NA- Any thoughts on remote controlled pop-ups?

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Giselle
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NA- Any thoughts on remote controlled pop-ups?

Postby Giselle » Wed Nov 06, 2013 3:43 pm

For safety and convenience, I wouldn't mind putting in a remote controlled central locking unit. I've got a boot release button in my car too, so I guess that could wire up too.

A fun idea that I've had is to buy a central locking unit and a programmable remote with 4 buttons. Program it with lock, unlock and boot and program one of them to some kind of remote controlled popup headlight setup.

Does anyone have any thoughts on how to do this? I can't say I know much about electronics, so I suppose that at the least I'd need a receiver that connects a relay to the headlamp or something?

Does the same headlamp wire control both the pop-up motor and the light at the same time, or is it more complex than that?

Also, I'm guessing I'd have to press the button again to allow the lights to operate normally?

Just an idea for a fun project sometime

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aka_juffa
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Re: NA- Any thoughts on remote controlled pop-ups?

Postby aka_juffa » Wed Nov 06, 2013 4:09 pm

Giselle wrote:For safety and convenience, I wouldn't mind putting in a remote controlled central locking unit. I've got a boot release button in my car too, so I guess that could wire up too.

A fun idea that I've had is to buy a central locking unit and a programmable remote with 4 buttons. Program it with lock, unlock and boot and program one of them to some kind of remote controlled popup headlight setup.

Does anyone have any thoughts on how to do this? I can't say I know much about electronics, so I suppose that at the least I'd need a receiver that connects a relay to the headlamp or something?

Does the same headlamp wire control both the pop-up motor and the light at the same time, or is it more complex than that?

Also, I'm guessing I'd have to press the button again to allow the lights to operate normally?

Just an idea for a fun project sometime


With regards to central locking. I added central locking to a previous NA6 which had a high end alarm in it. Never again. Worked great for the first few months and then played up all the time. Mainly needed adjusting, but a real PIA to remove the door card each time.

Given the size of the MX-5 cockpit I was/am more than happy to reach over and lock or unlock the passenger door as needed. In my case I also tend to park her with the roof down unless I am planning on being away for more than 30min, and therefore I lock everything away out of sight. With the roof down locking the doors is a waste of time.....in fact I don't even have an alarm in my current 5.

With regards to the barn doors.
While it is not something I would do, I would think the best option would be to utilise the button on the tombstone that will raise and lower the headlights. It shouldn't be too hard to rig up a relay to do the job.

J.

Just my 2.2c worth (GST inclusive).

J
Last edited by aka_juffa on Wed Nov 06, 2013 4:14 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Motor Neurone Disease chose me, I choose Voluntary Assisted Dying.

Giselle
Fast Driver
Posts: 138
Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2013 1:22 pm
Vehicle: NA6
Location: Brisbane

Re: NA- Any thoughts on remote controlled pop-ups?

Postby Giselle » Wed Nov 06, 2013 4:30 pm

Were your problems due to the kit that you used, or something inherent in the Mx5 itself?

I'm a quite small female, so fumbling for my keys in a dark carpark at night makes me a little nervous. One button to popup the lights and switch them on would help me find the car. A second to let me in would... let me in

Thinking a little more about it, I assume one wire controls the motor light, the other the light itself. Possibly 2 relays could connect them to the battery.. but with the battery in the rear, that feels impracticable . Unless I can somehow hijack the wires that already go there. but presumably they're disconnected when the lights are turned off at the stalk

sailaholic
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Re: NA- Any thoughts on remote controlled pop-ups?

Postby sailaholic » Wed Nov 06, 2013 4:34 pm

The headlight on switch on the stalk triggers the headlights on and up. So if you paired into this either after the switch or at the relay(s) it should work BUT your lights will be on.

It would suck if the button got bumped while you were walking away and you came back to a flat battery.

Tapping the tombstone button would give lights up, but no light.

If you got fancy and wired the unit so that it kills the headlights when locked then you might get the "here I am" headlights with a bit more safety of a flat battery as most will re lock if unlocked but no door opened in x a certain time period.




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