Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community - FT86CLUB - View Single Post - Center Console Radio Control Plan

foglesre · 08-20-2013, 09:01 PM

First let me introduce myself...I'm Bob and I just bought a white BRZ Limited. Last two cars were 2004 Subaru WRX and 2012 G37 Coupe (when I was living in Qatar). Love the BRZ. It's a little underpowered but so much fun. Lack of steering wheel controls is frustrating...

So, based on the outstanding investigative work of nalc found here:

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39244 ,

I got the idea to rig up controls on the center console, which would put them right where I rest my hand. The critical info from nalc's thread is this:

2011-up Impreza and Forester (both w/ phone/BT buttons):

Pin 21:
Seek Up 0 Ohms
Seek Down 330 Ohms
Volume Up 1000 Ohms
Volume Down 3110 Ohms
No buttons 100K Ohms

Pin 22:
Mode 0 Ohms
On hook 330 Ohms
Off hook 1000 Ohms
Talk 3110 Ohms
No buttons 100K Ohms

Pin 23 is the common wire for the SWCs

I realized that I could replicate all of these controls with four DPDT momentary on-off-momentary on switches, specifically four of these:

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/JR-Products-13445-Mom-On-Switch/dp/B002UC2TZA"]JR Products 13445 Black DPDT Mini Mom-On/Off/Mom-On Switch : Amazon.com : Automotive[/ame]

You can basically jumper across the center poles with 100k ohm resistor and place the appropriate resistor across the respective pairs of poles for each switch to get all 8 functions with four miniature rocker switches.

Subaru gave us the perfect spot for it (which is unfortunately right where my heated seat controls are...more on that later). Four of these switches will fit nicely into that ~2.25" x ~3" spot.

But wait there's more, I plan to get a control panel made by this company:

http://www.plaquemaker.com/

They will do custom printed plaques/signs for not much money (I used them in the past for a gift). In plastic, they will do custom shapes including center cutouts for the controls, making it much much easier to assemble. Silver plastic with black lettering is available. It will look something like the attachement. I'll dremel out the spot in the center console, leaving a lip and a center rail for support and then glue the panel assembly in place.

So that's the idea. I'd very much appreicate feedback. I could use other ideas on the design and switch selection. Unfortunately, I've got about a month before I can implement this (I just moved back from Qatar and wont have a house/garage and my tools until late September).

I could also use some insights on relocation of the heated seat switches. The front edge of the centrer storage, just above the 12V socket seems like a good location but the heated seat switches might be just a bit too big. Does the seat power actually run through the switches or are the switches just used to activate relays elsewhere. I could get a couple of additional on-off-on switches (not momenatary on) like the ones above and tuck those in the center console.

Really the most important control is the Seek +/-. I also thought about buying the sport/snow switch assembly for my manual BRZ and using that extra switch for seek/scan. Still temped as it would not require the work on the heated switches. But I just kind of want to do the full kit above...

Thanks for any input!

Bob

08-20-2013, 09:01 PM	#1
foglesre Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Drives: BRZ Limited Location: Houston, TX Posts: 26 Thanks: 4 Thanked 14 Times in 7 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Center Console Radio Control Plan - Continuing nalc's saga First let me introduce myself...I'm Bob and I just bought a white BRZ Limited. Last two cars were 2004 Subaru WRX and 2012 G37 Coupe (when I was living in Qatar). Love the BRZ. It's a little underpowered but so much fun. Lack of steering wheel controls is frustrating... So, based on the outstanding investigative work of nalc found here: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=39244 , I got the idea to rig up controls on the center console, which would put them right where I rest my hand. The critical info from nalc's thread is this: 2011-up Impreza and Forester (both w/ phone/BT buttons): Pin 21: Seek Up 0 Ohms Seek Down 330 Ohms Volume Up 1000 Ohms Volume Down 3110 Ohms No buttons 100K Ohms Pin 22: Mode 0 Ohms On hook 330 Ohms Off hook 1000 Ohms Talk 3110 Ohms No buttons 100K Ohms Pin 23 is the common wire for the SWCs I realized that I could replicate all of these controls with four DPDT momentary on-off-momentary on switches, specifically four of these: [ame="http://www.amazon.com/JR-Products-13445-Mom-On-Switch/dp/B002UC2TZA"]JR Products 13445 Black DPDT Mini Mom-On/Off/Mom-On Switch : Amazon.com : Automotive[/ame] You can basically jumper across the center poles with 100k ohm resistor and place the appropriate resistor across the respective pairs of poles for each switch to get all 8 functions with four miniature rocker switches. Subaru gave us the perfect spot for it (which is unfortunately right where my heated seat controls are...more on that later). Four of these switches will fit nicely into that ~2.25" x ~3" spot. But wait there's more, I plan to get a control panel made by this company: http://www.plaquemaker.com/ They will do custom printed plaques/signs for not much money (I used them in the past for a gift). In plastic, they will do custom shapes including center cutouts for the controls, making it much much easier to assemble. Silver plastic with black lettering is available. It will look something like the attachement. I'll dremel out the spot in the center console, leaving a lip and a center rail for support and then glue the panel assembly in place. So that's the idea. I'd very much appreicate feedback. I could use other ideas on the design and switch selection. Unfortunately, I've got about a month before I can implement this (I just moved back from Qatar and wont have a house/garage and my tools until late September). I could also use some insights on relocation of the heated seat switches. The front edge of the centrer storage, just above the 12V socket seems like a good location but the heated seat switches might be just a bit too big. Does the seat power actually run through the switches or are the switches just used to activate relays elsewhere. I could get a couple of additional on-off-on switches (not momenatary on) like the ones above and tuck those in the center console. Really the most important control is the Seek +/-. I also thought about buying the sport/snow switch assembly for my manual BRZ and using that extra switch for seek/scan. Still temped as it would not require the work on the heated switches. But I just kind of want to do the full kit above... Thanks for any input! Bob Attached Images Last edited by foglesre; 09-05-2013 at 09:39 PM.