Hey, I'm new here. I'm new to Arduino and electrical engineering and don't know if using Arduino in this project is recommended or not.
So I'm building a racecar and was wondering if I could use Arduino as a very simple power distribution module (PDM). Here's how the system would work:
The aim is to have a relay box with fuses and relays. The power would then run to my Arduino-powered PDM and then out to the components. The PDM's job is to be an electronic switch to control the components (fuel pump, lights, etc), while the relay box's job is to offer power protection to the components.
Then I would design and implement an Arduino-powered button switch panel (similar to a Blinkmarine keypad).
The keypad and PDM would communicate over CAN bus.
The PDM's firmware would be designed to work like MicroPDM. Essentially, there would be x number of output. Each output can have one or more buttons mapped to it. When a button is pressed on the keypad, a message is sent to the PDM via CAN. The PDM would then switch the specified output ON/OFF therefore sending power to component or disconnecting power. I would develop the firmware on FreeRTOS. Hardware-wise, the PDM would use optocoupler or transistors to switch power to the components.
The PDM will be powering and controlling every component that a fuse/relay box normally would.
The question is...
Would using Arduino for powering a car be safe?
(I'm in the process of rewiring the car. And it's important to know which direction to go)
This project needs to be presented in a much more serious way to be taken seriously. Just a lot of words, poetry, gives the impression of just loose thoughts, dreams, rathe than a real build.
The environment like dust, humidity, condensation, water calls for experience. What experience do You have?
Also know that Arduinos are not certified for any kind of safety, security matters.
Only if you take proper precautions to very thoroughly shield the Arduino circuitry from the harsh electrical environment of an automotive electrical system.
You have to plan for voltage spikes > 125V, polarity reversals, electrical noise, etc. and design protection circuitry into your project, as described in various publications.
Be careful what you declare.
Claiming an awareness of engineering with your questioning suggests a significant form of delusion.
Many of the contributors here have varying levels of enguneering or systems design experience over many years and disciplines, but are very careful t about making that claim out loud when asking a very basic question.
Better to step gently into a question with your ears on, rather than expecting people to bow to your vast ability.
Then you should expect catastrophic failures on the road. This is NOT a beginner project.
It is reasonably safe to replace the auto wiring without using any new electronics, following automotive circuit design rules (proper wire gauge, good connectors, etc.).
Better to be safe than have a failure on the road!
If you decide to pursue this in the future, avoid amateur tutorials on sites like Youtube and Instructables -- most of that stuff is put up by people who really have no idea what they are doing and is often dangerously unsafe.
Professional (commercial) web sites usually offer good advice, but be sure to get second opinions.
An experienced tram repairing friend restored his old car, rewired the entire car, fully correct. During the first drive the car started smoking and caught fire within 30 feet. How could it happen? Once the car radio had been stolen and cables were free to move. This old story was forgotten and a battery + cable got in contact with chassis. The fuse disappeared when the radio was stolen...
If you bought a car, for use on the road, transporting a family etc, would you think it reasonable if the electrics had been designed by someone with no experience of electrical engineering but had based the design on advice from a hobby electronic forum ?
You could add additional wiring in the harness to accommodate CAN once you learn enough to use it. I'd have some redundant power cables too. Pull a loop out of the harness at all the strategic points that you can splice to if needed.
Apologies guys, didn't mean to delude. What i should have said was new to electronics I get it, it's like difference between saying "new to cars" vs "new to motorsports". The latter implies that you have some experience of the former. My bad
An Arduino can be a reliable as anything else... If you build it correctly... but if you are putting one in a race car it needs to plug-in easily and you need a spare so you can swap it out in the pits.
But do you really need a programmable microcontroller for this? I thought most race cars just have switches (and probably relays) for this kind of thing... And you don't have to worry about software bugs...
You might have special purpose controllers for things like fuel injection but you probably don't want to build, debug, and optimize something like that yourself. I assume there is plenty of "normal" mechanical & electrical work to do.
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I get it, it's like difference between saying "new to cars" vs "new to motorsports". The latter implies that you have some experience of the former. My bad