Awesome video fellas.

 

Hey all, just wanted to give you an update: I'm currently hunting down parts. Turns out the connectors are becoming a bit harder to find, especially if I don't want to order minimum 1,500 of them! So that's gonna put a kink in the works for the prototypes. Rest assured I'm constantly looking!

However in the meantime I'll be getting some pushbuttons in as samples to see how well the fit, look, and feel. I'll have pictures posted of those as soon as they're in.

 

Hey guys first post here, i was readin this and had an idea. Someone mentioned a sort of proximity sensor to allow the use of the push start while keeping you keys in your pocket, what if somewher hiden was a reed switch and all the user had to do was place a magnet over it? The magnet is either conected to a key chain or just in the car somewhere. Just a thought i dont know if it would work

 

I'd be in if the solution has a proximity switch. It needs to not require a key in the ignition.

 

I'm going to implement the idea of the proximity switch+start button, albeit a little improved:

1) It's also going to be a stop switch: Pressing it will kill the engine without turning off the ECU (handy for several cases). It's going to be VSS and RPM deactivated, so that the passenger can't switch the engine off accidentally.
2) Instead of an RFID transponder or something else that is easily duped, I'm going to go with a really advanced solution:



128bit encryption and practical too! I bought two of them to have a backup in case one of them goes bad.

 

A watch !?!?!?!?
I want!

 

Ok everyone, as promised I received a few pushbuttons in today and so I wanted to share a bit.

As you can see the button itself is about a inch across. Both of these are a "standard" 22.5mm button, meaning the hole you have to punch out to mount it is that size. 22.5mm is around 7/8 inch which from my quick measurements I believe is pretty darn close to a standard cigarette lighter hole.
The goal is to test fit these this weekend and go from there. I foresee that depending on where you mount it securing the contact block on the backside (the big rectangle thing) may be tricky. We shall see, more pics/information coming soon!







I'm kinda interested to see how the proximity systems turn out.

 

I've been kicking this around. I went so far as to put together a mental shopping list.. arduino, relay, rfid kit. Cost really wasn't very high at all (< $100), but i kept getting stuck at the steering wheel lock. Either you disable it, in which case your car is THAT much easier to steel / push away /what have you, or you don't, in which case you're back to using your key again.

How do you plan to deal with the steering wheel lock?

 

I know most of ya'll hate that forum, buuuut...

http://clubroadster.net/vb_forum/showthread.php?t=35983

 

I'd be in for some sort of keyless set up. A toggle would work for me, don't need any of that proximity stuff. Just something else to break.

 

Seriously? For a track car, right?

It would be insane to do that on a street car imho.

 

Oh I will definitely delete the steering wheel lock. If someone makes their way into the car they can defeat they steering lock REALLY easy. A simple key is no protection, do not be fooled into thinking it will deter anyone. An alarm system and a GOOD immobilizer is what you should at a minimum anyway; I would add a GPS tracking service for the kicks as well.

 

Relating to the OP we could easily have a toggle switch on/pushbutton start option. The standard option would be just the start button keeping the key as the "on"/unlock feature.

As an update: I'm still working on the project, certain components have proved to be *really* hard to track down without buying a million of them. However there may be a physical prototype coming sooner than later.

 

Where'd you find those switches Neil? My startbutton is hard to push and I need something easier to push.

I actually got an empty connector with pins that plugs right into the loom that goes to the steeringlock/ingnition switch. Wired that up to my starter panel all plug & play, nu splicing needed in the car's wiring.

 

have you tried mouser.com (mouser electronics)? i bought 10 little cmos type batteries from them a few years back now they send me a phone-book sized catalog of every part known to man every few months. THey sell in eaches, and they answer the phone when you call!

 

Having tried a few buttons, I'd recommend the one on the left, very similar action to that of an S2000 button for reference. It's an Eaton / Cutler-Hammer button, specifically E22EB2B. Be aware that you need a NO (normally open) contact block, many come with a NC. There's a few sites, http://www.automationdirect.com or http://www.alliedelec.com/ which should have them (any industrial/automation supplier.)
Out of curiosity, did you buy an empty connector outright or was it from an old harness?

I've tried all the big companies including them. They all want a 1500 or greater minimum order. (One wanted 6000!) So unless everyone on the forum wants one I'm going to need to find a smaller order. This has been the big hangup.

 

Any updates?

 

I got them free with some orders at a local shop. If you want, I can check if they're willing to sell a larger quantity of these connectors (30-50 ish)
Let me know, they should be fairly cheap.

 

Subscribed

 

Hey all sorry about dropping off the face of earth for a bit there, climbing back over the edge is a bit harder than I expected.

As for a long-overdue update on the project:
I still fully intend to get some prototypes designed and to make this happen. However! I have been unable to source the necessary connectors. The manufacturer will have them but for whatever reason not until late March/early May.

That given the project has a realistic timeline for first prototypes to land "Spring 2011." I'm still hoping it will come together before then.

Please do! PM'ed ya.