Car PC to replace Climate controls please help

[95_TSI_Marc]

Ok i got the pc all set to go and a friend of mine had the idea to use the computer to conrol all the Climate controls through the PC.

In theory the idea is to use a serial connecot to control the volatge that the switches "should" use.

Does anyone know how the switches work Im asking before i take the car off the road and begin to disasamble the dash and possibly avoid having to play with ideas first. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated

 

[TurBoGs-T]

I think they are switches that are physically moved to control them. That would be bad ass if you did get it to work. My bro's car had the electric temp control in it i liked it.

 

[Chuckt]

i have been talking to someone online that is working on software that will allow a computer to control climate, windows, locks, sunroof, and lights. Im not sure exactly how hes setting up the interface, but ill talk to him more about it. It has to do with hooking up a PCI card i think.

 

[95_TSI_Marc]

I can get it done using a servo like this one http://www.pontech.com/products/sv200/

the servo or motor would turn to move the original dials and the dials would be hidden away somewhere. This is a last resort i am hopeing there is a direct solution.

Let me know if you guys here anything

 

[dynatos]

well the servos wouldn't have to turn the dial persay, you could have them mounted directly where the change happens in the vent system. The dials just move a rod back and forth, so you could have everything out of the way.

Software wouldn't be hard - even USB would be easy a good interface as oposed to rs232.. get some thermo resistors so that you can set what temp you want the car at.. i think it'd be a really nice idea.

oh the wonderful things that could be done with all that dash space!

 

[Defiant]

Originally posted by 95_TSI_Marc
Ok i got the pc all set to go and a friend of mine had the idea to use the computer to conrol all the Climate controls through the PC.

"Climate controls"? You don't really have them in a DSM. You have a door that opens and closes the air through the heater core, and a control for how hard the AC is pumping. It'd be quite a dog-chasing-tail operation to try and control the climate inside a car that wasn't set up for it. The climate control in my 2nd-gen Supra had such things as a sunlight sensor on the dash and a sampling port with fan in the rear of the center console.

It's not something you can't do, but there may be more to it than you're expecting.