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Announcing: Auto headlights version 2 for 997.1 & 997.2
You may remember my solution for automatic headlights in a 997, that I created a while ago. See post here: https://rennlist.com/forums/997-forum/1334611-automatic-headlights-in-a-997-hack.html
I stopped making these devices, because for a while it looked like another Rennlister found a very nifty solution, but it seems like that never came to pass.
In the meantime, I took all the input from everyone who bought my V1 box and created V2.
Version 2 is a completely new design and has the following advantages over version 1:
It works with the existing light switch in your 997
No longer needed to tap into the fuse box.
That means that it’s now even more plug & play and you have “less stuff” to install.
You keep all of the functionality of your 997 light switch (HOME, fog lights, etc. you name it)
No more phantom “you left the light on” warnings.
As I said, I redesigned the whole unit from scratch and even though it comes in a very small box, there's actually quite a bit of Hi-Tech packed into it (see picture below).
The heart of the box is an Arduino micro-controller, which uses a light sensor to measure the ambient light ~25 times / second and then follows several algorithms to determine when to turn the lights on and off.
The operation is as simple as that:
Setting the light switch to HOME, enables the auto-light function, that’s it.
You want one – GREAT!
Even though it costs me more to manufacture a V2 unit, I am offering it for the same price as V1:
$125 shipped to the US. If you are outside the US, contact me and we can figure out how much shipping would be.
If you’re interested, please e-mail me at czulrich@gmail.com, please don’t send PMs.
How about returns?
You ordered it but you figure out you don't like it. Can you return it?
Yes sure. Just send it back to me (on your own nickel) and I reimburse you the full amount as long as it's not damaged.
Here is a link to the installation manual. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CjR...ew?usp=sharing
And last but not least, I’d like to thank @Wepeachy who was my beta-tester for version 2. He gave me great feedback and helped me iron out a few kinks. He also found a very cool way to install the light sensor more or less hidden (see the last pages of the installation manual).
Last edited by Hatzenbach; 11-15-2023 at 11:34 AM.
Your device looks awesome. I have a quick question: on my 2008 C4S I have a diode installed on the light switch to operate LED DRLs in the Home position. Will that still work with your device installed or will they not play together?
Already sent you an email to order one, but just want to say thank you publicly also. It may not be the most necessary upgrade but it's just nice to have ways to make these cars we like even a little bit more to our taste.
Your device looks awesome. I have a quick question: on my 2008 C4S I have a diode installed on the light switch to operate LED DRLs in the Home position. Will that still work with your device installed or will they not play together?
Thank you.
Scott
Thank You! Well it's hard to say without knowing exactly what was done.
But if you order one and it doesn't work, just send it back and I'll reimburse you your $125.
is there a delay built in or do they turn on the headlights immediately sensing low light? I’m thinking going under a bridge or into a tunnel. Will the headlights cycle or would there be a delay in turning them on like OE function?
is there a delay built in or do they turn on the headlights immediately sensing low light? I’m thinking going under a bridge or into a tunnel. Will the headlights cycle or would there be a delay in turning them on like OE function?
There is a "turn-on delay" of 1 second and a "turn off delay" of 5 seconds.
I want to avoid that the headlights "go crazy" if let's say just a shadow falls on the sensor.
I tried to design the algorithm to do it the same way as all my cars with auto-headlight are doing it.
The other thing I'm doing is that I built in a "hysteresis". This means the threshold to turn on the lights is lower than the threshold to turn them back off.
This way I'm avoiding that the lights flip-flop all the time at dusk or dawn
Last edited by Hatzenbach; 10-29-2023 at 10:17 PM.
10-27-2023, 11:34 PM
Announcing: Auto headlights version 2 for 997.1 & 997.2
