HVAC Control on Car PC through Serial Port. - Page 37

Bazza_84 · 06-12-2008, 10:38 PM

Sorry to dig this up, done alot of reading, is there any way where you could use the remote, take the outputs of that and connect them to the original dials of another dash?

doing a dash conversion putting an uber moder dash into an old car, and dont want a car pc in it.

this way it appears stock, you turn the knob on the dash, it moves some sort of resistor and then this board does the work behind the scenes?

Civic Modz · 07-01-2008, 02:14 AM

About the remote control the dials on your dash... yeah its possible if you know a bit of electronics and know how to use analog switches and digital variable resistors you should be able to come up with sth. Though alot of the dials might have a jerky fell this would indicate a digital dial anyway.

Bazza_84 · 07-01-2008, 11:47 AM

i havent got a clue on the whole digital to analouge etc

can it be done by a novice with the rite guidance, hopefully frm u guys

Baz

h3rk · 07-01-2008, 01:11 PM

I'd do it using a fusion brain (there's lots of assistance just waiting in that forum)... I wonder what happened to this guy (OP).

Civic Modz · 07-01-2008, 10:09 PM

If your getting stuck and you really want to be able to control your factory knobs and buttons automatically (retaining your orginal control circuity, by tucking it away) I would be willing to do an interface that could controll it via a PC etc. I just need to know what signals you will need to control it. Serial or USB will be easiest, depending on the resolution of the dial you could have :
16 steps need 4 digital outputs
256 steps need 8 digital outputs

alternatively if you outputs could give x amount out pulses that were done fairly quick this could be done also.

the only thing you would have to send you control unit so i can analyize it, then i would just attach a connector to the side of the unit to be able to access the controls.

hopefully im on the right track with you here.

cadillackid · 07-04-2008, 03:43 PM

is this project still Alive? im currently working on my 1986 Monte carlo LS hotrod project.. the car was a factory Heater-Only car, however I have added a full HVAC system to this car.. (sanden compressor, dash vents(non AC cars had no vents), controller et).. I have retrofitted a cadillac PWM style servo to the hot/cold door, and have vacuum solenoids for each one of the Vacuum lines that operate ventilation (one for dash enable, one for floor/ Defrost, one for recirculation) these all work perfectly.. as does the digital refrigerant temp monitor control.. (I monitor the suction line temo and if it gets to 34 degrees F, i cancel the compressor call till it reaches 40) - this works much better than standard low pressure cutoff control.

a cadillac Blower speed control is in use to handle fan speed control... it is a 0-5 volt signal which in turn drives the blower motor at variable speed... 0-5 volts can easily be achieved via a basic stamp using the dallas 1 wire variable resistor chip...

the Same technology controls the Radiator cooling fans in response to radiator as well as A/C liquid line temp.

so ive come to the point where I was going to write my own software and utilize a Basic-Stamp controller as the driver board and a VB6 program to control the driver board.. this same basic stamp(or another identical) will be used to control a 4L60E transmission in the future... once my 450 HP small block ruins the 200-4R that is.. until then im bench controlling the trans as a test bed.

then I ran across this device and am thinking why reinvdent the wheel if it does what I want. i also dont want to send this guy money if he is not working on this project anymore... the website seems very outdated....

whats anyone's thoughts?
-Christopher

Bazza_84 · 07-04-2008, 06:47 PM

the problem is that i havent got a pc, not do i want to fit one, after stupidly paying some £3000 for a clarion flip out monitor, cd changers etc

i want to beable to control it just by turning the knob, also has auto controls aswell which id like to control from the original stuff,

the control unit is from an audi tt

cadillackid · 07-05-2008, 07:02 AM

bazza: in my opinion i would retrofit the cxomplete HVAC control system knobs and all into your car.. im not sure what car you are working with.. But I have done this before... did it with a 79 impala and retrofitted a 93 Cadillac HVAC system into it.. everything from the box that handles the vent doors etc all the way to the control panel.. then had a guy make a new bezel panel for me that said "Chevrolet Automatic" instead of "cadillac".

the compressor, Lines, condensor and such is very similar for all cars.. as is the heater core... so moving the complete system is much easier than building a control system that controls a different system.

the other option here is using an LCD display connected to a BasicStamp or similar with buttons above and below.. and each button contains a function.. it would look modern and would be an electronic control without a PC...
-Christopher

Bazza_84 · 07-05-2008, 11:31 AM

im working with a vauxhall cavalier or a opel vectra a as its know outside the UK n putting an audi tt dash into it.

2 totally diffrent systems, manufacturers and nealy 15 years diffrence in the cars them selves, that and ones a saloon (4 door, or sedan as its called) the others a 2 door coupe/convertable.

think the electronic way would have been easier

this is what is going into it

http://www.fourtitude.com/news/uploa...ed_600_015.jpg

Civic Modz · 07-06-2008, 03:21 AM

Ok, so you dont want to use a PC. You want an independant climate control but just utilizing the buttons/knobs and LCD of an Audi right? Most modern climate devices are quite complex the use numerous sensor in the cabin and engine bay. For example my brother has an 96 quattro, if you turn on the heater the fan will not turn on until the engine is warm enough. To utilize the same electronics in the audi controller you would have to get all the sensors that are used including any additional outputs. If you have a look at the connector of the climate I assume you might find about 20+ wires connected to it. Its possible but a big job (a schematic or wiring diagram will make it a bit easier). An easier way is just to use the dials and buttons of the audi and interface them to you climate system. This way you would be bypassing all the electronics from the audi (you would loose the LCD, unless you add your own or work out how to control the original one). Post a pic of your climate system in your car.

h3rk · 07-06-2008, 03:40 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Civic Modz

Ok, so you dont want to use a PC. You want an independant climate control but just utilizing the buttons/knobs and LCD of an Audi right? Most modern climate devices are quite complex the use numerous sensor in the cabin and engine bay. For example my brother has an 96 quattro, if you turn on the heater the fan will not turn on until the engine is warm enough. To utilize the same electronics in the audi controller you would have to get all the sensors that are used including any additional outputs. If you have a look at the connector of the climate I assume you might find about 20+ wires connected to it. Its possible but a big job (a schematic or wiring diagram will make it a bit easier). An easier way is just to use the dials and buttons of the audi and interface them to you climate system. This way you would be bypassing all the electronics from the audi (you would loose the LCD, unless you add your own or work out how to control the original one). Post a pic of your climate system in your car.

I can support that statement, I've been at it for a while. In fact, I've been sitting here tonight working on converting both an automatic and manual version of a factory climate control head to schematic, to ensure my tie in points and methods will work properly. It gets pretty complex. Like this particular circuit I'm tracing has this votage divider circuit used in the A/C compressor request line that takes the input from the intake temp sensor and compares it to a reference current. The connectors on the back total 36 pins.

Good luck with the project, unfortunately for you most of what you'll find here is PC related interface ideas and implementations.... I still wonder what happened to Mastero.

Bazza_84 · 07-06-2008, 04:14 AM

i dont necessary want to keep the display or the auto c/c etc all i want to do is press a button n the vents mova accordingly

this is what i have

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vauxhall-Caval...3286.m20.l1116

- the aircon and recirc buttons, car don't have air con :-(

Civic Modz · 07-06-2008, 04:39 AM

How many of the controls are cable driven. Since the most difficult part of this would be to make up a custom bracket and mount a servo on it, so it can control your vents. Thats what I ended up doing. I was lucky though for me there was a nice spot to put the bracket and servo. I'd recommend you to somehow connect a servo to these cables first. Controlling them is not that hard. Or you could check to see if a later model of your car has motor control and you might be lucky and you could mount the motor to the cable control.