[sci.electronics] car Body Electrification

kelly@uts.amdahl.com (Kelly Goen) (01/19/90)

Hi all...
    this next inquiry is as off the wall as you can get....
I have been dealing with INFO-UNLIMITED for the past few years and
have obtained one of their VED-1(Vehicle Electrification Device)
in theory the circuit is similar to the Standard CD ignition devices...
btw it generates Pulsed DC in the 20-25 KV range with about 200 Millijoules
output from 10 to 20 pps... the device is wired as a negative ground...the
positive output of the device is then run through a length of ignition cable
to a chain dragging on the ground(insulated from the vehicle of course)
when the cars body is touched a shock to the recipient results...(
PLEASE dont worry about the liabilities or legalities at this point...
my inquiry is technical only at this point)   my question is this
Assuming that standard onboard ECM modules are on the vehicle
along with a 1500w inverter and LOTS of computer and communication equipment)
are installed on the same negative ground... will the onboard equipment be at
risk from either direct or induced voltages...btw its wired so that if
the main battery is disconnected without permission or the wire to the
alarm system is cut then the device is switched on with a backup battery as 
its power source...are my ONBOARD computer systems and comm gear at risk...
is there a way to shield this equipment if it is???via lightning arrestor
circuits or some other method...PLEASE someone help this harebrained
computer freak out before I have to rebuild all the onboard equipment...

       thanx all
       kelly
p.s. since this might have some application to a number of readers please
use Followups as opposed to email so all can benefit...
if you want to flame me... my email is kelly@uts.amdahl.com
I am also crossposting this to rec.autos.tech

ferguson@maitai.SRC.Honeywell.COM (Dennis Ferguson) (01/31/90)

In article <26245@cup.portal.com> Nagle@cup.portal.com (John - Nagle) writes:
>
>      There's some risk of igniting any gas spill with a car body
>electrification system.  This should be kept in mind.  Any setup...

Please allow me to relate a small story on electrification of cars.  In
a much similar time (late 60's) my folks lived at the edge of a small
town.  Their house was located next to a highway with a ditch between
the house and the highway.  The ditch seemed to be a major thoroughfare
for the loose dogs in the town.  One dog had a particularly nasty habit
of relieving himself on my father's new Austin Healy Sprite.  Being somewhat
annoyed at the smell of urine on his new car, he electrified the car with
a car battery and a flyback transformer (its been too long to remember all the
details).   I happened to be around when the dog decided to relieve himself
per his usual habit.  I did not believe dogs could make such high pitched
noises.  After a couple of days, no more problems.

Oh, by the way...  to my knowledge the electrication did not impact the
car at all.

Dennis

wtm@neoucom.UUCP (Bill Mayhew) (02/01/90)

I won't comment on the moral or legal aspects of electrifying your
car.  But... Don't be surpised if a thief retailates for receiving
a nasty shock from your car by commiting an act of vandalism.

It isn't too difficult to pick up a pop bottle or a baseball bat
and take a few swings on the hood of that nice electrified BMW.  A
disgruntled person could also easily lob a rock or brick at the
car.

One system that seemed interesting was to install a cattle prod
under the driver's seat with a 30 second delay timer.  That way,
the intended driver could get in the car and press a hidden button
to disable the zapping.  Such a system would prevent passers-by who
inadvertantly contact the car from being zapped unnecessarily.  The
disadvantage is that the thief could still get out of the car and
vandalize in retaliation.  I also sure would hat to be in traffic
if the seat-zapper went of accidentally; could cause a wreck.


Bill

abbott@ms.uky.edu (Joel Abbott) (02/01/90)

In article <1888@neoucom.UUCP> wtm@neoucom.UUCP (Bill Mayhew) writes:
>One system that seemed interesting was to install a cattle prod
>under the driver's seat with a 30 second delay timer.  That way,
>the intended driver could get in the car and press a hidden button
>to disable the zapping.  Such a system would prevent passers-by who
>inadvertantly contact the car from being zapped unnecessarily.  The
>disadvantage is that the thief could still get out of the car and
>vandalize in retaliation.  I also sure would hat to be in traffic
>if the seat-zapper went of accidentally; could cause a wreck.

And these days, I bet the thief and everyone who was nearby would
sue you for making them inconvenienced, and win.
-- 
Joel Abbott -> abbott@ms.uky.edu, abbott@ukma.bitnet, uunet!ukma!abbott
"Conjunction-junction, what's your function...?"