New Project Advice Please!

Projects General Guidance
1

Hello Everyone,

I'm relatively new to the world of Arduino.

I have a new project that I'd like to get some help with... I need to create a controller that can turn a fan on when a vehicle is in motion and turn it off when the vehicle is not in motion.

The fan is currently connected to the vehicle ignition, whenever the key is turned to the on position and / or the vehicle is running, the fan is in operation. A simple toggle switch is not an option, because it relies on someone remembering to turn the fan on / off.

I'm looking for a way to automate this. My current thought is to use an arduino controller and a GPS module... Does this sound like the best direction to take? Can anyone point me to a library that I can tweak?

Thanks in advance.

2

GPS is kind of overkill for this. It must have a view of the sky, so your device can't be self-contained underneath the car.

I would try to hook into the vehicle OBDII bus to get the speedometer signal. Alternatively a simple vibration sensor can be tuned to detect motion when driving.

3

What fan are you trying to control? The only thing that comes to mind that is critical is a engine cooling fan, which requires different parameters

4

No, the fan isn't for cooling. It's for a filtration system

5

If it's an automatic, you could use the neutral safety switch. That could be used to control the fan anytime the car isn't in park or neutral.

6

roxoz:
No, the fan isn't for cooling. It's for a filtration system

What are you filtering that should be done only when the vehicle is actually moving? Does that mean that stopping at a stop sign should shut the fan off? At a red light?

7

This isn't a car folks... this is an off road race vehicle. It's unlikely that anyone here has seen or heard of the device that I'm trying to control and without going in to a lengthy discussion about it, I offered the basic parameters of my goal. Thank you to those that offered input, and I welcome any more suggestions you might have.

8

See Fast Vibration Sensor Switch (Easy to trigger) : ID 1766 : $0.95 : Adafruit Industries, Unique & fun DIY electronics and kits

for a very cheap vibration sensor.

Allan

9

roxoz:
This isn't a car folks... this is an off road race vehicle.

I can't help feeling that what needs to be done to achieve your goal is more complex than the simple description you have provided - "turn a fan on when a vehicle is in motion and turn it off when the vehicle is not in motion"

It sounds like you want something that will turn on a fan if BOTH the IGNITION is on AND there is MOTION.

How do you define motion - do you mean that the wheels are revolving? Is a quarter turn of a wheel sufficient to justify turning it on? if violent braking causes a wheel to stop revolving is that sufficient to justify turning the fan off?

Or is it sufficient to use vibration to indicate motion? How much vibration? What frequency? Where will the vibration be detected? For how long must the vibration persist to justify turning the fan on?

I suspect if you explain the purpose of turning this fan off and on you will get more useful advice.

...R

10

Robin2:
It sounds like you want something that will turn on a fan if BOTH the IGNITION is on AND there is MOTION.

No, it's actually the opposite. But I think I've found a way to make it work. I'll post and share if it works.

11

roxoz:
No, it's actually the opposite.

Do you mean you want to turn the fan ON if the ignition is OFF and there is MOTION?

How could there be motion when the ignition is off?

...R

12

Robin2:
Do you mean you want to turn the fan ON if the ignition is OFF and there is MOTION?

How could there be motion when the ignition is off?

...R

I think I have what I need.. I appreciate your assistance and consideration.