AutoTop DIY

[Shehadehd]

Originally Posted by Pdwight

It is simply a electronic switch, the 1K resistor is a current limiting device to protect the transistors from drawing too much current. It would help if the writer listed the EBC codes on the drawing. I will try to open this up a bit. The 1K resistors go to the Base of the transistor, it looks like the Emitter is grounded and the Collector supplies switched power to the harness. The Arduino can only handle a few milliamps of current so the transistors are used like electronic relays to trip the regular relay in the car.

I just wanted to make sure that the Base voltage was okay to put the transistor into a saturated state and that the resistor wasn't too small and causing the output pins on the board to overdrive or not providing enough base current for the collector current needed.

[Pdwight]

Take a meter and see if the transistors switch ....

[Pdwight]

I was going to build one of these, have a box of parts right here but cannot get the code to load in my module...any of them ?? Im using Nano modules BTW

[JayG]

Originally Posted by Pdwight

I was going to build one of these, have a box of parts right here but cannot get the code to load in my module...any of them ?? Im using Nano modules BTW

I am using a NANO as well. I can load the code , no problem (at least I think it is being loaded. The app says the upload was sucessfull.

I have an Idea..... maybe I can load the code and you build them ???

[Pdwight]

Arduino: 1.5.6-r2 (Windows 7), Board: "Arduino Nano, ATmega328"

sketch_jun01a.ino: In function 'void loop()':
sketch_jun01a:37: error: a function-definition is not allowed here before '{' token
sketch_jun01a:47: error: a function-definition is not allowed here before '{' token
sketch_jun01a:143: error: expected `}' at end of input

This report would have more information with
"Show verbose output during compilation"
enabled in File > Preferences.

[JayG]

Originally Posted by Pdwight

Take a meter and see if the transistors switch ....

Originally Posted by Shehadehd

I just wanted to make sure that the Base voltage was okay to put the transistor into a saturated state and that the resistor wasn't too small and causing the output pins on the board to overdrive or not providing enough base current for the collector current needed.

you guys are great and thanks for your help

I'm gonna breadboard it this week and see if it is switching correctly

I'll post an update once I have a chance to test it

I put everything back to stock for now and at least the top still works correctly

At least I now have a switched 12v line in the upper console. I connected it from the unused phone connector in the bottom of the console

thanks again