Hi I am going to purchase my first Raspberry Pi, what I am wondering is what accessories I should get with the Pi.
I was hoping to be able to use the Pi with my android device to remote start my motorcycle, I have seen a few guys do it with their cars so I imagine it is possible.
I would appreciate pointers to what I should get hardware wise to be able to achieve this and any articles I should read
Thanks.
Parasimha
Re: kit needed for first Pi adventure
If you intend to do GPIO projects (which the remote start would be included in) I'd recommend picking up a small electronics kit, if you don't already have the parts. This would include a breadboard, jumper wires, resistors, transistors, LEDs, diodes etc. Start building simple circuits on a desktop and move up to more complex ones and ones mounted in a motorcycle.
Is it safe to assume that the motorcycle has a 12v power system? If so, use a good 1A (or better) USB lighter adapter to drop that to the 5v that the Pi needs. This will include a 12v-5v voltage regulator. Even if you don't have a lighter on the bike, the internal components can probably be wired to the bike more easily than a separate part, and it comes with its own case. You don't need to pick that up while you're still learning, but do before you install it.
Do you know what sort of interface the Pi will need to be able to remote start the engine? If it's just connecting two wires together, use a relay board, which will be much easier to work with than an individual relay component, and it's probably less expensive than all of the components you'll need bought separately.
If you want your MotorPiCycle to be connected to the Internet, you'll probably need a cellular USB dongle. If it doesn't need to work away from home, a wifi dongle that's configured to connect to your home wifi network could work, but only when it's in range. Or you could set up the Pi dongle in AP mode and connect your cell to your bike's AP to start it, but this probably has some issues that you won't like (no 3G/4G network when you're connected, for example.)
More details on your plans will yield more useful info.
Is it safe to assume that the motorcycle has a 12v power system? If so, use a good 1A (or better) USB lighter adapter to drop that to the 5v that the Pi needs. This will include a 12v-5v voltage regulator. Even if you don't have a lighter on the bike, the internal components can probably be wired to the bike more easily than a separate part, and it comes with its own case. You don't need to pick that up while you're still learning, but do before you install it.
Do you know what sort of interface the Pi will need to be able to remote start the engine? If it's just connecting two wires together, use a relay board, which will be much easier to work with than an individual relay component, and it's probably less expensive than all of the components you'll need bought separately.
If you want your MotorPiCycle to be connected to the Internet, you'll probably need a cellular USB dongle. If it doesn't need to work away from home, a wifi dongle that's configured to connect to your home wifi network could work, but only when it's in range. Or you could set up the Pi dongle in AP mode and connect your cell to your bike's AP to start it, but this probably has some issues that you won't like (no 3G/4G network when you're connected, for example.)
More details on your plans will yield more useful info.
Re: kit needed for first Pi adventure
Thanks for your detailed response, I am new to this so I just wanted a push in the right direction.
It will no doubt take me quite a while to get the knowledge to do what I want but I have wanted to do it for a long time and have to do a challenging project or I don't see the point.
The battery is upgraded to a 14v, not sure on wiring as there is an immobiliser but I will figure that part out later.
I will just buy the parts you suggested and give it a crack. In relation to Raspberry Pi specific hardware, what do you recommend?
Another project I am very interested in is a gps tracker that can kill the engine remotely, tied in to what I want to do I imagine so if you can think of specific things I need for that also that would be much appreciated.
Thanks again,
Parasimha
It will no doubt take me quite a while to get the knowledge to do what I want but I have wanted to do it for a long time and have to do a challenging project or I don't see the point.
The battery is upgraded to a 14v, not sure on wiring as there is an immobiliser but I will figure that part out later.
I will just buy the parts you suggested and give it a crack. In relation to Raspberry Pi specific hardware, what do you recommend?
Another project I am very interested in is a gps tracker that can kill the engine remotely, tied in to what I want to do I imagine so if you can think of specific things I need for that also that would be much appreciated.
Thanks again,
Parasimha
Re: kit needed for first Pi adventure
If by Pi specific hardware you mean the Pi itself, the main difference between model A and B is that B has an Ethernet port but takes more power. It also has an extra USB port, but that can be fixed with the addition of a hub to the A.parasimha wrote:Thanks for your detailed response, I am new to this so I just wanted a push in the right direction.
It will no doubt take me quite a while to get the knowledge to do what I want but I have wanted to do it for a long time and have to do a challenging project or I don't see the point.
The battery is upgraded to a 14v, not sure on wiring as there is an immobiliser but I will figure that part out later.
I will just buy the parts you suggested and give it a crack. In relation to Raspberry Pi specific hardware, what do you recommend?
Another project I am very interested in is a gps tracker that can kill the engine remotely, tied in to what I want to do I imagine so if you can think of specific things I need for that also that would be much appreciated.
Thanks again,
Parasimha
If you mean external hardware, that depends on how you plan to use it. The only add-on I have is the Cobbler, which makes it much easier to use with a breadboard. You'll also want some sort of a case, especially if it will be mounted on a motorcycle.
14v may require a higher-quality voltage regulator than I had initially recommended, but there may be lighter adapters which work well with higher voltages. Just check the specs to verify, or be prepared to burn out few $1-2 adapters before you find one that has decent internal components. Or pick up a non-lighter adapter voltage regulator that works on anything between about 12-24v and be done with it.
Wouldn't a GPS tracker and an emergency shutoff be two different components? I do know people use GPS sensors with the Pi. As for the shutoff, I'd install a relay in the circuit that you can trigger to kill power to something critical (that loss of power won't damage, of course.) Probably just in line with the ignition switch, but I don't know...
BTW, you might find better help on this topic in the Automation, Sensing, and Robotics forum, rather than Beginners. This falls under Automation, IMO. (I regularly follow that topic also, so I'm not trying to get rid of you.
)Re: kit needed for first Pi adventure
lol thanks, I appreciate your help. I will post in Automation, Sensing, and Robotics forum when I get stuck which will be soon no doubt!