1g Datalog cable w/ power

[Smitherines]

This post was from another thread that I posted in, but I figured this would be better off with its own thread.

I'm designing a cable where we can get power from the car, but I have a few questions.

1. Do you want to charge the Palm in the car.

OR

2. Do you want to run the Palm constantly from the car WITHOUT charging it.

AND

a. Do you want to run power to the device with the constant 12v wire in the car. (Meaning it would be on whether the car is on or not)

OR

b. Do you want to only send power to the car when the car is in ACC or ON.


I'm working with someone who has quite an extensive knowledge about Palm circuitry. But apparently he says when the Palm is in idle mode (turned "off") it only uses about 30mA.

A Palm operates on MAX 3v when it is "ON", so we could really step down the voltage from 12v to 3v, or charge and with it "ON" at 11v.

But because of the Palm's cells that can hold memory in some cases, it would be unwise to charge it in the car, simply for the fact that no one will be in their car for about 10 hours straight.

I have a bit more information, but I would like to see public interest in it. Wouldn't make sense to put my time and effort into this, along with the person I am working with if its just going to be a waste.

Let me know what you 1ger's think!

John Psaras

 

[MyÜberFastGSX]

It sounds like a great idea. If you have them time, by all means go for it.
Personally, I just replace the batteries every couple weeks.

If you could make a cable that worked and write up a good DIY, then I'd definitely do it.

But as of right now I'm putting all of my creativity into fabbing up my wastegate dump tube, and figuring out where and how to mount my data logger, and hard wiring my radar detector, etc, etc.

There's never a dull moment with a DSM.

Good luck on your cable.

 

[olsondsm]

I think this is a great idea, i am sick of mine dying all the time already and i have barely started to tune my car. I would think just operating power and only in ACC and RUN. Good luck to you and keep us updated.