First I have very little more then base knowledge about Arduino so forgive my for any faux pas I may have in this question.
I have on my truck led halo's (round lights around the headlight that stay on) along with switchback LED strips (they run white and go to amber when turning) what I would like to do is, newer cars when you put on the turn single the DRL light goes off on that side only. So I want my halos to turn off when I turn on the turn single and back on when the turn is over. The problem is I am not sure how to do this, the part that is tripping me up is that the 12v going to the turn single is on and off in order to make the blinking.
Before I give too much unnecessary information does anyone have any ideas or a resource that you could make me aware of?
One key is that You can detect the initiating signal. Do You have access to the control of the turning signal? There You might find a steady signal.
Picking up the blinking of the lamp is easy. Learn how to use millis() and timer logic. When there is a puls You set a timer to be on a certain amount of time. During blinking the timer is updated and when the blinking ends, no rearming of the timer. A little piece of code checks the timer and updates the output accordingly.
I suggest using opto couplers between the car 12/24 volt and the controller inputs.
Back in the old days you had a blinker module under the dash that had a bimetallic strip in it. The light came on which caused the strip to heat unevenly and bend away from the terminal. When it lost contact the light went out and the strip cooled until it came back in contact again. That was the audible click you heard when the blinker was on.
If your truck is old enough to have that then you can get a steady signal from the other side of that blinker module switch.
Nowadays the blinker is controlled by an ECU and there's a speaker to make the click. I'm not sure if you want to go hacking on that system unless you know what you're doing.
Oh okay I had not thought of that so if the blink takes 2 seconds you set the timer for 2200 millisecond's then when it does not see the blink it turns back on. Do you have any place to go to learn more on millis and timer logic and hardware would go with it.
"if the blink takes 2 seconds you set the timer for 2200 millisecond's".
Exactly!
In the IDE there are lots of various example codes. Also this forum has topics exercising various things.
Blink without delay is one good topic. The Arduino/reference tells about the built in function "millis()" that is very useful.
I'll see if I can produce a link. First example: Built-in Examples | Arduino Documentation
Actually this concept is used for traction controlled via the CAN bus. A "Go" command is valid for a limited amount of time. New commands, in time, makes the action continue. The absence of commands make the action stop.
thanks Railroader!! this is great information I will take my storm time (we are on the coast of Maine) and do some research with this, my only complaint is that I did not ask sooner
Your project looks fun and is without space dreams. Nice to contribute.
35 years ago I built a single board computer for the car. It served well for 10 years, until I sold the car. I can smell Your entusiasm....
