Introducing Groot

[Mainfinger]

L

Nope. Emblems only. The ones we bought from the forum store, were replacements and not stick ons. They are still sealed and new, I'll have to put them for sale on here at a discount.

nice looks 3d

 

[tazzytazzy]

L

nice looks 3d

They arent flat facing out. Which is nice. It's not a simple sticker. But, they aren't flush due to the thin layer of sticky tape. I'm just being too picky and will be over it in a month.

 

[oaklbikedaddy]

Prepping for a tahoe trip. Cargo rack for taking 6 people and gear for 5 days up there.

Test fitted the chains, only drove a total of 4 feet. These don't even come close to getting near the wheels, at least at rest. Hopefully it remains that way when driving.

what brand of cable chains are those and where did you get them.
I had a pair of chains from the local auto parts store break and damage my previous vehicle, so want to avoid that on the new telluride

 

[superk1977]

Nope. Emblems only. The ones we bought from the forum store, were replacements and not stick ons. They are still sealed and new, I'll have to put them for sale on here at a discount.

Did u buy the KLexus overlays? I'm interested in purchasing those for mine (when I get it).

______________________________

 

[tazzytazzy]

Groot got a minor upgrade and a fix for the footwell lights last week.

It turns out, the footwell lights kept turning on a few seconds after locking the car. I didn't notice this for a while and was always wondering why the auto stop no longer worked, unless I charged the battery.

Apparently, the dome light trigger, which is a negative trigger, but would raise back up to 10 volts after the car was locked.

After 6 hours of tracing this down and inspecting various wires harnesses, pulling the front dome light, and 3rd row dome light; here's what happens (this also applies to Rocket, our 2021 Kia K5):

Every dome light has a circuit board with 3 wires: ground, accessory power, and dome trigger. If you close the door, but not locked, eventually the dome trigger will raise to 10 volts (3.52 volts in the K5) which turns off the dome lights. If you get out of the car, lock the door, the accessory power stays on, and the dome trigger goes high. Then, after 3ish seconds, the accessory power goes low and the dome trigger goes high! Why Kia, why? This means you cant use a simple relay and just swap NO/NC pins to reverse the negative trigger. Can't even really use a relay on the trigger wire due to PWM signal.

Final solution:
Created an Arduino protoboard with inputs for battery power, ignition, accessory power, and headlights. I also have 3 lighted push button switches that allow me to disable everything or manually turn on the footwell or puddle lights.

Basical logic for the arduino:

If battery voltage is less than 12.4 volts OR disable switch is on, turn off dome and puddle lights and don't consider anything else.


If ( headlights are on OR {dome light trigger is low AND accessory power is high}) OR ( ignition is on or has been on within last 30 minutes AND manual switch is on): turn on footwell lights

If (ignition is not currently on AND {dome light trigger is low AND accessory power is high}) OR (ignition is on or has been on within last 30 minutes AND manual switch is on): turn on puddle lights.

The lights turn off using more advanced conditions and timmers, like the puddle light stays on after exiting the car for 10 seconds.

There's also advanced logic to handle the PWM input for the dome trigger signal. This actually is what causes the lights slowly turn on/off. Also, after driving, and getting out of the car, turn off the footwell lights but leave the puddle lights on for 10 seconds or, if the headlights are still on after leaving the car, turn off the puddle lights when the headlights turn off.

 

[qwikhit]

Impressive troubleshooting and write up. Nice job

 

[Bossman-Don]

View attachment 15002
Groot got a minor upgrade and a fix for the footwell lights last week.

It turns out, the footwell lights kept turning on a few seconds after locking the car. I didn't notice this for a while and was always wondering why the auto stop no longer worked, unless I charged the battery.

Apparently, the dome light trigger, which is a negative trigger, but would raise back up to 10 volts after the car was locked.

After 6 hours of tracing this down and inspecting various wires harnesses, pulling the front dome light, and 3rd row dome light; here's what happens (this also applies to Rocket, our 2021 Kia K5):

Every dome light has a circuit board with 3 wires: ground, accessory power, and dome trigger. If you close the door, but not locked, eventually the dome trigger will raise to 10 volts (3.52 volts in the K5) which turns off the dome lights. If you get out of the car, lock the door, the accessory power stays on, and the dome trigger goes high. Then, after 3ish seconds, the accessory power goes low and the dome trigger goes high! Why Kia, why? This means you cant use a simple relay and just swap NO/NC pins to reverse the negative trigger. Can't even really use a relay on the trigger wire due to PWM signal.

Final solution:
Created an Arduino protoboard with inputs for battery power, ignition, accessory power, and headlights. I also have 3 lighted push button switches that allow me to disable everything or manually turn on the footwell or puddle lights.

Basical logic for the arduino:

If battery voltage is less than 12.4 volts OR disable switch is on, turn off dome and puddle lights and don't consider anything else.


If ( headlights are on OR {dome light trigger is low AND accessory power is high}) OR ( ignition is on or has been on within last 30 minutes AND manual switch is on): turn on footwell lights

If (ignition is not currently on AND {dome light trigger is low AND accessory power is high}) OR (ignition is on or has been on within last 30 minutes AND manual switch is on): turn on puddle lights.

The lights turn off using more advanced conditions and timmers, like the puddle light stays on after exiting the car for 10 seconds.

There's also advanced logic to handle the PWM input for the dome trigger signal. This actually is what causes the lights slowly turn on/off. Also, after driving, and getting out of the car, turn off the footwell lights but leave the puddle lights on for 10 seconds or, if the headlights are still on after leaving the car, turn off the puddle lights when the headlights turn off.

View attachment 15003View attachment 15004

Sounds like those footwell lights are NOT a simple install. Had been trying to decide if I wanted to add some once I get mine

 

[tazzytazzy]

Sounds like those footwell lights are NOT a simple install. Had been trying to decide if I wanted to add some once I get mine

The footwell lights could be done using a programmable latching relay from Amazon for $11, powered using the accessory wire. Use that as the trigger to a second relay, $5ish on amazon, powered by the car battery (thru a fuse). The only issue would be clicking noise whenever the circuit changed state. Putting that in a little padded project box and tucked in front of the center console. There's actually a lot of space here, just be carefully not to bump or leave too close to the heater core.
It's acutally pretty easy to do on the telluride. I just wanted more functions.

______________________________

 

[tazzytazzy]

Sounds like those footwell lights are NOT a simple install. Had been trying to decide if I wanted to add some once I get mine

Actually, if you use the headlights as your input, a single today will work. Field will only turn on with headlights. . Don't forget, the headlights turn on off you unlock the car in the dark.

 

[stinkythegrump]

Prepping for a tahoe trip. Cargo rack for taking 6 people and gear for 5 days up there.

Test fitted the chains, only drove a total of 4 feet. These don't even come close to getting near the wheels, at least at rest. Hopefully it remains that way when driving.

How did Groot do in the snow?

 

[DarkMossJustin]

How did Groot do in the snow?

Groot wears chains?

CalTrans waved me through with no chains. I asked the chain control guy if I was good to go and he just asked if I had AWD or 4WD. When I responded in the affirmative, he smiled and waved me through

 

[tazzytazzy]

How did Groot do in the snow?

Didn't really drive in the snow since it didn't snow for like 9 days before our trip. There was some ice in the steepish driveway to the Airbnb, and it handled that surprisingly well. We could barely walk on the ice without falling, but groot climbed into the garage nicely. We only attempted walking on the ice when we first arrived to open garage and the last day to close it. Otherwise, we just got in groot inside the garage and did our remote day adventures.

______________________________

 

[PL/OB Diego]

Next personalized plate. All black plate, yellow script. Groot & I'm Groot taken.

 

[tazzytazzy]

Next personalized plate. All black plate, yellow script. Groot & I'm Groot taken.
View attachment 15947

Hahah. Too funny. But, we're not wanting custom plates.

 

[Sparkle Girl 47]

View attachment 15002
Groot got a minor upgrade and a fix for the footwell lights last week.

It turns out, the footwell lights kept turning on a few seconds after locking the car. I didn't notice this for a while and was always wondering why the auto stop no longer worked, unless I charged the battery.

Apparently, the dome light trigger, which is a negative trigger, but would raise back up to 10 volts after the car was locked.

After 6 hours of tracing this down and inspecting various wires harnesses, pulling the front dome light, and 3rd row dome light; here's what happens (this also applies to Rocket, our 2021 Kia K5):

Every dome light has a circuit board with 3 wires: ground, accessory power, and dome trigger. If you close the door, but not locked, eventually the dome trigger will raise to 10 volts (3.52 volts in the K5) which turns off the dome lights. If you get out of the car, lock the door, the accessory power stays on, and the dome trigger goes high. Then, after 3ish seconds, the accessory power goes low and the dome trigger goes high! Why Kia, why? This means you cant use a simple relay and just swap NO/NC pins to reverse the negative trigger. Can't even really use a relay on the trigger wire due to PWM signal.

Final solution:
Created an Arduino protoboard with inputs for battery power, ignition, accessory power, and headlights. I also have 3 lighted push button switches that allow me to disable everything or manually turn on the footwell or puddle lights.

Basical logic for the arduino:

If battery voltage is less than 12.4 volts OR disable switch is on, turn off dome and puddle lights and don't consider anything else.


If ( headlights are on OR {dome light trigger is low AND accessory power is high}) OR ( ignition is on or has been on within last 30 minutes AND manual switch is on): turn on footwell lights

If (ignition is not currently on AND {dome light trigger is low AND accessory power is high}) OR (ignition is on or has been on within last 30 minutes AND manual switch is on): turn on puddle lights.

The lights turn off using more advanced conditions and timmers, like the puddle light stays on after exiting the car for 10 seconds.

There's also advanced logic to handle the PWM input for the dome trigger signal. This actually is what causes the lights slowly turn on/off. Also, after driving, and getting out of the car, turn off the footwell lights but leave the puddle lights on for 10 seconds or, if the headlights are still on after leaving the car, turn off the puddle lights when the headlights turn off.

View attachment 15003View attachment 15004

Groot is a Beauty, But that was clear as MUD!!LOL Guess you can tell I'm not technical.

 

[8vsb]

Great write up, thank you. Any possibility of sharing Groots Arduino lighting code?

“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.”― Oscar Wilde​

______________________________

 

[tazzytazzy]

Great write up, thank you. Any possibility of sharing Groots Arduino lighting code?

“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.”― Oscar Wilde​

I want to, but I'm working with a local installer on developing a complete/finished product that will be plug and play as more cars are getting more advanced circuits and he's running into more and more of these issues. We haven't fully decided to release the code. We are leaning to yes, but I'll let you know in a couple of weeks. We are currently pricing assemblers for surface mounted components and trying to determine if we have a viable product. Soldering these circuits is very time consuming, but the components are dirt cheap.

 

[8vsb]

I very much understand and look forward to that product becoming available.

 

[8vsb]

TazzyTazzy, any update on the product?