[DML] door openers

["endotex23" <endotex23@xxxxxxxxx>]

I usually remain a lurker but I wanted to comment on Darryl's post 
about door openers. I installed a system years ago which included 
alarm, remote start, keyless entry, and door opening in one combined 
unit. I selected the control unit and motor driven actuators over 
solenoids for specific reasons, mainly the ease in which they could 
be intergrated into the car's existing wiring and the all-in-one 
functionality. I rejected solenoids due to their weight, high inrush 
current, and their suceptability to failure from insulation breakdown 
caused by inductive kickback. The size required also prevents hidden 
installation, something easily acomplished using geared motor driven 
linear actuators

As a machine design engineer I researched many types of actuators for 
the proper specs and robustness and chose one particular brand after 
studying everything available. It later turned out these are the same 
units Darryl (now Toby) offers. They performed flawlessly since day 
one and when the car was disposed of had nearly one thousand total 
operations. (I know this because the system counted each door 
operation.)

Although I didn't get the actuators from Darryl or Toby, in deference 
to the contributions they've both made to the D community I'll 
decline from revealing the source. My point is you can have complete 
faith in them. The Zilla design is vaporware and who knows how long 
it'll be until it's a reality. And although it may offer plug and 
play, installing Darryl's actuators aren't difficult.

The other point I'll make is you should interlock the system to 
prevent unintended door openings. (I'm not sure the Zilla design will 
even offer such a feature.) You may forget to lock your doors and 
even if you do the system should have a safety function built in. It 
can be done many ways, the car I did wouldn't release the doors if 
the speed was over 20 mph. There are simpler ways to implement this 
interlock if you don't wish to sample speed. Darryl is right, why 
wait for something that is available now and has a proven track 
record? 

Just my two cents based on experience.

Endotex23




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