Idea for roof control hack...
 

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!

Therer is a really good DIY for doing all of that using an audrino
http://986forum.com/forums/diy-project-guides/51822-autotop-diy.html

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

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!

Interested....

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.

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.

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 ;)

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

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 :cool:

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

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.

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

http://i.imgur.com/PtcqVni.jpg

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).

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!

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:

http://i.imgur.com/v5odDsy.jpg

Ignore this.

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

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

Amended picture below.

The correct wire colors are shown.

There's a ground wire coming from the switch? Didn't think there was.

Yes. Most of the switches in the car are negative, not positive. Note the brown wire in the schematic: it is labeled GP4 (ground point 4).

When you activate the stock switch to either open or close the top, you are sending ground through the open or close wires (Black with blue stripe and black with green stripe) to the controller.

Right. Where would I get a 12v feed from? I'm guessing the original loom going to the switch has one?

The only 12V+ going to the switch is for the illumination LEDs and will only be active when the headlight switch is in an on position. Everything else is ground. You'll want to get power elsewhere (cig lighter, phone harness, etc.).

Oh, Christ. Didn't realise that the switch would work with just a negative and ground. That's what's thrown me.

You'll have to excuse me mate, very new to this.

Charles, brilliant Charles. Can you at least add a little touch and make it a tad more exotic??? Something like.... this whole system hooked up to a IR remote keychain. Something I can grab out from my pocket, click-it, and the windows lowers and the roof starts to open while I'm walking to my car (given you've unlatched it before the staged show loll).

No? Anything less-deja-vu that you could quickly rig for us bored cabintrophobic members?

Only problem with that is that you'd have to have the key in the ignition for the 12v feed to be live.

On the other hand, do they have to be timed relays? If they weren't, it would be the same as holding down the button even after the roof is stopped. Is there anything wrong with doing that? Would save a lot of hassle in getting a timed relay wired up to the right time, and you could put a simple make or break relay in there.

I bet you could design small form factor Central Power Management system as cost effective as the one you are doing now (one more 12v relay!). Add IR range sensors at both ends so this CPM does it's thing automatically when you walk towards your car ;)

My roof is manual, can you believe that mate. Takes 3~5sec to bring down & up and ALWAYS works. No more bending-twisting-snapping evil sounds ever for me thank you very much. Had bad experiences with the 986 roof here :/

Not to negate all your work and ideas, but there is an easier way. Shehadehd has made one for $200 that is simple plug and play and it has the service mode option built in and it operates on the go until about 20 MPH.

http://986forum.com/forums/general-discussions/51527-all-new-comfort-top-6.html

He says that currently he can only ship limited numbers, so if you want one, get hold of him.

Tony

$200?!?! :eek:
That's ridiculously overpriced. You'd be better off buying one from Tom for $79...even better off taking 30min to make your own for $20.

I have tons of respect for him, but $200 for a home brew hack is nuts...

$200 is obsurd. Who would pay that when you could buy an arduino and the components for about a tenth of that. I'm doing it this way as it's a learning curve for me too :)

Anyway, would what I said matter? Having a simple make or break relay that would simulate pressing the button, but not releasing. It'll be like holding the button down constantly. Would that be an issue?

It should work since the top is locked out once fully opened or closed, but I don't like it.

I've been reading this thread with interest trying to figure out why it will NOT work and I can't see any reason that it should not work as intended.

When the top raises and lowers you are supposed to press the button until the dash light for the roof goes off, but if you hold it longer there is no issue as you can hear that the roof motors have depowered and shut down in any case.

Of course this solution does not have the convenience of the auto Maintenance position but using the key to stop the roof seems fine.

The only worry is that if the car can be in motion with this mod and for some reason you need to stop the roof, the only way is to use the ignition key...not good:eek:.

So as long as the parking brake must be engaged your mod has no issues in my opinion.

Nice work coming up with this idea.

I already have the arduinos so I'll build the more advanced roof DIY switch.

Well as a matter of fact you CAN get one of these relays with a remote!

DC 12V Relay Wireless Remote Control RF Switch on Off Switch Delay Time Timer | eBay

Wow, what a find. Although looking more like a bomb making device to me. TerroristParadiseTooling.com lollll.

Seller writes: "if you want to get more delay time, just change to a bigger capacitor".

Funny but not all that funny when you think about it :/

To fix that, you wire up a third relay that makes or breaks the power that feeds both original relays, so if you press this button, the roof will stop. You can then name it 'emergency roof stop'.

I'll probably order a timed relay and try it just for the hell of it as, if it works, you can wire up said relay for 3 seconds which would make the roof open enough to service the engine :)

Just realised something...

As well as doing this for the spoiler switch when I reroute it to a 996 dash switch, I can also wire in a relay for the indicators. You know a lot of modern cars have a feature where touching the indicators automatically puts them on for three flashes? Easily done with a relay. Might be a nice feature! Will have to find the indicator wires.

Forget that - just realised that even if you click the indicator stalk down, it'll still turn off after three flashes :(