Board logo

any electronic types in here? One button-multiple outputs
C10CoryM - 10/6/08 at 03:09 AM

Hey guys,
What I would like to do is have things like my headlamps on a single button. Meaning push once for Off to low beam, again for low to high beam, and again for Off. I'd like to use a piezo switch or similar. Is there a easy way to do this? I'm pretty good with electrics, but if it involves using parts with more than 5 pins I'm probably going to lose interest
Thanks for any help.
Cory

nz_climber - 10/6/08 at 04:36 AM

Not wanting to spoil your idea, but I don't think this is a good idea, because as soon as a car comes towards you on the road and you need to return to dip - you will have to turn the lights off first (which could be pretty scary at night on a corner)

but I am sure you can get 3 position push button switchs, or rig up a couple of relays!

charlierevell - 10/6/08 at 07:44 AM

Does he mean sidelights and Main lights? that might work.

mad4x4 - 10/6/08 at 07:50 AM

This could be done easily on a PIC or AVR (personally AVR as it does floating point maths & has better instruction set).

THis could do far more than Headlamp control could have indcators and hazards designed through it as well.

For headlamps you could have your logic with PUSH and hold of x seconds to turn off and push quick for DIP/HI beam

Have a look at
http://www.coolcomponents.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=128&bcsi_scan_E881B9121136F8E3=2IstQweA/5iwTQ8aYp3PNgIAAACcRtQG&bcsi _scan_filename=product_info.php

or

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=37172&DOY=6m6

I might even consider doing the software for you

rf900rush - 10/6/08 at 08:14 AM

Recently had simular thoughts.
Been wiring heater fan , wipers and washer jets into an existing "it will do for now" loom.

I would like to make a control box to take the Sierra indicator stalk plus a panel of push switches
Including LED drive compatibility.

RS Vandel resistant switch


having the box give single push funtions for :-
2 speed + intermittent lucas wiper control.
2+ speed fan.
Dim/dip lights.
Lights on off.
Hazard lights.
Fog lights

It could also include solid state fuses.

Any thoughts or just OT.

I would like to make one , unfortunately no time just yet.

02GF74 - 10/6/08 at 08:48 AM

what is a piezo switch?

the main/dip lamps on my volvo are a bit like this but without the off position.

A PIC would do it but it can be done using flip-flops (no, not the cheap sandals!) or latching relays.

let me think about the relays since this would be the eaisest for you do wire.

Pdlewis - 10/6/08 at 09:26 AM

rf900rush where are those switches from? they look sweet

mad4x4 - 10/6/08 at 11:04 AM

http://rswww.com do vandle risistant switches like that have a light in the middle

[Edited on 10/606/08 by mad4x4]

MikeRJ - 10/6/08 at 06:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by mad4x4
This could be done easily on a PIC or AVR (personally AVR as it does floating point maths


No they don't, at least they have no hardware support for floating point.

Both the AVR and the PIC can peform floating point operations using software functions, albeit slowly. Not that a headlight switch is going to involve floating point operations anyway

This sounds like a good application for a 6 pin PIC or 8 pin AVR. One input, one output, two power connections and a handfull of assembly instructions.

However, having your headlamps go out if the micro crashes wouldn't be much fun...

[Edited on 10/6/08 by MikeRJ]

martyn_16v - 10/6/08 at 07:49 PM

quote:
Originally posted by mad4x4
This could be done easily on a PIC or AVR


That's like using a thermonuclear weapon to crack a nut. As has been mentioned, a pair of d-types and a debounce circuit are all you need.

Personally i'd just use a switch

MikeRJ - 10/6/08 at 08:09 PM

quote:
Originally posted by martyn_16v
quote:
Originally posted by mad4x4
This could be done easily on a PIC or AVR


That's like using a thermonuclear weapon to crack a nut. As has been mentioned, a pair of d-types and a debounce circuit are all you need.


But a micro would use fewer components. One of the mains uses of the low end micro's such as the 6/8 pin PICs and AVR's is for discrete logic replacement.

C10CoryM - 11/6/08 at 06:06 AM

Thanks for the input guys.
I was planning on having a mechanical flash to pass switch/relay as well.
Id like to use this one-button idea for my wipers, fan etc as well (one button for each).

Piezo switches are just switches that use no moving parts. Durable and usually very tidy looking. Im hoping to find one that has a thick enough face to CNC the symbols into it. [edit] the switch posted looks to be a piezo switch.[edit]

Having to hold a button Xseconds in a stiff sprung car doesnt sound like fun. Hard enough to hit it at all, never mind hold it . The board posted is neat, but once you start talking about software Im thinking it's more than I want to get into. I didnt know they made boards like that. Cheap too. Maybe for another project though.

Im suprised there isnt a little chip that has an input that just switches grounds to different legs each time the input is grounded.

Thanks again guys. Be a long time before I build something, but just playing with ideas for now.

[Edited on 11/6/08 by C10CoryM]