Possible new Product: Wireless Roof Operation

Alan · Jul 23, 2015

Only just come onto this topic and I'm walking around the house laughing out loud to myself
Apologies for posting off topic....... :Grin

campandfly · Jul 23, 2015

My roof can be Voice activated it is very expensive though and can be temperamental.

Oh and it does not come with a manual and misuse can be dangerous possibly fatal.

TommyT · Jul 23, 2015

I guess you just have to hope that no-one on the radio says 'Roof Open' whilst you're doing 70 down the motorway..

Personally I'll risk 'possibly fatal' for a new gadget any day of the week!

SHedman2401 · Aug 2, 2015

Martin said:
One of our partners is developing a new product for the Cali which will allow the roof to be operated wirelessly via a mobile phone app controlled system, it will also operate the internal / external lighting.

It will be made to work alongside the original equipment, so if the controller fails the roof could still be operated via the control panel.

This is still in development and we are just looking for your thoughts on this, also are there are any other options that people would like ?

I would go for it. Needs two hands to push in the button! It's ridiculous. I think it is about to break. Count me in as a beta tester. I also run a software company.

D

WelshGas · Aug 2, 2015

I find that the Remote Control for the Parking Heater very useful in the Winter for defrosting and warming up the California in the morning. But then I do use the California most days. A wireless remote for the roof is, in my opinion, an unnecessary complication.

motacyclist · Aug 2, 2015

Gavinskii said:
it's sometimes tricky getting my control unit to navigate to the right part of the menu.

When you first turn it, it always goes the opposite way to which you want. I've tried to trick it by turning it the other way but it's got wise to that and reverses direction ....

SHedman2401 · Aug 3, 2015

motacyclist said:
When you first turn it, it always goes the opposite way to which you want. I've tried to trick it by turning it the other way but it's got wise to that and reverses direction ....

The problem is that the control unit does not work reliably or as advertised. Like roof rot, it is another piece of flawed design. £700 every time it goes wrong? I'll take the app so go ahead and develop it to show VW the way!

BerndRos · Aug 3, 2015

It's strange as I have a 2010 Cali and as some of you know I spent 15 months straight away in it and never stayed more than a couple of days in one place...and so very many roof rises...and so far NO issues with the unit...fingers crossed...!!!!

WelshGas · Aug 3, 2015

I think the main problem with this Control Panel is related to lack of use possibly even excess humidity causing problems with the electronics.
If you have a California that has covered 10,000 miles in 3/4 years then that means it has spent a lot of time static/not in use .
My vehicle is a daily driver and in the past 7 months I must have had the roof up on at least 60 occasions and I have covered 15,600 miles.
I never have condensation inside due to good ventilation and judicious use of the Parking Heater and I also have a 1Kgm Silica Gel pack to keep the humidity levels low.
We'll see over time if I have a problem but like BerndRos I think not.

DMcCook · Nov 7, 2020

Ajspicer said:
A secondary switch away from the control panel would be a simple modification. There are more and more donor roofs being added to T5 conversions, I have seen switches in various positions as they are often installed with out the control panel. Probably not something worth considering for a Cali still under warranty though.

This ^^^ is what I want more info on. Can I add a secondary switch in parallel to the controller without blowing up the controller when I apply 12v to the pump and hence to the outlet from the controller.

WelshGas · Nov 7, 2020

DMcCook said:
This ^^^ is what I want more info on. Can I add a secondary switch in parallel to the controller without blowing up the controller when I apply 12v to the pump and hence to the outlet from the controller.

The problem with that scenario is - without the Controller powering the pump how will the pump know when to switch off. The Ram Sensors will be telling the controller one thing but it will be unable to control the hydraulic pump unless the sensors directly feed into the pump without intervention from the Controller which I don’t think is the case.