Dev request: simple 'button board'

[Riel]

Hello Developers,

I want to use my old magician to build into my car.
I am driving (for those who want to know) a Renault 5 GT Turbo, and building it purely for fun. I like to experiment with electronics, so injection system is used, and also a PDA with Zeitronic software to manage some data from the car.

What I want to do is be able to start the car with the PDA, or ignition the car, and other things likt boostcontrol (just on/off), lights, rev limiter, etc. All is just on-off switched.

Just being able to control six or eight Relays, via the touchscreen. Starting must be with a sort of PIN code. So is there a way to control 8 relays via usb-cable (must be charging all the time!).

And anyone an Idea or wants to put something together? If it includes some donations, willing to do so with some fun input!

[larna]

Check out Arduino Board (http://www.arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoBoardDiecimila).

Not sure if you can hook it up to PDA, but might be interesting to you. :)


larna

[flaviopac]

What I want to do is be able to start the car with the PDA, or ignition the car, and other things likt boostcontrol (just on/off), lights, rev limiter, etc. All is just on-off switched.


Wow!
This would be amazing!


PS: If you finally reach your target, let us know and share some videos! :D

[Riel]

Thanx! Well, just see it as if I got 8 ON/OFF switches on my dashboard.



I just need the program here to give an output to the USB port. So I hook up those signals to a relayboard. Those relays set the ignition, or start the engine, etc.

[uniqueboy]

I don't know much, but I think you need a serial port not usb. However with some simple electronic audio filters I think it would be possible to control almost any number of relays via the audio output. You would need some software on the phone that played an audio signal whenever a button on the screen was pressed, I am thinking mortbuttons could do this. Then you would need a set of audio filters tuned to each exact frequency which would in turn switch your relays via a power transistor.
I like the sound of your idea, if you get it on the road it would mean that any PPC could be used to switch on anything. Think about the whistling key finders you can get, the same principal. Would be nice to see your progress in the future, good luck with it.

Edit: you could even do it via bluetooth this way, taking the sound from a bt headset!

[Riel]

Problem is, I have totally no idea of programming :)

[uniqueboy]

Was thinking about this and had a simpler idea but only if you've got a ppc with infra red port, which if I remember correctly the Magician has. If you had all you need is some remote control software, which there is a huge choice of fully configurable stuff with learning ability something like this: http://www.pdawin.com/tvremote.html , then you just need an infra red remote control switch board like this one on ebay: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RF-Wireless-Remote-Control-Radio-Controller-Switch-4c_W0QQitemZ250271194147QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item25 0271194147&_trksid=p3286.m14.l1318
and you pretty much would have what you want!

Edit: Damn just noticed that one is RF not IR. But I know IR ones are available.