calling all engineers/electricians-remote boot release

[DaveB]

Hi all...

...can all of you that know what you are talking about have a look at this...

SCAN0001.JPG

I was thinking of doing what a few here have done, and fit a remote boot release...but I would like to do it with a switch on the outside of the car. What I want to do is to fit a microswitch on the car's exterior, say the number plate plinth, that releases the boot latch, but only when the central locking is open.

In simple terms...when the doors are unlocked...the switch opens the boot. If the doors are locked, then it doesn't.

The idea is that when the 'B' terminal of the CDL is positive (which opens the doors), the latching relay is closed which would enable the microswitch to operate the normally open relay and complete the circuit to the solenoid operating the boot release. When the doors are locked (from the alarm or otherwise), terminal 'G' is positive and the latching relay opens the circuit which means that the microswitch is unable to complete the circuit and the boot stays locked.

Now, I am no electrician, but it makes sense to me.

But I have had a few...and I don't know what I am talking about...

...So would everyone please have a look and pick holes in my theory...will it work?

...Or will It flatten the battery?

...Or will It set the alarm off?

...Or will I toast my Lotus??

Many thanks

D
XXX

[texas2201]

Had the "traditional" version fitted to mine and it works very well. I have a couple of spare solenoid(?)/actuators if you need one

Martin

[dapinky]

Dave,

I can't find any fault with the theory (but I'm neither an electrician nor an engineer ).

Not sure about the practicalities, or even the advantage, but that's your issue, not mine

Personally, a solenoid with power from an internal switch and the 'boot release' button on the remote alarm fob (via the alarm box, obviously, otherwise it would get in the way if it were wired..... ) works well for me.

[GeoffSmith]

Are the CDL outputs pulsed or steady state?

PS It won't work so you'd better have some good recipes handy!

[DaveB]

Alright engineer...

...I am going to go for... steady state? or pulsed?...I have no idea what you are talking about

And I still have Beef Carbonnade up my sleeve...

...And I'll add in a quick BBQ chicken marinade if you are interested...

[GeoffSmith]

According to MJ9: B is 12 supply to unlock and ground to lock and G is ground to unlock and 12 volt supply to lock, so I take it that they are both ground unless the doors are being locked or opened, in which case your scheme should work. You must put a fuse in line and it would be better to route the latched relay through the switch and N/O relay otherwise the N/O relay will operate whenever the switch is pressed.

[DaveB]

Thanks Geoff...understood...

...as promised Beef Carbonnade...

Serves six

2tbsp vegetable oil
1.5 kg diced braising/stewing steak
2 small onions, sliced
2 tbsp plain flour
1tsp light brown sugar
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
500ml bottle Guinness
150ml beef stock
1 bouquet garni
2 cloves garlic, unpeeled
about 10 slices white baguette, cut to 1cm thick
2 tbsp wholegrain mustard

Preheat oven to 150c.
Heat the oil in a large frying pan and fry the beef, in batches if necessary, for 3-4 minutes until browned all over, transfer to a plate and season.
Add the onions to the frying pan and saute for 3-4 minutes. reduce the heat and stir in the flour, sugar and vinegar. 1 minute later add half the Guinness and stir to get all the goodies off the pan.
Transfer this to a casserole dish on the hob and gradually add the remaining Guinness and the stock, stir constantly until the liquid starts to boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 2 minutes.
Add the beef and stir. Place the bouquet garni and garlic in the middle and immerse them. Cover the casserole dish and transfer to the oven for two hours.
Remove the casserole from the oven and discard the bouquet garni and garlic. Spread the bread thickly with the mustard and place the slices, mustard side up, on top of the casserole, pressing down to slightly immerse the bread. Return to the oven uncovered and cook at 220c for 15 minutes or until the bread is cripy at the edges. Serve with mash and your choice of veg.

Bloody delicious and thanks goes to the chefs at Waitrose for this one.



As for the BBQ chicken marinade...

In a bowl mix together...
2 garlic cloves, crushed
3 tbps olive oil
3 tbsp dry sherry
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp dark soy sauce

Pour this over the 6 chicken thigh fillets and leave, covered in the fridge for a couple of hours.
Cook as normal on the BBQ, basting from time to time with the excess marinade. A very tasty dish for when it's not raining!!
Serve

Hope you enjoy...
Thanks again...although I am having difficulty simply fitting a stereo at the moment, so any boot release mods are going on hold!!

David

[ratman]

in my humble opinion is not a good idea to make this kind of job.
when the car is with the roof open, the closed boot is a safe place.
as far as the door lock could be easily opened, you'll give the chance to open your boot too.
If there is the alarm on, it will be scream only for a while. In the same time all the things in the boot will be loose.

[DaveB]

You are correct...

...but I never leave anything valuable in the boot or leave the car with the roof down, not with the weather over here.

IF I did go and do this, I realise that the car will be less secure...but it's no Fort Knox to start with...

...Plus the way things tend to go with me and mechanics/electrics...it won't bloomin' work anyway.

David

[alexg]

Dave,

Thanks for the idea, I have implemented the latching relay from the central locking output to power the remote boot and fuel switches.

So I can report that it works and now my switch is active when the doors are unlocked and does not work when they are locked. The switch was powered from the ignition which was anoying if you turned off before releasing the fuel flap at petrol stations. I'm not so worried about the security concerns raised by ratman as I have an S2 which has no CDL and sensor switches in the door locks so this only works if the alarm is used to unlock the car.

Alex

[DaveB]

Alex,

I'm glad this has been useful, I am also glad it works!

The 'S2' way sounds better from a security point of view, only working if the zapper is used is ideal.

Once the problems 'wiv me wireless radio' are solved, I may be tempted to see if it works in an SE.

David