Troubleshooting: Dash Photon Detector for Car Aircon Recirculation Button

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around troubleshooting a car air conditioning recirculation button that turns off unexpectedly, leading to increased pollution levels inside the vehicle. Participants explore potential solutions involving photon detectors and buzzer alerts to notify the user when the button is off.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests fitting a photon detector into the recirculation button to alert when it turns off, indicating a need for a solution that integrates with existing car electronics.
  • Another participant proposes using a commercial photo diode to activate a transistor that switches an oscillator connected to a small speaker, noting the need for tuning to set the light threshold correctly.
  • A later reply questions the feasibility of designing the circuit from scratch and inquires about the availability of pre-built modules that could simplify the implementation.
  • Another participant mentions the possibility of finding a pre-built component that could simplify the design, suggesting a buzzer that requires only power to function.
  • One participant proposes directly connecting a buzzer to the wire that activates the light, suggesting a simpler approach using a 555 timer circuit.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various ideas and approaches, but there is no consensus on the best solution. Multiple competing views remain regarding the implementation of the photon detector and buzzer system.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the need for tuning and the potential complexity of the circuit design, indicating that assumptions about the existing car wiring and components may affect the proposed solutions.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in automotive electronics, DIY projects related to car modifications, or those facing similar issues with vehicle air conditioning systems may find this discussion relevant.

chirhone
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My car aircon recirculation button often turns off by itself. I guess this happens when the aircon is cold enough.

received_578342043021906.jpeg

Problem is. When it turns off and the indicator light disappears, the pollution outside gets into my car and my pm2.5 monitor registers 20x higher.

What kind of photon detector can I fit into the almost 2 inches round button so if it detects the light is turns on it will sound a buzzer alerting me to it? I post this here instead of at Computing and Technology because the photon diode may need to be assembled using wires and small dc battery, hence connected to electrical.
 
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Commercial photo diodes are cheap, simple and tiny (<1 mm2 isn't an issue). Let one activate a transistor that switches an oscillator, hook it up to a small speaker. It will need a bit of tuning to get the light threshold right. Add a switch to disable the system. Battery, speaker and switch will probably be the largest parts. If the sound should stop after a while you need a bit more electronics.
 
mfb said:
Commercial photo diodes are cheap, simple and tiny (<1 mm2 isn't an issue). Let one activate a transistor that switches an oscillator, hook it up to a small speaker. It will need a bit of tuning to get the light threshold right. Add a switch to disable the system. Battery, speaker and switch will probably be the largest parts. If the sound should stop after a while you need a bit more electronics.

Do you know something more accessible like a module? I don't know how to design it from scratch like connecting transistors to the photodiodes. There may be commercial photodiodes with transistors already that I can just use it by connecting to the battery? Anyone?
 
There is a good chance that such a thing exists as a pre-built component, but finding that might need some time. A buzzer that just needs power would take care of the oscillator, that gets rid of most individual components.
 
Why not just do a little probing around under the dash and find the wire that turns on the light and connect it directly to a buzzer or a on-off buzzer driving circuit such as a 555 timer?
 
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