Installing Comma.ai / OpenPilot (BlueCruise alternative)

[ArmySapper]

Can you recommend a new cable to buy that has extra slack?

I believe there was one in installation video. Is that still the recommended cable?

I bought this one and it works great. I have seen / heard mixed reviews of if this is really worth the squeeze because the battery on our cars isn't great.

I have it plugged in and the benefit of having it is when you stop at the store and shut your car off the comma doesn't have to go thru the reboot process.

If you have your car shut off for an extended period of time it does appear to self power down my guess is that port isn't constantly hot atleast appears to be the case on my Mach E.

For me it's been worth the squeeze and I used the above cord and routed the cord lower then shown on the youtube video. Works perfectyly tho!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQVN3Z8K?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_4&th=1

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[ArmySapper]

Edit: If you're talking about the OBD2 cable.

I bought this one and it works great. I have seen / heard mixed reviews of if this is really worth the squeeze because the battery on our cars isn't great.

I have it plugged in and the benefit of having it is when you stop at the store and shut your car off the comma doesn't have to go thru the reboot process.

If you have your car shut off for an extended period of time it does appear to self power down my guess is that port isn't constantly hot atleast appears to be the case on my Mach E.

For me it's been worth the squeeze and I used the above cord and routed the cord lower then shown on the youtube video. Works perfectyly tho!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQVN3Z8K?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_4&th=1

 

[AjzRide]

Can you recommend a new cable to buy that has extra slack?

I believe there was one in installation video. Is that still the recommended cable?

If it was the 15 ft USB-C 3.2Gen2 cable. Then yes, that is the correct one.

 

[chariotquant]

Sorry I can't find it source now. Do you mind linking me?

 

[AjzRide]

Sorry I can't find it source now. Do you mind linking me?

https://www.amazon.com/JasRoum-Stan...&sprefix=15ft+usb+3.2gen2+cabl,aps,163&sr=8-3

 

[teach42]

I bought this one and it works great. I have seen / heard mixed reviews of if this is really worth the squeeze because the battery on our cars isn't great.

I have it plugged in and the benefit of having it is when you stop at the store and shut your car off the comma doesn't have to go thru the reboot process.

If you have your car shut off for an extended period of time it does appear to self power down my guess is that port isn't constantly hot atleast appears to be the case on my Mach E.

For me it's been worth the squeeze and I used the above cord and routed the cord lower then shown on the youtube video. Works perfectyly tho!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CQVN3Z8K?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_4&th=1

Is the main purpose of plugging it into the ODBII port just so that it will stay on after the car is turned off? If so, why would one want that?

And has there been any verification about the impact this would have on the 12v?

 

[AjzRide]

Is the main purpose of plugging it into the ODBII port just so that it will stay on after the car is turned off? If so, why would one want that?

And has there been any verification about the impact this would have on the 12v?

Without ODB2 power you have to wait for it to boot every drive, about 30-60 seconds. Also your routes don't upload to the comma servers unless you bring the device inside and power it up between drives.

The MME 12V is small and fragile, that is the secondary reason not many people run the ODB2 on the MME.

 

[ArmySapper]

Is the main purpose of plugging it into the ODBII port just so that it will stay on after the car is turned off? If so, why would one want that?

And has there been any verification about the impact this would have on the 12v?

Yea agree with what AJZ ride states...for me I have kinda liked it be on and ready on those quick trips in between. But overnight atleast mine it still boots and isn't on overnight. So my guess is the OBD2 port does time out and isn't fully 12V. So does this hurt our cute little batteries?

Maybe not...but further my MME is a company car so I toast that battery they have to give me another... don't tell my company that tho.

 

[teach42]

Also your routes don't upload to the comma servers unless you bring the device inside and power it up between drives

What do you mean by 'routes'? And doesn't it upload via Wifi? So if I have wifi in my garage, would it not upload?

 

[AjzRide]

What do you mean by 'routes'? And doesn't it upload via Wifi? So if I have wifi in my garage, would it not upload?

By default the comma will upload low resolution video and low fidelity logs of all drives to the comma servers. Then you can log in and have it upload high quality video and full logs including canbus data.

If you have wifi in your garage this will work, but only if the device is powered. Without ODB2 power it will be offline when the car is not running.

 

[chariotquant]

I believe the 12V power exposed on the OBD2 connector should be continuous, uninterrupted and never switched off. This may cause issues with MMEs relatively small 12V battery.

Has anyone experimented with connecting it to 12 volt accessory power that gets automatically switched off? My understanding is the cigarette lighter gets turned off 15 minutes after locking the vehicle.

 

[AjzRide]

I believe the 12V power exposed on the OBD2 connector should be continuous, uninterrupted and never switched off. This may cause issues with MMEs relatively small 12V battery.

Has anyone experimented with connecting it to 12 volt accessory power that gets automatically switched off? My understanding is the cigarette lighter gets turned off 15 minutes after locking the vehicle.

That would be pointless. It already gets power from the IPMA when switched on. The only reason for the OND2 port is for power between drives. And yes it is an issue for the MMe small 12v battery.

I just said this 4 posts ago:

https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...lot-bluecruise-alternative.29591/post-1073900

 

[teach42]

By default the comma will upload low resolution video and low fidelity logs of all drives to the comma servers. Then you can log in and have it upload high quality video and full logs including canbus data.

If you have wifi in your garage this will work, but only if the device is powered. Without ODB2 power it will be offline when the car is not running.

Intersting. About how long does it take to upload a route?

LOL, I feel a little silly asking as I'll be getting my unit in a couple of days, but I want to know all the things!

 

[chariotquant]

That would be pointless. It already gets power from the IPMA when switched on. The only reason for the OND2 port is for power between drives. And yes it is an issue for the MMe small 12v battery.

I just said this 4 posts ago:

https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...lot-bluecruise-alternative.29591/post-1073900

Pardon my lack of understanding.

Tell me where my thinking falls apart.

Does the IPMA module remain powered when you turn off the vehicle and walk into the store? Does it have a similar delay to the accessory plug? If yes then absolutely 100% pointless.

My thinking was that if you have a short, few minutes stop, the cigarette lighter would remain powered and continue powering your comma AI, avoiding cold boot delays.

Also when you come home, the device will get 15 minutes to connect the Wi-Fi, upload its routes and video before it gets powered off for the night.

 

[AjzRide]

Pardon my lack of understanding.

Tell me where my thinking falls apart.

Does the IPMA module remain powered when you turn off the vehicle and walk into the store? Does it have a similar delay to the accessory plug? If yes then absolutely 100% pointless.

My thinking was that if you have a short, few minutes stop, the cigarette lighter would remain powered and continue powering your comma AI, avoiding cold boot delays.

Also when you come home, the device will get 15 minutes to connect the Wi-Fi, upload its routes and video before it gets powered off for the night.

I see the question you are asking now. I misunderstood the "automatically switched off" statement. The comma has a configurable sleep time. So just wire up the ODB2 as designed and then set the sleep time to 15 minutes.

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