Idea for roof control hack...

[geraintthomas]

So I know there's a few hacks on making the convertible operational when moving and without the handbrake (by soldering two parts of the relay chip together), but I've just been doing some random googling on electrics and came up with an idea.

Would this work...

If I took out the switch and took the two main operational wires going into the switch, could I buy something like this:

New 12V DC Delay Relay Delay Turn on / Delay Turn off Switch Module with Timer | eBay

...set that to about 13-14 seconds, and wire this into the circuit?

So instead of the two + and - wires going straight into the switch, they go through the timer relay, then into the switch. So essentially you'd press the switch, which activates the relay for the set amount of time (15 seconds to be safe), then it switches off.

This would mean that you could turn the hood operation button into a one-touch switch. The only thing that wouldn't work is to stop it half way for servicing, but you could just turn the ignition off when you need to do that.

Could someone who's very familiar with electronics assist me with this? To see if I'm right in thinking it would work, or if I've got the wrong idea completely?

Cheers!

[JayG]

Therer is a really good DIY for doing all of that using an audrino
AutoTop DIY

you would still need to do a handbrake and moving hack.
there are a few threads on that as well

The problem I see using the relay you found, which is cool!, is will it stop motion if you press the button again

You need to be able to manually move the top as well as stop it in an emergency
The arduino project does just that

[geraintthomas]

Handbrake and moving mod is already done, was looking at one touch next

I don't mind the stopping half way as you can stop it by taking the key out of the ignition if need be.

But would the idea work? Just trying to get my head around electrics!

[Leebherron]

Interested....

[geraintthomas]

It would literally be a 10 minute installation if this works.

The only thing is figuring out if certain relays delay the operation by a set time (for example, the roof won't turn on for 15 seconds and then it'll start), or if it starts for 15 seconds and then stops - the latter is what you'd want.

Unless both of those features are just the way you wire it up.

[BoxsterSteve]

Originally Posted by geraintthomas

Handbrake and moving mod is already done, was looking at one touch next

I got a RoboTop unit from thstone on here for my one touch function. A bit more expen$ive than your proposed solution though.
Keep us posted, it looks interesting.

[particlewave]

Yeah, it would work and be an easy install, but you'd need 2 (one for open, one for close).

The unit has selectable time increments and can be further fine tuned with the pot. The top automatically stops when fully open or closed, so you'd just set that time increment slightly high.

The only downside would be service mode, but you could add a 3rd controller on an independent "service mode" button with the timer set to 5-6 seconds to stop it halfway. You could then fully open or close it with the top switch when done servicing. In other words, the original switch would be for normal open/close one touch operation, then you'd add 3rd button somewhere that is strictly for putting the top in service mode.

As cheap as they are, I may actually try this someday

[JayG]

The delay relay boards could work. I guess its a little like reinventing the wheel
Here is teh same thing from a US seller
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DC-12V-Power-Supply-Adjustable-Trigger-Delay-Time-Relay-Module-Free-Shipping-/141733468250?hash=item20fff9185a:g:4GEAAOSwLVZVvJs W

As P-Wave said, you would need 2 of them and a 3rd plus an extra switch for service mode

Turning off the key is not a really great way to stop it in an emergency

the Autotop DIY costs maybe $15 and takes maybe 30 minutes to build and install
To stop or manually operate the top, you just press the existing switch

I forgot that Tom had bought the Robotop company
Robo-Top, One-Touch Convertible Top Module for 996 Cabriolets and 986 Boxsters, Convertible top module for Boxster and 911 Carrera!
Its $79 and a 1 minute install plug and play

the Autotop DIY is basically the same thing, just not as compact

[particlewave]

It would be overly complex with 3 controllers. For $79, hard to pass up.

I've never really read through the arduino DIY thoroughly, so I'll have to check it out, too.
In all honesty, I've never really wanted the one touch operation as the top is quite quick.

[JayG]

Originally Posted by particlewave

It would be overly complex with 3 controllers. For $79, hard to pass up.

I've never really read through the arduino DIY thoroughly, so I'll have to check it out, too.
In all honesty, I've never really wanted the one touch operation as the top is quite quick.

Once you go One Touch, you never go back

[Fintro11]

Originally Posted by particlewave

It would be overly complex with 3 controllers. For $79, hard to pass up.

I've never really read through the arduino DIY thoroughly, so I'll have to check it out, too.
In all honesty, I've never really wanted the one touch operation as the top is quite quick.

That and if something starts binding or the latch drops early.....

[geraintthomas]

Ah got you. As the switch has two switches, left and right (for opening and closing), I'd need two relays.

I may actually go ahead and do this. I'll wire it up to two lights to make sure the circuit works first

I'm going to do the same thing with the spoiler too, and re-wire the wires from the footwell to the dashboard to put the 996 spoiler button into place. Then wire a 4-second timer relay into the switch to operate the spoiler.

[geraintthomas]

I'm trying to get my head around this. Would this be correct:

[particlewave]

You got it

Both signals are ground, BTW. Ground is fed to the stock switch, then the ground is sent to the controller via either the open or close selected position of the switch.
Your input to the relays marked "roof" in your diagram will be 12V-(ground).

[geraintthomas]

I think I understand? Any way you could quickly alter that image just so I can see a visual reference?

Sorry. Electronics is always something I've been massively interested in - I mean I'm very well versed in computing, building them and software editing, but not so well in the electronics side. Wish I was as it would have been helpful with my interest in cars!

[geraintthomas]

Right. All of the timed relays have 5 pins, that include a normally open, normally closed and a common terminal.

I've just realised that the wires to the switch are On, Off, 12v, and two LED's (but we'll ignore those for now).

Would this work:

[geraintthomas]

Ignore this.

[JayG]

Originally Posted by geraintthomas

Ah got you. As the switch has two switches, left and right (for opening and closing), I'd need two relays.

I may actually go ahead and do this. I'll wire it up to two lights to make sure the circuit works first

I'm going to do the same thing with the spoiler too, and re-wire the wires from the footwell to the dashboard to put the 996 spoiler button into place. Then wire a 4-second timer relay into the switch to operate the spoiler.

Using it on the spoiler switch is a cool idea
Then again, the only time I manually raise the spoiler is when I wash the car

[geraintthomas]

It's just nice to have on the dash I suppose. Fills the gaps and feels more purposeful.

[particlewave]

Amended picture below.

The correct wire colors are shown.