Push button start/stop - Part 2

Well, I've finally done it. It's only taken 6 months but the system is all in and working. The Westfield now has no 20th Century style funny shape pieces of metal to get the engine started. All I have to do is get in and press a button on the dash to go. If I press it again the engine switches off. Also, if some clown presses the button without the RFID tag being around then they'll know about it (siren).

As a consequence of not having a key any longer I have have to remove the steering lock.

It's just as well the car has no doors. However, the system can be adapted for 'normal' cars where the doors will be unlocked as you walk towards the vehicle and locked as you walk away.

Push button start/stop on Westfield

I know loads of people have fitted start buttons on their cars, but I want a start / stop button. Caterham use a control module for their Savage style switchgear on the R models. It adds the operating logic to the simple press once type buttons. So press once for wipers at slow speed, press again for fast speed, press again to turn off, etc. Caterham's module isn't perhaps the best of designs - I believe all the relays etc. are potted, so if one fails the whole module is capput. It's also quite expensive. Some similar type control boxes are starting to appear on the market but they're all expensive. I think I can build summit much cheaper.

If I use a latching relay and a 2 second time delay relay to crank the starter if the button is held for more than 2 seconds. So one press of the button for less than 2 seconds just turns on the ignition, a second press turns it off. If you press and hold the button for longer than 2 seconds the starter will crank until you release the button. Then another quick press will turn it off.

I also fancy wiring in an RFID smart relay which only activates the ignition if the key fob is within range. This will mean I don't have a separate ignition key switch as well, just the single button which is only active with the key fob in my pocket.

RFID from here
Latching relay
Delay relay

Now all I have to do is build it!

Xtreamer

I have just got a Xtreamer from Tranquil PC. Tiny bit of kit that does everything. I have had this fancy 1080P flat panel TV for ages but I don't have an HD source until now. I can't be bothered with expensive Bluray players and discs and I certainly am not going to pay for VM or Sky HD.

Anyway, I can now download HD content and stream it across my home network straight on to the TV. It plays every format and has a nice GUI. I went for the fanless model to keep the noise down in the lounge. Time will tell if it can cope!

Project Autoblip: Part 3

No good progress since the last post. I'm happy with the control unit and pedal sensors, etc. However the solenoid actuator, an RS-346340, is simply not powerful enough to operate the throttles. Indeed, I rigged up a pair on them and it still didn't work. They can hold the throttles open but they're not strong enough to get them there.

I'm looking at pneumatics now. Probably going to struggle using the (partial) vacuum from the inlet manifold. I'll could use a small compressed air bottle which could be topped up using a 12v tyre compressor. Something from an old sodastream should be OK. Then I'll need a suitable pneumatic actuator (plenty of Festo and SMC stuff on EBay) and a valve to open and close it. I used to work with pneumatics at work but that was 10 years ago and I've forgotten most of it. I'm sruggling to find a 12v valve to control the air. Also, suitable fittings.

Ho. You out there?

Project Autoblip: Part 2

Update: I have successfully built the electronics part of project. I built a timer circuit so that once the brake and clutch pedal are depressed the circuit will send out a signal to operate the throttles for a preset time. The time is adjustable with a potentiometer.

My electronics skills are rusty and I made a mistake initially. I soldered in one of the capacitors the wrong way around. It exploded in my face when I switched the power on!


I have wired up the solenoid, an RS-346340. Works well but I'm not sure it's got enough power to operate the throttles. Might have to build a bank of solenoids.

Project Autoblip: Part 1

On trackdays in the Westfield it is adviceable to blip the throttle whilst changing down a gear to ease the gear change and stop the rear wheels locking/skidding. This is usually achieved using a heel and toe technique; brake using the ball of your right foot whilst blipping the throttle using the heel. I've never managed to master the technique many due to lack of talent but also due to the restricted room in the Westfield pedal area.

Therefore I am building a system to automatically blip the throttle on down changes. It uses a solenoid to pull the throttle cable. The system will be triggered using a sensor on both the brake and clutch pedal. When both pedals are depressed, a control box sends out a signal to operate the solenoid and blip the throttle. The control box has a variable delay for fine tuning. There will be an arming switch on the dash as there is no need for the system to work when pottering around town; it'll blip the throttle when you pull up at traffic lights for example.

I used a starter motor solenoid for initial tests. Plan was to fit a new 'racing spec' linkage on the throttle bodies which takes two throttle cables. One will be used for the pedal (as now) and the second will be linked to the solenoid. Alternatively, I could retain the current linkage and fit the solenoid to work on either the pedal or directly on the throttle bodies.

Mondeo Brake Discs

A friend of mine has a Mondeo that needed new front brake discs. I'm becoming an expert on this as I have recently replaced discs on a Freelander, my Vectra and the Westfield. My friend brought his Mondeo around to my garage and we started what I thought would take an hour to do both sides. Wheel and caliper came off easily. However, would the disc budge? It was stuck solid. (Yes, I had removed the retaining clips). I tried bashing it with a lump hammer, heating it up with a blow lamp and trying to pull it off with a Heath Robinson lash up of G-clamps and an old Freelander disc (see photo).



I finally had enough and cut it off with an angle grinder!