What I'm working on

[BLUEnoEQ]

Arduino controlled VRIS. R Pi3 to program the arduino, run a desktop, entertainment, NES, SNES, Genesis, DOS. Waiting on a few more parts and I'll be getting out there to fix my car and see how this works out. Arduino costs $10, dual relay board $4, programming is free and open source, will be posted if it works. It's almost as easy as reading a .txt file and changing the numbers.

Pic
https://i.imgur.com/OYILBg6.jpg

[stoker100]

cool project!

[BLUEnoEQ]

Thank you! I'm surprised I haven't seen something like this before. I'm hoping this opens a floodgate of interesting ideas. Considering trying to make an RFID trunk release setup as well. Getting used to this Fusion, (Mondeo,) with all of the nice things. Freakin heated steering wheel is gonna spoil me.

[stoker100]

I did something similar back in the day using the stock ECU i could change the VRIS while driving but needed a laptop hooked up to the emulator to make changes. Technology has changed making it easier to do stuff like this now. I believe i have the stock ECU VRIS drive circuit schematic somewhere (hand drawn) if you want to use it or similar components. RFID release would be cool, ive seen it embedded in hands as an immobilizer before. Come to Australia we have 200deg heated steering wheels in summer!

[BLUEnoEQ]

That was the eeprom OBDI ecu? The Pi is pretty much like a laptop just in several pieces, adaptable with parts and running Linux. VRIS are just 2 coil actuators with 12v and a ground. The ECU will have dummy actuators and the Arduino will control the actual valves. Hoping that prevents a CEL or code. Willing to hookup vacuum if I need to to fool the ECU, but not expecting to have to go that far.

[stoker100]

You wont need vac for the ECU VRIS, any dummy load within the specs of the actuators will work but just using actuators is probably the easiest way. Yes it was OBDI.

[J_Unit]

Cool to see a project like this, back when I first did my push button starter I had thought about trying to use an arduino as like a bluetooth circuit breaker so you couldn't activate ignition unless my phone was paired. Never did work on it though.

[BLUEnoEQ]

You should absolutely do some research into it. Just Google some similar circuits, checkout some Arduino tutorials beginner stuff will break down the basics. See how the sketches are written. You could definitely make something like that. I always thought it would be difficult. Now I've already figured out how to test the stuff I have here both of my Arduinos now, the relays. Infrared trunk release using my phone is another possible. Easy peasy, everyone should check it out.

[stoker100]

Here is how the stock ECU controls the VRIS solenoids if you want to copy it:
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/m...Untitled-2.jpg
(not sure if photobucket links work but worth a try)

[BLUEnoEQ]

Ha, I like the part about, "probably to diagnostic test input... who cares." I'm just going to use a relay for each solenoid. The ones I've got are meant to work with Arduino. 5v, ground switching, with a low signal, in this case, ground, to the control pin on the relay. The solenoids themselves are 12v... correct? If not, I'm probably going to have plenty of 5v to tap. 2.5A for the Pi alone, probably another supply to take care of the screen/screens and for the Arduinos. Going to put in a small, key on, fuse block under the console somewhere.

If anyone wants to see some cool ****, look up make your own cell phone with a Raspberry Pi. It looks like it'd be a great backup device to have, and a great way to get shocked. $10 a month for a sim card, $45 dollars or so for the phone parts, cool factor over 9000.

[mcdonn]

Just make sure you put a damping diode across the solenoid valve coil to keep the back EMF from destroying the driver transistor you drive from the Arduino TTL output. You were going to use a drive transistor to drive the coil right?

[BLUEnoEQ]

I have a dual relay unit made for the Arduino. It's designed for it. The 12v side is not connected to the Arduino side electrically. They're rated for way more than 12v, for home automation projects. Pic

https://imgur.com/a/hSKve
At the bottom right is ground from Arduino, 1 and 2 input, VCC.
VCC is 5v from Arduino. 1 and 2 are low signals (ground) to activate.
I already tested this using the blink program. It blinks the relay instead of an LED at the rate specified in the program. 1000 equals 1 full second to an Arduino. Change the number, re-compile the program and the relay blinks faster or slower.

[stoker100]

That board looks optically isolated and has flyback diodes too so it should be fine Yes the solenoids are 12V, those relays shluld be ok to use. Transistors/FETs would be better (relays arnt the best for switching inductive loads) and faster but the relays shown should be ok.

[BLUEnoEQ]

Honestly they make this stuff for dumm... education I wonder if I could make a headlight wink program with this? I'd probably have to get rid of the stock controller. Raise both lights drop one, raise it back up then close both. With a momentary button to activate.

[P1P]

Honestly they make this stuff for dumm... education I wonder if I could make a headlight wink program with this? I'd probably have to get rid of the stock controller. Raise both lights drop one, raise it back up then close both. With a momentary button to activate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ5QtAxVlz8