Hacking a clock spring

Farmerman1379 · August 19, 2019

I have an 18 Custom CCSB 4x4. Since it didn't come with fog lights I put my own fogs behind the grille. I had an idea of putting the switch for them in the right button panel on the steering wheel since it's a blank plate. My truck's still in the shop being worked on so I can't check the clock spring out myself, but would it be possible to get a clock spring for a higher trim steering wheel and use one of the extra wires to connect a switch for my lights and then splice out of the clock spring into a relay?

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tbarn · August 19, 2019

In theory, yea.

Jglew82 · August 19, 2019

1 hour ago, Farmerman1379 said:

I have an 18 Custom CCSB 4x4. Since it didn't come with fog lights I put my own fogs behind the grille. I had an idea of putting the switch for them in the right button panel on the steering wheel since it's a blank plate. My truck's still in the shop being worked on so I can't check the clock spring out myself, but would it be possible to get a clock spring for a higher trim steering wheel and use one of the extra wires to connect a switch for my lights and then splice out of the clock spring into a relay?

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I could see this working, using a momentary switch to ground-actuate a relay. Just double check wiring diagrams if you can for each of the clocksprings to make sure the connectors will still play nice with your airbag. I'd definitely use the switch to provide a ground to the relay, those clockspring wires are super small because they only transmit Lin-Bus data, if I remember correctly.

Darksky · August 19, 2019

Two words: Phil Gamboa

Farmerman1379 · August 19, 2019

Two words: Phil Gamboa

How do you summon him to a thread? I don't know if it's possible to link someone in a comment, unless you mean PM.

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aseibel · August 19, 2019

14 minutes ago, Farmerman1379 said:

How do you summon him to a thread? I don't know if it's possible to link someone in a comment, unless you mean PM.

@pgamboa

Farmerman1379 · August 19, 2019

I could see this working, using a momentary switch to ground-actuate a relay. Just double check wiring diagrams if you can for each of the clocksprings to make sure the connectors will still play nice with your airbag. I'd definitely use the switch to provide a ground to the relay, those clockspring wires are super small because they only transmit Lin-Bus data, if I remember correctly.

What kind of relay would work with a momentary switch? Also would it be possible to have multiple input triggers for the relay instead of just one? Tried to find a relay made specifically for momentaries but I couldn't quite find what I was looking for to my (lacking) knowledge. I've dug around before trying to figure out a way to use a momentary to keep a relay active and then deactivate when I press the button again, but to do that all I could find was to use a specific circuit between the relay and switch.

Thinking about it as well, the switches I've kinda picked out have an LED light to indicate they're in the ON position. Since the wiring is a small gauge, do you think its feasible to power the LED on the switch through the clock spring wiring, or would it be a better idea to skip the LED indicator or run an auxiliary LED indicator off of the relay instead? And I'm assuming if I ran it off of the relay I would need resistors to step down the voltage.

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pgamboa · August 20, 2019

I’ve been summoned [emoji23]. Love it. LOL

Ok... so here is what I know in the short time messing with the clock spring/wheel controls.

I had another member ask the same question in being able to use the Crash Avoidance Button (above the heat button) for something else.

The heat button has a signal that can be intercepted to use for something else. But I could get anything out of the Crash avoidance button. It seems that there may be some logic tied to the signal that the button is sending.

Again, I only messed with this for like 5 minutes.

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Jglew82 · August 20, 2019

14 hours ago, Farmerman1379 said:

What kind of relay would work with a momentary switch? Also would it be possible to have multiple input triggers for the relay instead of just one? Tried to find a relay made specifically for momentaries but I couldn't quite find what I was looking for to my (lacking) knowledge. I've dug around before trying to figure out a way to use a momentary to keep a relay active and then deactivate when I press the button again, but to do that all I could find was to use a specific circuit between the relay and switch.

Thinking about it as well, the switches I've kinda picked out have an LED light to indicate they're in the ON position. Since the wiring is a small gauge, do you think its feasible to power the LED on the switch through the clock spring wiring, or would it be a better idea to skip the LED indicator or run an auxiliary LED indicator off of the relay instead? And I'm assuming if I ran it off of the relay I would need resistors to step down the voltage.

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Sorry, I used the wrong word - meant toggle switch. As far as a lit switch, you'll obviously need power and ground, so you'll just need to think through your wiring. Sketch it out on paper first, that's what I always do when adding circuits. And obviously, you'll need enough "spare" wires in your new clock spring.

silveradosid · August 20, 2019

you will need a latching relay, it is the only thing that will work with a momentary input

pgamboa · August 20, 2019

Yup. Latching relay is what you want. 4-input will allow for multiple inputs as well.

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bndawgs · August 20, 2019

1 hour ago, pgamboa said:

I’ve been summoned . Love it. LOL

Ok... so here is what I know in the short time messing with the clock spring/wheel controls.

I had another member ask the same question in being able to use the Crash Avoidance Button (above the heat button) for something else.

The heat button has a signal that can be intercepted to use for something else. But I could get anything out of the Crash avoidance button. It seems that there may be some logic tied to the signal that the button is sending.

Again, I only messed with this for like 5 minutes.

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I think you should mess with it some more before I get around to installing my wheel.

Farmerman1379 · August 20, 2019

Yup. Latching relay is what you want. 4-input will allow for multiple inputs as well.

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So clock spring with heated steering wheel option, tap into that wire and send it to a latching relay with a toggle switch? Do you think it would be fairly easily doable to have a lit switch and run power through the clock spring for the indicator light? IIRC the heated steering wheel has a LED indicator for when it's on, doesnt it?

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