M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS
DISCUSSION => Electrical => Topic started by: enildeR on May 17, 2006, 03:46:27 AM
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bmwman91, no doubt you're good with electronics. I was wondering if you'd be inclined to devise a schematic for a one-touch module that we could solder up ourselves? I know that there our modules out there that could be bought for 50 or more dollars, but wouldn't it be cheaper to build ourselves? I was thinking along the lines of using relays (could we get away with one relay per window?) and a current sensing circuit to disable the relay. I'm not sure exactly what relay we'd need, but I thought a latching relay would work best. What are your thoughts?
I'm asking this because I landed up getting one-touch window switches without knowing it. I didn't want take them back and get the white-base switches that I need because they're double the price I paid for the green-base switches, so I would rather put that money into building a one-touch module. Sometimes I really wish I had a one-touch feature.
At least we can have a discussion started on the topic. If no one wants to help, I'll take on the task alone, and hopefully put a HOWTO up for everyone to benefit from. :D
Any input from others that are good with electronics are most welcome. I'm new to the forum, so I'm not familiar with whom is an electronic guru.
Thanks in advance.
Cheers!
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There are many, many ways to do this project... but here are two to get your mind started:
Focus on using a flip flop with some glue logic (ands/ors/xors/etc). The flip flop will hold the value that it is given (say down), and then the surrounding glue logic will tell the flip flop when to reset (stop pressing down) or cancel if you don't want the window to go up all the way. I believe the 74LS family are 12V tolerant (I think the window switches/motor is 12v?). Discrete chips like those should be very inexpensive. (something like $.25 each)
Another way to do it is to use a CPLD... but I think this way would be more expensive as you'd need voltage regulators and some sort of level conversion (level shifters or transistors)... but this would give you ultimate control of the windows (and sunroof) and would be a tiny system.
I've often though of designing and selling small electronic gizmos like this... but never got motivated enough to do it.
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There are many, many ways to do this project... but here are two to get your mind started:
Focus on using a flip flop with some glue logic (ands/ors/xors/etc). The flip flop will hold the value that it is given (say down), and then the surrounding glue logic will tell the flip flop when to reset (stop pressing down) or cancel if you don't want the window to go up all the way. I believe the 74LS family are 12V tolerant (I think the window switches/motor is 12v?). Discrete chips like those should be very inexpensive. (something like $.25 each)
Another way to do it is to use a CPLD... but I think this way would be more expensive as you'd need voltage regulators and some sort of level conversion (level shifters or transistors)... but this would give you ultimate control of the windows (and sunroof) and would be a tiny system.
I've often though of designing and selling small electronic gizmos like this... but never got motivated enough to do it.
I think you should motivate yourself cuz all that up there was klingon to me. :confused:
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I hate the Ferengi! They're sneaky little weasels. Right now I'm watching a Mary-Kate and Ashley movie. Now that's science fiction. As to the all the way down switches, my first thought is to steal one. I stole almost every good idea I ever had! Get a switch and a whatever from an E36 if they have them.
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I think the one touch functionality in the E36 is located in the window motor unit.
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I thought it was all connected to the ECU? At least that's what I saw on R3V, and thus the main reason I posted on here. Maybe I'll run to the dealer tomorrow and see what I can find.
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Another way to do it is to use a CPLD... but I think this way would be more expensive as you'd need voltage regulators and some sort of level conversion (level shifters or transistors)... but this would give you ultimate control of the windows (and sunroof) and would be a tiny system.
How expensive are we talking about?
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I estimate it'd be under $20 for a CPLD, mounting board, voltage regulator, and several level shifters - probably closer to $15.
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I have seen people swap the E36 switches in. I am pretty sure the one-touch functionality is within the switch.....some sort of magic if you ask me. The Bavarian Wizards did not imbue our window switches with this magic back in the day. Perhaps they felt it best for us to not have this ability for some reason...or to help improve the chincy E36 interior.
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Eureka!
http://www.strictlyeta.net/technical/e36switches.html
Again, I am pretty sure the switches have the one touch ability integrated.
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bmwman91, don't mean to be a party pooper but the article says:
"The one-touch switches have completely different wiring, and will not work."
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Autoloc WC1000, one for each window, $37/ea from http://www.performancedepot.com/productdisplay.html?sku=99404&hdwt=31101&loc=101&dealer= (http://www.performancedepot.com/productdisplay.html?sku=99404&hdwt=31101&loc=101&dealer=), perhaps cheaper on eBay.
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bmwman91, don't mean to be a party pooper but the article says:
"The one-touch switches have completely different wiring, and will not work."
Haha crap. Yet another reminder that I must read things completely.
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Found the money url:
http://www.mesaperformance.com/web_store/web_store.cgi?page=bmwcat/onetouch.html&category=yes&cart_id= (http://www.mesaperformance.com/web_store/web_store.cgi?page=bmwcat/onetouch.html&category=yes&cart_id=)
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Found the money url:
http://www.mesaperformance.com/web_store/web_store.cgi?page=bmwcat/onetouch.html&category=yes&cart_id= (http://www.mesaperformance.com/web_store/web_store.cgi?page=bmwcat/onetouch.html&category=yes&cart_id=)
Holy crap - $40 each if you want lighted buttons. That'd be $200 to do a sedan with an electric sunroof.
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It's the control box at the very bottom of the page that I was posting about. It's what gives you the all-down capability with even stock E30 buttons. Usually only the drivers window has this feature. Buy it and hook it up. Done deal!
Use lighted or unlighted E36 switches from the junkyard if you want. That's a separate issue. $45 is cheap compared to Autoloc which appears to have it's own button.
You could also locate and salvage the hardware from an E36 if you wanted to. I'm not sure but has anyone definately identified the E36 components necessary to do this.
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Uhh, I dunno what you are looking at, but that unit at the bottom of the Mesa Performance page is the EXACT same unit I posted as available at Performancedepot.com, for like $10 less. It does not have it's own button, but wires in to the existing harness.
I have pictures of the units installed in mine, if you like.
One-touch up, one-touch down, uses the existing lighted switches, or you can use the E36 ones, whatever.
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Missed that one. What is the little thing beside the control box? Would love to see pics and hear your pinion of the kit.
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That's the wiring harness. I love the kit, particularly since I wired it into the alarm. So, when the alarm arms, it rolls the windows up for me. And, I can roll them up or down with the remote.
Installed the kit under the center console, pretty easy hook up. Just have to remember to cut the loop that comes out of the control module - my windows would only move 1/8" at a time until I cut that. Can't remember exactly what it does, I'm sure someone here knows...
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That's the wiring harness. I love the kit, particularly since I wired it into the alarm. So, when the alarm arms, it rolls the windows up for me. And, I can roll them up or down with the remote.
Installed the kit under the center console, pretty easy hook up. Just have to remember to cut the loop that comes out of the control module - my windows would only move 1/8" at a time until I cut that. Can't remember exactly what it does, I'm sure someone here knows...
I never thought about it... But mine has an alarm in it that rolls up the windows when I arm it. Haha it never makes a sound, not even if you try to turn the ignition on when it's armed. I haven't looked into it. The second button on the remote does nothing. I think the guy I bought it from cut some wires on accident when he removed the stereo equipment. *shrug*
I guess I should see if it'll put the windows down with the second button.
I wonder if I could use it for one-touch down/up? I'll have to look into that.
Those are good prices for the control boxes, but I'm sure that something can be made on the cheap. I'd rather spend $80 on something else.
I haven't had time to look more into this issue. The car's down while I'm sending out the injectors to be cleaned, so I might have some time soon.