Author Topic: Any Interest in One-Touch Windows?  (Read 12113 times)

bmwman91

  • Administrator
  • Legendary
  • *****
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 33
  • Posts: 2798
    • View Profile
    • http://www.e30tuner.com/
Any Interest in One-Touch Windows?
« on: May 22, 2007, 12:48:05 AM »
So I need $ to supplement my soon-to-be income from a job I will begin soon.  I want to buy a BMW F650GS and need more $!

Anyway, I always figured a plug-n-play one-touch window module would be a hot item.  I would shoot for a $50 pricetag on it.  This would work with the stock switches, and maybe I would make an option for the E36 ones too.  Who would want this?  What price would make this a hot seller?

06/05/2011 - 212,354 miles
Visit HERE for a plethora of 318iS stuff and some other randomness.  Would you say I have a, plethora, of pinatas?

nickmpower

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 0
  • Posts: 890
    • View Profile
Any Interest in One-Touch Windows?
« Reply #1 on: May 22, 2007, 01:19:14 AM »
50 for 2 windows? hell yes

AL GReeNeRy

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 0
  • Posts: 323
    • View Profile
Any Interest in One-Touch Windows?
« Reply #2 on: May 22, 2007, 02:08:34 AM »
ooooooh vote me innn!!!!
1991 318is : brilliantrot

dude8383

  • Administrator
  • Legendary
  • *****
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 1
  • Posts: 2049
    • View Profile
Any Interest in One-Touch Windows?
« Reply #3 on: May 22, 2007, 10:37:37 AM »
HELL YES.

There were two people that started up on the switches but disappeared into thin air.

Knowing you Bmwman, I have faith in you, hehe.

I'd like a set for my E36 switches.

I'm in whenever you're ready!


bmwman91

  • Administrator
  • Legendary
  • *****
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 33
  • Posts: 2798
    • View Profile
    • http://www.e30tuner.com/
Any Interest in One-Touch Windows?
« Reply #4 on: May 22, 2007, 11:34:50 AM »
Sweet.  Dude8383, were there any wiring changes that needed to be made when you installed the E36 ones?

This is my new project for the moment.  The super-lean running project of mine was turning out to produce a TON of NOx emissions. which is far worse than CO2 as far as pollutants.

06/05/2011 - 212,354 miles
Visit HERE for a plethora of 318iS stuff and some other randomness.  Would you say I have a, plethora, of pinatas?

scottiesharpe

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 0
  • Posts: 79
    • View Profile
    • http://bmwturboperformance.com
Any Interest in One-Touch Windows?
« Reply #5 on: May 22, 2007, 11:47:50 AM »
That sounds like a great project. But it is kind of hard to beat the price on the Autoloc kit.  http://www.thehoffmangroup.com/Autoloc/detail.lasso?itemid=WC1000

The problem that I found with them is that they each control one window. There is not enough space in the console for three (with sunroof) individual modules. Also it is expensive to buy so many controllers. If you can make the box small so it fits in the console and controls both front windows, or the windows and the sunroof, that would be way cool.

Plus the main feature I'd like to see in a window controller is the ability to open all four windows and the sunroof with one touch!  If you can do that, you will have a market of thousands of cars.  e3, e9, e12, e23, e24, e28, etc...
« Last Edit: May 22, 2007, 11:51:43 AM by scottiesharpe »
Scottie Sharpe
San Jose CA
www.bmwturboperformance.com

67 1600
68 2002 Dual Mikunis
73 Hardy & Beck tii
88 M5, Dinan Stage 4, M88, MAF
91 318iC, MAF

Do you BMW Wiki Wiki ?

dude8383

  • Administrator
  • Legendary
  • *****
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 1
  • Posts: 2049
    • View Profile
Any Interest in One-Touch Windows?
« Reply #6 on: May 22, 2007, 02:20:17 PM »
Quote from: bmwman91;26315
Sweet.  Dude8383, were there any wiring changes that needed to be made when you installed the E36 ones?

This is my new project for the moment.  The super-lean running project of mine was turning out to produce a TON of NOx emissions. which is far worse than CO2 as far as pollutants.


Well, my switches came with some wire left.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=52278&highlight=e36+window

Scroll down, you'll see my posts.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=52278&page=3&highlight=e36+window


bmwman91

  • Administrator
  • Legendary
  • *****
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 33
  • Posts: 2798
    • View Profile
    • http://www.e30tuner.com/
Any Interest in One-Touch Windows?
« Reply #7 on: May 22, 2007, 02:23:56 PM »
Cool man.  Thanks.

I went out & got the ammeter on there.  I did the tests with dirty windows which I suppose would be a "worst-case" scenario.  Peak start-up current looks like it is around 9 or 10A, running current is 4-7A and stall current is a whopping 15-20A.  This does not make anything more or less do-able, but will certainly make safety a HUGE factor!  Better find switching components with minimal ON-resistance!

06/05/2011 - 212,354 miles
Visit HERE for a plethora of 318iS stuff and some other randomness.  Would you say I have a, plethora, of pinatas?

gearheadE30

  • Legendary
  • ******
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 0
  • Posts: 1245
    • View Profile
Any Interest in One-Touch Windows?
« Reply #8 on: May 22, 2007, 04:41:19 PM »
If the price comes down to 35-40 I'd be interested. Maybe I'll have more money by then... ;)

Good luck on the project ;)

1991 318is Turbo
1989 Caprice Classic Wagon named Humphrey
1979 Suzuki GS750E

rhogg

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 0
  • Posts: 86
    • View Profile
Any Interest in One-Touch Windows?
« Reply #9 on: May 22, 2007, 09:59:45 PM »
This is something i have been searching for. I've been underwhelmed by the auto-loc option, because I have this in my MINI:

http://www.gbmini.net/wp/auto-up_windows/

Ian has been doing this for years and even has posted his wiring diagam in the DIY area.  

http://www.gbmini.net/wp/auto-up_windows/diy/

An elegant solution that has worked flawlessly in my MINI. It was my first "mod".

I would be a definite @ $50
« Last Edit: May 22, 2007, 10:03:05 PM by rhogg »

dude8383

  • Administrator
  • Legendary
  • *****
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 1
  • Posts: 2049
    • View Profile
Any Interest in One-Touch Windows?
« Reply #10 on: May 22, 2007, 10:41:35 PM »
Quote from: rhogg;26381
This is something i have been searching for. I've been underwhelmed by the auto-loc option, because I have this in my MINI:

http://www.gbmini.net/wp/auto-up_windows/

Ian has been doing this for years and even has posted his wiring diagam in the DIY area.  

http://www.gbmini.net/wp/auto-up_windows/diy/

An elegant solution that has worked flawlessly in my MINI. It was my first "mod".

I would be a definite @ $50


Wow good stuff there!


bmwman91

  • Administrator
  • Legendary
  • *****
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 33
  • Posts: 2798
    • View Profile
    • http://www.e30tuner.com/
Any Interest in One-Touch Windows?
« Reply #11 on: May 26, 2007, 02:41:49 AM »
Update time:

So I have the proper parts sourced, and should be able to handle the current quite well.  The max running current will be 8A, and everything is sized to at LEAST 15A.  The PCB traces have been sized so as not to increase in temperature by more than 10C, which is VERY conservative.  Current spikes and the like are also being accounted for based upon testing on the on-car motors.  I have PCB's designed up and ready to be built, though I think I will use the small empty spot on it to put in some extra "thermal protection" components.

For the sake of keeping the packaging simple, I will not be making the activation delay adjustable.  I will do some "ergonomic" testing to get it feeling good.

This unit will control the driver and passenger windows.  They will have one-touch up and down functions.  There will also be an option to put them both up or down from the driver's buttons.

After this I will look into adding sunroof compatibility.  Thereafter, I will see about a 4-door controller.  Anyway, I hope to have a prototype going by next week.  I am going backpacking for 5 days next week/weekend, then begin work at my new job.  Rush rush rush!

06/05/2011 - 212,354 miles
Visit HERE for a plethora of 318iS stuff and some other randomness.  Would you say I have a, plethora, of pinatas?

bmwman91

  • Administrator
  • Legendary
  • *****
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 33
  • Posts: 2798
    • View Profile
    • http://www.e30tuner.com/
Any Interest in One-Touch Windows?
« Reply #12 on: May 30, 2007, 08:22:13 PM »
Update time:

I ordered a batch of parts to build the initial prototype just a moment ago.  I am still writing the code for the interface, and am making it all as user-friendly as possible.  It is actually relatively complicated to make it user friendly when the instructions are done 2 million per second, and humans can only really do things (like press the window button) 4-8 times per second!  I am definitely excited about this though, it is quite annoying sometimes to have to hold the buttons!

As a teaser, here were some shots from the mechanical model I test-fitted everything in.  It only has the big components, all the smaller more important ones were left off since they are tiny surface mount items.




06/05/2011 - 212,354 miles
Visit HERE for a plethora of 318iS stuff and some other randomness.  Would you say I have a, plethora, of pinatas?

dude8383

  • Administrator
  • Legendary
  • *****
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 1
  • Posts: 2049
    • View Profile
Any Interest in One-Touch Windows?
« Reply #13 on: May 30, 2007, 10:13:38 PM »
Looking good man!

Can't wait to see the final product.


ABuseO

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Thank You
  • -Receive: 0
  • Posts: 55
    • View Profile
Any Interest in One-Touch Windows?
« Reply #14 on: May 30, 2007, 10:33:24 PM »
What program are you using to create the imaging?
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]