Dash-mounted ALDL/USB interface?

[madbilly]

Hi all (esp Geoff and ESM!)

I saw mention of a dash-mounted USB interface to the ALDL and was thinking it would be a handy thing to have, has anyone done it? I'm expecting it to be quite straightforward - is all I need to do: tap off the ALDL signal wires straight to "box" in the interface cable then swap the USB plug for a USB socket? I think this would remove the need for the ALDL plug and socket connection, so I could just butcher one of Geoff's optically-isolated interfaces, but I think this would be a bit of a waste!

Then I could mount it on the dashboard along with a service mode switch like dapinky has and I wouldn't need to faff around underneath the glovebox ever again!

Cheers,
Will

[GeoffSmith]

How about something like this from Farnell?



The internals are reversible so you end up with a type B facing out and a female type A to connect to the interface.... a bit like this:

Img_1469cs.jpg

Img_1470cs.jpg

[GeoffSmith]

My plan started something like this......

Img_1471cs.jpg

[madbilly]

My plan started something like this......

Ha, "great minds" and all that - I was thinking the same thing, minus the type A but that would be useful for plugging and unplugging it; perhaps I'll look for a type B back-to-back then I can use my existing interface lead without modifying it.

As for the ALDL end, is there any benefit to having both an ALDL port and a USB port available at the same time, i.e. can both be used at the same time? (I know, why would I want to!) If not then I think I' can just use my existing interface and not have to mess around modifying it or tapping into the wires between the ALDL port and the ECU.

[madbilly]

Ha, "great minds" and all that

Yeah, scratch that, I misunderstood!

You said the connector was reversible so it would be exactly what I need - thanks!

So, any benefit to having both the ALDL and USB available? I was just thinking that if a Tech 1 tool were available I might be able to plug both the Tech1 and the laptop in at the same time, or can the ECU only communicate with one device at a time?