Knowing this might sound dumb.. but..

Just wondering..

Is there a way that I can have a computer control things like the fog lights to the HVAC system?

Like what would I have to do? What kind of electronics would I have to get to accomplish this?

Thanks

~Tacoman

i think that would be a waste of money. not to be a dick or anything, but isnt that whyfoglights come with switches, to turn them on?
later
chris

go into more detail. tell me when you want the foglights to come on...or what knob needs to be turned on to control them, etc.

it can be done, i promise, just let me know what you want to do and be prepared to spend a lot of time and a little money.;)

I was just reading a post.. about the guy who has a computer in his car. I was thinking, I can take out my center console, and install one of these touch screen computers. I have a background in C++ , so I would not have problems making the actual program. I would have problem in integrating the program with the hardware. So..

I want to take out my center console, and control the HVAC system through a computer instead of using the dials, sliders, etc etc.

I hope that helped.

~Tacoman

ah, now i understand, at the nsx board i go to http://www.nsxprime.com/cgi-bin/ubb/Ultimate.cgi , i believe there was a guy on there that did that, it turned out pretty badass, i would love to have that in my car, but thats just askin to get yanked out. good luck though. oh and there was a guy on the board that did something along those lines, it played mp3's, and had gps, but im sure you can use the same technology try this http://forums.2gnt.com/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?az=read_count&om=549&forum=DCForumID18
later
chris

ok, youll need a computer (of course) with some kind of progamable logic controller (PLC). basically, you want it to interperate a mouse click into a voltage to activate "somthing".

that "somthing" is what will actually do the work. youll want to use linear actators to control the cables that work the mechanical parts of the a/c controls (the position selector, hot/cold knob, and the recirculation selector), and possible to control the electrical knobs as well depending on if you can find any wiring diagrams for these. id imaging it will be much easier to just use the actuators all around.

youll need to program it so that with each mouse click the voltage is only there for short time, that way the actuator will only go a length of say 1/4", still leaving you some fine tuning (as opposed to only having extreme hot/col, either on full blast or hardly on, etc.)

its going to be a LOT of work, but it shouldnt cost a ton. the actuators you can probably buy for cheap on ebay, but i have no idea where to get the PLC.

get a 3000gt digital hvac control and put that in your car, that would be cool
but why would you want all that controlled by a computer? too hard to work it all, plus, what happens if your computer crashes?

>what happens if your computer
>crashes?


yea, esp when its running windows

I don't know if it is just me..
But, from my 8~ years of computer usage, my computer never "crashed" on me...
Depends how you look at it, it maybe a simple reboot..

Anyways, I will always have a backup.

Anymore info? BTW, the info you gave was GREAT!! ..

I'm still looking up more info..

Thanks

~Tacoman

ya, i'll dig up some links i can send you...

ok, i just did a bit of research pouring over my old car stereo mags, and in the dec.200/jan. 2001 issue of "mobile entertainment" theres an article on michael galligans 99 civic, wich has a LOT of computer controlled stuff in it. go here for the article:

http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caranddriver/mobile_entertainment/features/2001fm_features_systemtouchscreenhonda.xml

the company he used to get the PLC is here:

www.automationdirect.com

i looked around thier website for a while but was totally confused, they DO have a few faqs and stuff that might give some more info.

I was doing some research on the PCLs..
Can I use a computer to control those?.. From what I read and saw, those us logic gates in a binary form (0s and 1s) to operate..
Wondering if I can command it through a C++ program..
Anyone know?

Thanks

~Tacoman