Afternoon all,
I have been in touch with Stuart again to see if I can take, yet again, the RNS-E to the next level. Some of you will have see the links that Bart
@bartoo123 has added to this thread recently about his own RNS-E ventures. Amazing what people can retrofit these days.
After a few messages it looks like the set up (Arduino UNO) I already have might just be possible to display the faded OPS image (look at the RHS of the below picture) at the same time as a reverse camera display when reverse is selected. Something like this:
The real test will be to see if the A2 communicates the turning o the wheels over CAN to have something like this:
Not convinced that the above curved lines will be something the A2 is capable of but it’s worth seeing what information is sent around the A2s CAN during there type of manoeuvres. This won’t be a cheap feature as the OEM video modules are quite expensive, the things we do (and spend) in the name of innovation!
Heated MFSW?
I’ve also had a breakthrough this morning on getting an additional 12v feed through the slip ring to power a heat pad:
Earth is already present in the steering wheel. It shouldn’t be too long before I attack a spare MFSW and fit a heating pad either side of it. Then of course test my sewing skills trying to get the leather back on just as nicely as Audi intended. I am yet to get an OEM heated wheel element as this is what I’ll end up fitting. Currently only used a cheap carbon heat pad. Just need to figure out which feed to take the power from in the drivers heated seat switch as Ive been using the 12v handbrake socket as the power supply.
I’ll not be installing a separate heated steering wheel button on the MFSW, too difficult for me as it involves playing with PCBs. I’m hoping that the steering wheel can be heated when the drivers seat heating in switched on. It might not work out as I intend and could be a waste of time; but worth a try!
Sorry no pictures as had to pack up tools earlier but all fairly straightforward so far. Hopefully I’ll get time over the weekend to test what signals/voltages are sent from the heated seat switch to the heated seats elements.
From initial (quick) investigation I have found that there is power to the seat at all times (constant live) and that a signal is sent from the heated seat switch to trigger the element to heat up, this might mean that an OEM heating element has 3 feeds:
1. Trigger from heated seat switch
2. Earth
If this is the case then I may not be able to go any further with an OEM heat pad or the factory heated seat switch as there just isn’t the capacity within the A2s slip ring when a MFSW is fitted.
More to follow in the coming weeks as this isn’t a necessity, thus will take my time over this retrofit. There has to be a way, worst case could be the heated steering wheel element is always on with a switched live feed, not my preferred option though. A bit more testing but I’m close!
Kind regards,
Tom