I installed a new module this weekend to add true 'RAP' functions to the car, something I've always thought was missing.

By true RAP I mean that the radio stays on until the drivers door is open, a feature that I have on my work truck! If the door is opened within 15 mintues the module shuts the radio off automatically, so you don't have to worry about draining the battery.

Anybody else think that this should have been a factory feature?

 

Yes Indeed. I had this on my Lincoln LS and miss it terribly!

 

Its funny how little things like that become so convenient!

 

I think my mom's Toyota corolla has that feature too.

Does the mosule involve much wiring? I imagine it's something like a relay with a timer connected to the door open trigger.

 

I miss my rain sensing wipers too. When ya gonna do somehting about that

 

Thats basically all it is, but its got a few extras on it.

There is a door pin input, obviously, and a ground. Then, there is a constant 12vdc feed, an igniton signal (so we know when to start the timer) and finally an accessory out. This is the wire that feeds the radio/accessory circuit.

In addition, there are two more inputs, designed to be for the 'lock' and 'unlock' actuators. I haven't hooked these up yet, and I doubt I will, but they can be used to trigger the relay from the OEM remote. If you hook up the 'UNLOCK' wire every time you unlock the car the radio will turn on for 60 seconds. With the 'LOCK' hooked up every time you lock the door the radio will turn on for 30 seconds (in its current config). These added inputs were actually designed for remote head light control, but thats a completley different module for a different car (one without auto head lamps!)

 

I dont see why you would ever want the radio coming on when you LOCKED the car but other than that, I think its a great idea.

 

Some people like to have their headlights come on as they walk away from the car (to light their path in to their house, apt, etc). I can't think of a reason why you would want the radio to come on either!

The cool thing about the extra inputs is that they can be hooked up however you want, lock and unlock, lock only, unlock only, or any other trigger you can think of, meaning that it isn't limited to door lock/unlock signals only. The module features a 10A 12vdc output so it can control almost anything you want.

 

wha would be cool is a constant 12 for a carputer or something you could have it booting before the car starts.

 

I would like the feature of having the headlights turn on when the car is unlocked.

 

That would be cool.

 

but when you start your car, doesnt it cut power to everything first.
But since Kevin already knows when the car is running/on/off, im sure he can do a little tweaking to prevent this so that the system will contine booting as you start the car then switch to car power.


And even better would be to give 2min after the car is turned off for a soft shutdown

 

I'm thinking there will be lots of 'fun' applications for a module like this.

The output could be setup to run a Carputer pretty easy, allowing you to start the thing up before you ever open the door.

 

Yeah that is what I am taliking about. Disarm the car boot the pc bt alow the pc to not be reset when the power to accys is cut while starting.

You'd need a quick way to disable that JIC you kill the battery and need the juice to start the car.