Screens in an e30 anyone?!

[gjuu]

I must be the only one who uses places the vent control in the middle of the defrost at all times while the heat is on.

I live in tropical far north Queensland - a frosty windscreen is not a problem. I have a/c on for 12 months of the year - I don't use heat at all :)

[gjuu]

Good god man, 120 GB of MP3's - you must be one of those people that can't go 5 mins with out music pumping into your head!!!

Not really - but when I want to listen to some music I like to have a bit of a choice.....

[Addissimo]

Yes I was thinking of doing just this - using central locking actuators (really cheap) to push/pull the cables. Some simple brackets to mount the actuators and cables.
The temp one will still be controlled by the rotary dial.

If you're going to do the servo work for the temp control, you may as well do it for the vent control too. You would have to mount a pretty long arm onto the actuator to get the cables to be pulled the full distance.

I must be the only one who uses places the vent control in the middle of the defrost at all times while the heat is on.

There is a company who makes servo programmers, so you can set the sweep of any of their servos. I'm pretty sure you can even make most of them go more than 360 degrees. That would be useful for temp control, since the physical resistence is so heavy. You could use gears to lighten the load on the servo, which would also allow you to use a smaller, cheaper servo.

[gjuu]

you guys are taking this to a whole different level, it sounds like you want e36+ climate control, i was just thinking insted of having a slide to open and close the 3 different vents just push a button and have some sort of electrical deal open it, is the temp wire controlled too?

Yes I was thinking of doing just this - using central locking actuators (really cheap) to push/pull the cables. Some simple brackets to mount the actuators and cables.
The temp one will still be controlled by the rotary dial.

[NC325iC]

The beauty of a servo is that "the sensor is built in." I've thought long and hard about computer hvac control, and if I were a programmer, I'd have it by now. There are a few hardware interfaces through which you can control a servo using a pc. The main problem for me was software integration. I'd have no clue where to start in making the software to interface with the servo controller. It would be a very simple screen, probably setup like the stock hvac panel.

You would need 4 servos to do it correctly, one for temp, then one for each vent set. Then just get a simple i/o board that turns switches on, or off with 4 outputs and you're finished.

No need for sensors what-so-ever, just software servo integration into the front end of your choice.

you guys are taking this to a whole different level, it sounds like you want e36+ climate control, i was just thinking insted of having a slide to open and close the 3 different vents just push a button and have some sort of electrical deal open it, is the temp wire controlled too?

[SamE30e]

A screen would cost more than my piece of crap ETA, so no. Plus it's hard to get the screen to clear the shift knob.

QFT same with me.

[Addissimo]

You are probably right ... hahaha

but the look on ppls faces when they jump in my old bmw and see the screen setup is priceless.... :)

Pics of armrest/center console please!

[franco90]

nice work

[gjuu]

I still think a 1/2 din deck with a pop/fold out touch screen is the way to go.

You are probably right ... hahaha

but the look on ppls faces when they jump in my old bmw and see the screen setup is priceless.... :)

[george graves]

and the controller - iDRIVE anyone? :)

Meh...

120GB of mp3s and when I have used that up just add an extra hard drive

Good god man, 120 GB of MP3's - you must be one of those people that can't go 5 mins with out music pumping into your head!!!

I am looking at servos for the controls too

OK - so here is some help. A standard RC servo is actually comprised of 4 things. A motor, a "gear box", a circuit board, and a variable resistor. You can actually "gut" a RC servo and turn it into a axial/rotational actuator. Un-do the four screws, and rip out everything but the gears and motors, them dremel away the physical hard stop. Now you have a motor that will move the controls.

The really sexy way of doing what you are trying to do is to get an +e46 or x5 digital HVAC console and run it with microcontroler. Then you could program it for full vent, half vent, temp, ect...

But that is most likely over your head...

I still think a 1/2 din deck with a pop/fold out touch screen is the way to go.

Hope that helps.

[Van Westervelt]

Now that setup, I like! Well executed!

[gjuu]

I really don't get these kids. you added unnecessary functions and in the process, eliminated stock functions that are pretty important. IE, hvac, hazards, defrost, etc

not all of us "kids" eliminated stock functions






and the controller - iDRIVE anyone? :)


I too will be using mine for megasquirt - the main reason for the installation. But having the other programs available just adds to the appeal - 120GB of mp3s and when I have used that up just add an extra hard drive :)

I am looking at servos for the controls too - as the relocation means that I get full vent movement for only half the slider travel and eventually would like to tidy this up. Was thinking a basic open/close system as I never have the vents half open - they are either fully open or fully closed. If I remove the sliders I could add an ashtray or coin holder to this area.

[Van Westervelt]

First off..... Who the hell are you calling a kid.. You have no idea who I am. And why would you "ASS"UME I have done away with anything. That is a rather ignorant position to take with out even asking any questions.

That said, I am still very capable of controlling all the options that were in that location. The OBC was quite dead on this car.. And if you had read my post you would see I'm running MEGASQUIRT. With out the stock ECU, little of the OBC actually has any functions.

This is not a taking from proposition.. This is ADDING TO..


So save your post for some one gives a flying fork!

edit;
To answer those smart enough to ask a question. The HVAC, flasher switches and rear def all have been relocated and function normally. I am going to add some switches for other things in the panel next to the screen for some other things I'm adding to my E30

Thank you!

Whoa settle down there overREACTION man. You didnt state anything about relocating or maintaining any of the HVAC system in you original posts. And your setup looks very similar to a few others who have all eliminated it. (see below) Am I a mind reader or your JO buddy? no. So how would I have known what you have or havent done that you didnt mention. Exactly. So but out your name calling all you want, MAN. We are all kids to someone.

It was your first post in a thread that I created without any backstory or addressing the obvious lack of controls pictured. So you try and call me out over others because I used the term "kids" as a blanket statement?! QFT

I never stated anything about your OBC did I? Nope. But thank you for addressing that, even though it was pointless as you arent running factory management, and nobody asked you about it anyway.

Its funny how your panties got so bunched up over a pretty mild blanket statement. Props! I needed the amusement tonight! :)

And furthermore, I am interested in how and where you moved these controls to. I have been trying to figure out a servo mode for a while, albeit on the backburner. I am glad you are actually using it for your megasquirt system monitor.

:D

[Addissimo]

The beauty of a servo is that "the sensor is built in." I've thought long and hard about computer hvac control, and if I were a programmer, I'd have it by now. There are a few hardware interfaces through which you can control a servo using a pc. The main problem for me was software integration. I'd have no clue where to start in making the software to interface with the servo controller. It would be a very simple screen, probably setup like the stock hvac panel.

You would need 4 servos to do it correctly, one for temp, then one for each vent set. Then just get a simple i/o board that turns switches on, or off with 4 outputs and you're finished.

No need for sensors what-so-ever, just software servo integration into the front end of your choice.

[tn325i]

i wonder how hard (aka how much money it would cost) to automate the hvac system, have solenoids or small actuators open the vents or something, use a smaller fan speed switch and temp switch so you could hide them away somewhere else

It can certainly be done, The biggest pain for automation of that type is the requirement for sensors.. All they would have to do is control switching from one setting to another.. ie: activate the servos.

Believe me, If you work the sensor part out.. The rest would be fairly simple !!