Freelander 1 Not your normal Freelander mods thread.

[htr]

I've had a look (a long wait for the recovery truck yesterday!) - all the tyre pressure systems listed are either the plug-into-cigar-lighter variety or are solar powered. None are as small or as neat as the one you have. Can you recall what it was called on the Ali Express site? I think I may have an Ali Express account, but I don't often use it... (can I remember the username and password I wonder??? LOL)

Here's two on AliExpress TPMS [ it's under £40] and this one comes with either the internal pressure sender units or the external ones [just over £50]. I searched with CAREUD U912 Auto Wireless TPMS on eBay. They are there but I feel that they are a wee bit dearer.

 

[tlo]

I wonder if that would fit in the blank were the heated seat buttons are on a facelift freelander been looking for something to fill that hole

 

[Nodge68]

I wonder if that would fit in the blank were the heated seat buttons are on a facelift freelander been looking for something to fill that hole

The Freelander uses switches that are about 40mm X 20mm. So if the display is similar in size. You might get that OE look.

 

[rob_bell]

From the Ali Express listing the display size is 34 x 23.5mm.

 

[Nodge68]

Ok. So continuing with the theme of slightly different Freelander mods, here's the next one.
I am one for doing things in as easy a way as possible. So for me, having to plug my phone in to charge while listening to BT music is pain, not to mention potentially damaging to the phone socket.
So it occurred to me that the little recess in the armrest lid would be a perfect place to charge my phone. So I did some internet searching and came across a cheap and cheerful Qi charger that fitted the space available almost perfectly. I trimmed the rubber pad (was damaged anyway)

to accept the Qi charger base plate, allowing it to sit as deeply as possible.

Theres the Qi charger as supplied, which cost under £6.

A look inside showed me why it took some 5 hours to charge my GS7 from 50 to 80% with its LED case fitted.

So I've ordered a more powerful 3 coil Qi module which I'll add to this casing when it arrives.

So after trimming the rubber pad and fitting the Qi case, I'm at a point where I need to get the system wired up. I'll need to wait for some more parts to arrive from China, but for now the cosmetics are sorted.
This is the final look, which I'm very pleased with.

And it fits my GS7 in just perfect.

 

[rob_bell]

Could you put those coils under the rubber mat and keep the mat intact? Or would the rubber curtail the energy transfer?

 

[Nodge68]

Could you put those coils under the rubber mat and keep the mat intact? Or would the rubber curtail the energy transfer?

Yes the coils could go under the mat. However I decided to simply cover the mat as mine was damaged. The coils will still charge the phone at up to 8mm from the coils surface, so yes it would work fine under the mat. If I got a decent replacement mat, I'd put the coils below it.

 

[rob_bell]

Interesting: thanks! I had the same thought as you, but hadn’t realised you can buy cheap coils!

 

[Nodge68]

Interesting: thanks! I had the same thought as you, but hadn’t realised you can buy cheap coils!

The coils are available very cheaply for the technology used.

 

[rob_bell]

Just been doing some reading - sounds ideal for cars!

I’d be interested in finding out which listing you got your three-coil Qi from?

 

[Nodge68]

Just been doing some reading - sounds ideal for cars!

I’d be interested in finding out which listing you got your three-coil Qi from?

This is the one I ordered.
https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/5V-2A-3Coi...915045?hash=item1eda906525:g:rAgAAOSwtdpakOEa

I also ordered a 12 to 5 volt USB circuit board to power it. I got that from Amazon, but can't link to it here.

 

[rob_bell]

Awesome, thanks

 

[Nodge68]

Could you put those coils under the rubber mat and keep the mat intact? Or would the rubber curtail the energy transfer?

Just an update on my Qi (wireless charging) project.

I read Rob's post above, which got me thinking. I could fit some Qi coils under the central cubby below the stereo.
So having a couple of hours free, I got cracking with the assembly.

First I needed to work out precisely where the coils needed to be fitted. I powered the coils up and placed my GS7 into the cubby, moving the coils about until the position was correct. I marked the cubby with a Sharpy, so I could fit the coil later.

I then used my trusty hot melt glue gun to stick the coils to the underside of the cubby.

The circuit board was a fraction to large to fit to the end of the cubby, so I trimmed it off as there're weren't any tracks on the edges. I then stuck the circuit board to the end of the cubby box.

To be continued:

 

[rob_bell]

Looking good!

 

[Alibro]

Great Idea Nodge, I hate wires trailing about but I use the phone as a Sat Nav all the time which kills the battery in it so I need it charging.
I love my hot snot gun too.

 

[Nodge68]

love my hot snot gun too

It's a hobbyist go to solution for anything that needs bonding quickly!


So once I had the components stuck to the cubby I gave it a test. It worked perfectly, charging the phone without being position fussy, just like I wanted.

So once the electronics were sorted, I wanted to be able to see the charging LEDs which are fitted the board. Slightly annoyingly the LEDs are on the wrong side of the board, meaning they would illuminate under the dash. So I came up the a DIY "light pipe" to get round the problem.
I used a clear 5 mm LED, which I cut the lens off of. I drilled a 5 mm hole in the cubby back panel, adjacent to the LEDs on the board into which pushed my LED lens.

I made a sandwich of 0.5 mm clear plastic and some white paper, bridging the LEDs and LED lens light pipe, stuck down with black tape.
This allows the light from the LEDs to shine through the light pipe indirectly, meaning a subtle rather than glaring light.

I then mummified the whole lot in gaffer tape to protect from accidental shorts behind the dash.


The next part of the installation was to provide the Qi charging board with a 5 Volt USB supply. For this I used a 12 Volt to 5 Volt "buck" regulator, which I keep for powering various devices from my workshop solar battery system.

I simply soldered a length of 5 Amp twin core cable to this and wrapped it in tape.

I then connected my Qi board to the USB buck regulator by a short 2 Amp rated USB lead.

The 12 Volts end was connected to the fuse box at the radio feed using a blade breakout connector. The earth was connected to a nearby bolt using a crimp on ring terminal.

The end result is neat and functional and I can tell when the phone is charging by the colour of the light visible at the back of the cubby box.
Red for standby.

Blue for charging.

That's it until the next instalment of "Not your normal Freelander mods".

 

[rob_bell]

Really nice Nodge!

 

[Alibro]

Really nice bodge Nodge!

Edited for fun.

 

[Alibro]

Damn you Nodge!!!!!
I just ordered the parts to do something similar and you made me do it!!!
First.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Universal-Qi-Wireless-Charging-Receiver-for-All-Micro-USB-Android-Mobile-UK/321934866628?var=510878378350&_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIC.MBE&ao=2&asc=49129&meid=ab1904ec22ad4e4d83dc46bd6cc21437&pid=100011&rk=9&rkt=12&mehot=ag&sd=261348107126&itm=510878378350&_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850
cause my stoopid phone doesn't have wireless charging built in.
Then
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-Coils-Qi-DIY-Wireless-Phone-Charger-PCBA-Circuit-Board-Coil-Dock-Micro-USB-10W/273029124434?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
cause it was the cheapest three coil I could find that would ship to me. Bizarrely the one you linked to Nodge refuse to ship to NI from China.
Now to wait three or four weeks for delivery from China.

Edit, I been a muppet!
I ordered the reciever from a UK supplier and paid 2 squid more than the same from China.
And I still have to wait for the transmitter to come from China before I can use it.
Aargh!!!!

 

[Nodge68]

Bizarrely the one you linked to Nodge refuse to ship to NI from China.

How bizarre.

And I still have to wait for the transmitter to come from China before I can use it.
Aargh!!!!

I've got caught by that too.