Project: Custom Spoiler Control Module
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 424
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by leeshephard
any update to this project? I think the best solution is a plug and play replacement unit...
I've run two group buys for the "Raycm 993 OBD1 codereader" now, and to be honest, it's just a ton of work and administration. With 2 small kids and a job, I don't think I'll be getting into this business.
I would be open to turning the code and schematics over to someone on Rennlist who wants to pick it up as an open source nonprofit thing like the OBD reader. If someone wants to buy the stuff and make money on it I'd consider that too. Honestly though, this seems like a niche product without a whole lot of demand. Sure was fun to figure out how to build it, though.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 205
Likes: 2
From: Bristol, UK
Colin I understand your reluctance to commit yourself to this project, as a Dad of one I find that I have next to no spare time so with two it would be a nightmare!
Although I earn my living these days as a sound engineer I do have a background in electronics and also have my own little bubble etch tank and have the PIC programmer etc
I would be willing to make a batch of pcb's and PIC IC's to send out..the other components look like they are easily available.
I cant promise that I would get to it right away...
How many boards/PIC's would we be needing you think?
Although I earn my living these days as a sound engineer I do have a background in electronics and also have my own little bubble etch tank and have the PIC programmer etc
I would be willing to make a batch of pcb's and PIC IC's to send out..the other components look like they are easily available.
I cant promise that I would get to it right away...
How many boards/PIC's would we be needing you think?
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 25
Likes: 4
From: NoVA
Would this work for a 964 as well? I would also prefer to be able to determine a more suitable raise/lower speed for in-town driving. In the meantime I just keep the spoiler raised all the time for in-town stuff.
Allow the spoiler to deploy automatically above 50mph. When the car is slowed to below 50mph, but not before the spoiler retracts again, tell the spoiler to go "up" (a clockwise twist on the 964 control). This will keep the spoiler deployed up even when you come to a full stop. It will stay up until you manually retract it (only below 50) or the next time the car is started.
I prefer the smooth lines of a retracted spoiler but at least this prevents the motor from running so much. Would be interested to know if the 993 works the same way.
-90 964 C2
Allow the spoiler to deploy automatically above 50mph. When the car is slowed to below 50mph, but not before the spoiler retracts again, tell the spoiler to go "up" (a clockwise twist on the 964 control). This will keep the spoiler deployed up even when you come to a full stop. It will stay up until you manually retract it (only below 50) or the next time the car is started.
I prefer the smooth lines of a retracted spoiler but at least this prevents the motor from running so much. Would be interested to know if the 993 works the same way.
-90 964 C2
Rennlist Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,679
Likes: 785
From: Canada & the Alps
I thought somebody was, otherwise my co-worker would design an elegant solution that is a mere fraction of the size using FETs instead of stone age relays and it would be fully user-programmable via Bluetooth.
Nordschleife Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 5,653
Likes: 93
From: Torrance, CA USA
If someone designed, tested and built 200 of these, and priced them ~$100, they would sell in a heartbeat.
I would buy one.
Rennlist Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,017
Likes: 113
From: Redondo Beach, CA
Rennlist Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 8,679
Likes: 785
From: Canada & the Alps
Mojorizing is working on one when time permits, so there is one in the works.
https://rennlist.com/forums/993-foru...l#post10043013
https://rennlist.com/forums/993-foru...l#post10043013
Pro
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 578
Likes: 57
From: was: CA, 956XX
Or just buy a freely programmable one from this company:
www.tacho-fett.de
I think the language is German only, can't remember.
I just noticed that the site is under construction.
www.tacho-fett.de
I think the language is German only, can't remember.
I just noticed that the site is under construction.
AutoX
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 13
Likes: 1
Still out there..?
I wanted to share my latest project, a programmable spoiler control module for my 993. I've been looking around for alternatives to the stock unit, and the RUF is just way too expensive for what you get, IMO. So I spent twice what the RUF costs, and spent tons of time, to figure out how to make a complete replacement. Now THERE's a good return on investment! 
(For me, it was really about the challenge, and learning something about how the car works.)
The circuit is built around a 4MHz programmable microcontroller. There's some support circuitry to control the relays, a circuit to convert the incoming speed signal to something usable by the chip (TTL), and of course a stable power supply to run it all. The four LEDs indicate heartbeat, tail is up, tail is down, and "error" to indicate that a part (motor, switch, button, etc.) has failed. Everything is isolated or buffered so there's no direct connection between this board and the car's electronics.
The nicest thing about doing it this way is that spoiler behavior is totally configurable in software. The board links to a laptop using a serial connector and downloads its code, which then stays in memory indefinitely. I can change raising speed,lowering speed, and whether the console button is a one-touch manual operation.
Also threw in some more sophisticated rules, such as "only raise the tail if the car is above X MPH for Y number of seconds," to prevent the light-to light up/down/up/down pattern we know so so well.
Since it's got memory built in, some adaptive "learning" is also possible, such as detecting a series of traffic lights or stop-and-go freeway driving on your regular commute and adapting accordingly. Sky's the limit because it's all just code.
I've been using it for two week on my daily commute and back road drives, and it's working fine. I've currently got it programmed for tail-up at 65MPH, down at 15MPH, and "only raise if I'm above 65MPH for 10 seconds straight." I made the console button one-touch (not hold down), and allowed the button to manually lower the tail at any speed below 65MPH. The dash indicator in the clock could also be set up as a tail up/down indicator or whatever.
I'm working on putting the board into a nice anodized extruded aluminum box. It should look as good as stock. Right now I've had to fab up a male plug because I still haven't found the correct connector. All in all, this has been a fun project and I learned a lot about the car's circuitry.
(For me, it was really about the challenge, and learning something about how the car works.)The circuit is built around a 4MHz programmable microcontroller. There's some support circuitry to control the relays, a circuit to convert the incoming speed signal to something usable by the chip (TTL), and of course a stable power supply to run it all. The four LEDs indicate heartbeat, tail is up, tail is down, and "error" to indicate that a part (motor, switch, button, etc.) has failed. Everything is isolated or buffered so there's no direct connection between this board and the car's electronics.
The nicest thing about doing it this way is that spoiler behavior is totally configurable in software. The board links to a laptop using a serial connector and downloads its code, which then stays in memory indefinitely. I can change raising speed,lowering speed, and whether the console button is a one-touch manual operation.
Also threw in some more sophisticated rules, such as "only raise the tail if the car is above X MPH for Y number of seconds," to prevent the light-to light up/down/up/down pattern we know so so well.
Since it's got memory built in, some adaptive "learning" is also possible, such as detecting a series of traffic lights or stop-and-go freeway driving on your regular commute and adapting accordingly. Sky's the limit because it's all just code.
I've been using it for two week on my daily commute and back road drives, and it's working fine. I've currently got it programmed for tail-up at 65MPH, down at 15MPH, and "only raise if I'm above 65MPH for 10 seconds straight." I made the console button one-touch (not hold down), and allowed the button to manually lower the tail at any speed below 65MPH. The dash indicator in the clock could also be set up as a tail up/down indicator or whatever.
I'm working on putting the board into a nice anodized extruded aluminum box. It should look as good as stock. Right now I've had to fab up a male plug because I still haven't found the correct connector. All in all, this has been a fun project and I learned a lot about the car's circuitry.
Joining a bit late but hoping that your project came to fruition and that these modules are available? I'd like to purchase one as I have the same issue with my 1996 993,,,
Thanks,
RML
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 2,611
Likes: 1,696
From: New Jersey
