Tutorial: Secondary LED indicator in Instrument Cluster

[SmartieParts]

Hey John... I hope the move is on good news, not bad!

Do you use the 3M green tap splices?  The ones with the gel filling?  I ask because I misordered and bought 2000 pcs instead of 200.  If you need any

Steve

[John_H]

Whoops!

I provide both the green and the orange 3M splices.  The gel filled are really superb.  But I already have many more than I'll need of both!

To me it's a little disappointing splices are even needed - if there was a connector from the cable to the switch, adding an external LED wouldn't need a splice at all!  But I'm happy that the splices don't cut into the smart wiring harnesses.
__

The move is something I've wanted for a while.  I just need to make sure I'm employed quickly.

[admin]

Back when we were doing the development and seeking people's input, it would have been nice if more people indicated a desire to have an external LED!  I specifically recall a discussion where we gave the various options and the majority response was to have it on the stalk despite the (accurate) prediction that it would be blocked by the steering wheel because a) who needs a light anyway, and b) it was a simpler install (and that's true).  Of course, some may also recall that back then with the only two early cars we had available to us, there was no cruise icon in the dash!  They said "ECO" (which we now know to be related to the micro hybrid drive) in that spot.  When it turned out that most of the production US cars had an unused cruise icon, that made it a no-brainer.  By then we already had 1000 cable sets produced and it was too late.

However, the modification is relatively simple and you're splicing into a $10 to $15 staight forward cable that we provide rather than the $1800 harness that smart provides . Wreck the cable and its really not that big of a deal.

If the tap splices you're referring to are the "UG" ones, then they are the perfect choice.  They make a positive connection almost 100% of the time thanks to the snap action, plus they are easy to use and the gel filling assures that corrosion won't be an issue.

[Horseman]

I can tell you that, unequivocally, the reason I didn't harp on the dash install more was BECAUSE the icon in the dash was thought to be ECO. Had I known that there was a cruise icon in there, then I would have been much more insistent that at least an OPTION for installing an LED in there were available.

Having said that, the LED modification that John has provided is excellent. Thank you so much!

[admin]

Agreed.  We were all operating on the best information we had at the time. 

Once I'm done with our software upgrades, I'm going to look at how we can modify our switch assemblies to be pre-spliced for easier modification.

[wizard of ahs]

I believe, WAY back when, the LED install WAS discussed and ultimately dropped!  Correct me IF I'm wrong    I believe it was dropped because the manufacturing process was easier putting it on the stalk 

Mike

[admin]

Ok, I'll correct you

You must have misunderstood because the manufacturing process would absolutely be easier and cheaper by NOT putting it on the stalk.  That LED on the stalk was actually quite restricting in the mold design and took a lot of work and ended up requiring specialized and (relatively) expensive components compared to a simple cable and LED.

It does make for a far simpler installation though, by not having to pull off and take apart your speedometer.  And that did factor into the decision.

I'll state again that at the time we were working with imperfect information and all things considered I still think we did a pretty good job.  Sure, now that we know the icon's there we may have designed it a little differently... but then again, the existing design is simple to modify to add the remote LED if you want.  Splicing car wires is bad... splicing our switch wire is no big deal.

[John_H]

The stalk LED install is a good idea in the end, IMHO, because there are many people not interested in taking apart their instrument cluster for fear of breaking something or voiding the warranty.

I've only provided instrument cluster LED kits to a small percentage of Area451 cruise control owners.  The limited penetration is perhaps partly because I haven't been "pushing" the hand-built boards, but "letting" people buy them from the information already on this forum and over at SCOA.  Additionally since the Area451 isn't marketed with the LED as an option there's probably a large group that doesn't even know the kit is available even if they were okay with taking apart the cluster.

I'm looking forward to having my move behind me, getting a job, and getting into the LED kits again.

[wizard of ahs]

Art,

I meant no disrespect in the decision process.  I only mentioned it as there were NOT enough people interested in the "alternate" installation.

Out of the box, it's a great, easy install and I believe you made the right decision.

So, I stand corrected 


John_H,

Good luck with your move and we all wish many good things for you  :

Mike

[admin]

John, its no longer really my place (I'm in charge of the software side only now) but if you want to work with Steven I think there are some possibilities.  We haven't wanted to step on your toes on the one hand, but even if it isn't an issue nobody's really ever had time to look at doing it in-house.  Hand made isn't an option here.  Some thoughts:

• You keep doing what you're doing - no changes
• You keep doing what you're doing but we (Area 451 and/or SmartieParts at least) start marketing it as an option. I'm sure an email could even go out to all existing customers.  Because you're right - maybe people just don't know.
• You send us the design and leave it up to us.  I don't recommend it because as I said, hand made won't happen and we no longer have hardware people on staff so we don't have the in house talent to make the appropriate files to send to a PCB house.  I forget what those files are called right now, but there's a standard design set.  With the other stuff we have going on and who is and isn't readily available, I see it likely not happening for a long time.
• You figure out the production say for 100 units at a time and sell those to us.

Just random Art thoughts. 

[admin]

I forget what those files are called right now, but there's a standard design set.

I just remembered... Gerber files.