question for Xyphoid - Ford Forums - Mustang Forum, Ford Trucks, Ford Focus and Ford Cars

Futura97 · 06-25-2002, 06:13

or any electronic guru...

I heard that i can make a simple circuit, using a couple of latching relays, to turn my interior lights on when i unlock the doors with the remote. They will then turn off when i turn the ignition on.

Would you(or anyone) know how to achieve this.

Heres the quote i got from the guy who came up with the idea

Quote:

An easy way to do this with only simple components would be to use two relays. First you could get hold of a latching relay, each time it is given a pulse at the coil it will change state. Wire the coil of this relay into the locking system and wire one of the NO contacts to the positive supply of the car. Next have another relay coil wired to the ignition sense wire, and use the NO contacts so that when the ignition is on the relay contacts will be open/off. These NO contacts should be wired to the contacts of the last relay, so that when the central locking is open and the ignition if off the lights are on. When the ignition is on the lights go off. When the doors are locked again the latching relay will change state to off rather than on. Yes, there certainly are better ways to make this circuit, but relays are a good start for a beginner. If you need any more help just post another message.

Does NO mean Normally Open???

Thanks for your help, you guru!!

Aussiblue · 06-25-2002, 09:09

Yes.

06-25-2002, 17:18

Yes.

Futura97 · 06-25-2002, 17:30

thanks

Xyphoid · 06-25-2002, 23:54

There is an Interior Light Delay kit available from Jaycar.

Catalogue No KA-1793 - $10.75

Basically this kit can be used with the XF's Positive Trigger Door Switches, and the Acc line can be connected to a Light out Input
(In the Documentation, they connect the Interior Light output to the Headlamps switch, which is a bit silly).
The Interior Light input accepts a Positive Trigger.

Also, from memory, the Central Locking for the XF is Positve Trigger as well
(Someone PLEASE correct me if I am wrong)
If this is the Case, then you can connect the Door Unlock Line, using a Diode, to the Door Switch Input on the Kit.

Also, this kit has that Fade Feature like the EF Fairmonts.
(I.E. The Interior Lamp is kept on for around 10 Seconds, and then fades out over a period of 5 seconds).

This is how I set the thing up in my VK Calais, but I think I have left the Docs for the Kit somewhere stupid, so I dont have any info on it at the moment.

There was a post on here fairly recently, where someone was trying to do the same thing, with the above circuit.

Apart from that, the 2 Realy (1x Latching) Circuit should work also

Hope this helps
Cheers
Matti

Futura97 · 06-26-2002, 00:20

Thanks for your prompt reply. I have bought 3 of those stupid kits, each of them didn't work properly. I got 2 of them working, but i didn't really like the way how it blinks for the split second when you shut the door. And it still didn't function as i thought it would.

I know im picky but i want it to be EXACTLY like that of a fairmont.

I'm still curious on the latching relay idea. Just as i pulled in my driveway just now, i had another idea using a latching relay.

Could you wire it up so that it turns on your headlights, but will switch them off when the ignition gets turned off AND then open a door?? Much like how the comodores work. Does anyone know if the AU has this feature?

Cheers
Matt

Sundeep · 06-26-2002, 04:45

$10.75 seems reasonable.

I might go and get one for the EA!

Sundeep

Xyphoid · 06-26-2002, 16:03

Yeah, I agree with you in regards to the Flicker, when the doors are closed, and the Interior Light shuts off for a short bit of time, till the Circuit cuts in. This was my only gripe with mine when I fitted it to the VK.

Quote:

Originally posted by xf_xr6

Could you wire it up so that it turns on your headlights, but will switch them off when the ignition gets turned off AND then open a door?? Much like how the comodores work. Does anyone know if the AU has this feature?
Matt

I know that some of the AU models have this feature, with a variable time for the Delay.
I.E. if you switch off the ignition, and open the door, then the Lights will stay on for a timed duration (1 to 60 seconds I think ?)

One idea for the Headlight Latching relay.
1. If you wired the Headlight switch (Before the Relays) to the Latching relay trigger, so as whenever the headlamps were turned on, then they would trigger the relay to be on.
2. Then you wired the Reset Line for the latch, so as if the Ignition was Off, and the Door was opened, it would reset the Latch.

The And bit on the second part would be a bit hard to work out, as when the Ignition is turned off, the Line may be floating around - (I.E. Not quite grounded, have a resistance to ground.)
What you could do is use a PNP (BC327 from memory?) Transistor, with the Base connected via a 560Ohm resistor, to the Ignition Line, The Emitter connected to the Door Switch, and the collector side connected to the Latch Reset.
The Latch Reset would need to be a Negative Trigger type (I.E. Grounded to Reset the Latch).
Obviously If you were using the Headlamp switch as the Trigger Input for the Latch you would need a Negative Trigger Input as well (You would want to get the signal before the Relay).

I havent quite gone through the transistor Biasing properly,
so there is a possibility of reducing the Current draw from the above, when the Door is opened, and the Ignition is on.
V=IR,
13.8-0.7=Ix560,
13.1/560 = I
I=25ma Current draw (Roughly)

Hope this helps ?
Cheers
Matti

Jase_ELXR8 · 06-26-2002, 21:46

Quote:

Originally posted by Xyphoid
Yeah, I agree with you in regards to the Flicker, when the doors are closed, and the Interior Light shuts off for a short bit of time, till the Circuit cuts in. This was my only gripe with mine when I fitted it to the VK.

Could this be fixed by using a cap, resistor and relay to hold the light for a little bit longer???