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Thread ID: 109006 2010-04-20 05:26:00 Disconnect car battery lakewoodlady (103) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
878537 2010-04-21 00:02:00 What piss-poor electronic engineering design work! Programming should all be held in memory that won't dump settings just because the battery goes flat. I've got programmed instrument stuff here that holds setting for months with no battery, and if it is that volatile, what's wrong with an onboard battery or supercap to hold the poor thing's hand while the battery lead is off.

Cheers

Billy 8-{)

I agree. But they probably do it on purpose, so they can charge you for the new battery (recharging? what's that?) and the computer repair all in one go :annoyed:

Didn't know that new cars did that though. Maybe it's just American ones? Surely the Japanese wouldn't make something like that....
Agent_24 (57)
878538 2010-04-21 01:18:00 Surely the Japanese wouldn't make something like that....

Think about your video recorder and it's programming - compare it to any other brand or model video set-up procedure and then tell me logic or consideration for the end user has taken any part in the convoluted mess that we wind up with.
Electronic devices' user interfaces are simply a plot to boost Valium sales.
R2x1 (4628)
878539 2010-04-21 03:10:00 Well my VCR has a backup battery or super capacitor which saves such information when the mains power is off :) Agent_24 (57)
878540 2010-04-21 04:22:00 And programming it is simple, logical and intuitive? R2x1 (4628)
878541 2010-04-21 04:25:00 What piss-poor electronic engineering design work! Programming should all be held in memory that won't dump settings just because the battery goes flat. I've got programmed instrument stuff here that holds setting for months with no battery, and if it is that volatile, what's wrong with an on-board battery or super cap to hold the poor thing's hand while the battery lead is off.

Cheers

Billy 8-{)

Quite right B,certainly some rubbish emanates from that quarter.
Cicero (40)
878542 2010-04-21 04:29:00 9v battery in the ciggie lighter on some cars will work for a few days running the clock and computer but opening the door and the courtesy light coming on will murder it. prefect (6291)
878543 2010-04-21 08:05:00 9v battery in the ciggie lighter on some cars will work for a few days running the clock and computer
That will only work if the ignition key is turned to accessory position as otherwise the circuit is broken to the cig lighter :thumbs:.

but opening the door and the courtesy light coming on will murder it.
Plug the saver-battery in, through the open window.
feersumendjinn (64)
878544 2010-04-21 11:14:00 What piss-poor electronic engineering design work! Programming should all be held in memory that won't dump settings just because the battery goes flat. I've got programmed instrument stuff here that holds setting for months with no battery, and if it is that volatile, what's wrong with an onboard battery or supercap to hold the poor thing's hand while the battery lead is off.

Cheers

Billy 8-{)

some cars ecu's loose the info straight away, some hold onto the data for a while, others permanently.
with some they loose some data, which is probably deliberate so drivers can reset ecu out on the road.
tweak'e (69)
878545 2010-04-21 12:03:00 some cars ecu's loose the info straight away, some hold onto the data for a while, others permanently.with some they loose some data, which is probably deliberate so drivers can reset ecu out on the road.

So I say again, what piss-poor electronic engineering design work! :annoyed: It is so simple to provide a backup so there's no excuse for leaving it volatile, except to screw the holy dollar. If they want to provide a reset function, that would be easy to implement and at minimal cost.

Cheers

Billy 8-{)
Billy T (70)
878546 2010-04-21 12:28:00 Hi Guys

Just an idea . Grab some red and black wire, 2x aligator clips, a 9v battery clip, (recycle the top from a flat one), a diode, red insulating tape and a new 9v battery .

Solder the wires to the recylced battery clip . Red to the positive, black is negative . Don't follow any markings on this clip as it is a mirror image . Cut the red wire about 10 cm from the battery clip . Insert the diode into the gap between the cut red wires . Make sure line on diode faces away from 9v battery clip . Insulate with tape .

Solder aligator clips to other ends of wire .

Hey!! yah just made an Auto Data Retaining Unit or any other bullshit name yah wanta call it .

In use, clip in the 9v battery then clip the postive RED wire to the car's positive battery lead . The Black wire clips to the car's negative battery lead .

Remove the car battery . Check the leads are not touching each other or the car body . Close the bonnet .

Your data is safe . Don't need to worry about how your ignition switch is configued or open car windows . Keep doors etc closed, locked even and everything turned off, including the bloody door light/s .

Should work . As I said . . . just an idea!!

BURNZEE
Burnzee (6950)
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