garmin eTrex Legend GPS . I'm trying to figure out how to make it turn on automatically when I start my car.

Right now it is powered by a cig. lighter adapter that is constantly powered even with the car off. I'm thinking that if I can modify that lighter connection so that it is only powered when the car is on, I can take advantage of a feature of the eTrex where it turns itself off automatically 30 seconds after losing extrenal power.

The trick is getting it to come back on. Garmin didn't include an auto-on with external power feature.

The eTrex has a software switch so my options are to open the unit up and mod the circuitboard in a manner similiar to the lilliput hack so that it comes on automatically with power;

Maybe a more attractive option (don't have to open the unit, don't have to magically figure out what to change about the circuit) is to create some sort of mechanical device that automatically pushes the power button when the car turns on.

Any thoughts about this? Has anyone else faced a similiar problem of trying to get a device to turn on with the car turning on?

MP3Car.com