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PimpStar Technical Information
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PimpStar wheels are a wheel system. The system comprises the basic two-piece wheel (wheel center and rim), and the ‘overcap’ or hubcap which bolts to the front of the wheel. The wheel center contains the electro-mechanical components which provide power to the wheels as well as determine wheel speed and position. All of the display electronics are incorporated into the overcap. This means that the overcap must be mated to the PimpStar wheel center in order to work. It is not possible to simply attach the overcap to any other wheel.
PimpStar wheels are sold with everything required to install them on a vehicle. This includes the wheels themselves, an installation kit, and a USB wireless modem.
The installation requires two wires (+12 and ground) to be run to each wheel from a relay installed under the hood. This included relay is wired to any +12 VDC ignition switched supply (so the wheel power turns on and off with the vehicle ignition key). There are also in-line fuses in the +12 VDC line to each wheel to protect against a short or over current situation. An in-car switch is provided enabling the driver to turn the wheels on or off independently of the key (ignition must be on). The knowledge and skill required for the wiring is roughly equivalent to that required to install a basic car stereo.
The mechanical installation requires the wheel to be mounted (conventionally, with lug nuts) on the vehicle hub and a single bracket connected from the electronic housing on the back (inner face) of the wheel to the spindle or some non-rotating component of the suspension. This bracket holds the housing stationary while the wheel rotates. The housing is mounted on the wheel with bearings to permit it to remain stationary while the wheel rotates. A quick release on the bracket permits easy removal of the wheel for vehicle service or in the event of a flat.
Power is transmitted to the wheels by means of a slip ring which is incorporated in the electronic housing described above. There is a spring loaded carbon brush (which remains stationary and is wired to the vehicle electrical system) riding on a brass ring (which spins with the wheel) which supplies power to the electronics built into the wheel. The entire electronic housing can be easily removed from the wheel for purposes of tire mounting and balancing.
The display electronics, located in the 'overcap' are protected with a special coating which makes them highly resistant to water, chemicals, dust, etc. While the electronics are designed to be environmentally robust, it is recommended that the wheels be turned off in wet environments (driving in rain or snow, through standing water, or car wash). Water will not damage the electronics but may short the slip ring connection causing a fuse to blow. This is easily remedied by replacing the fuse.
The lights themselves are tri-color LEDs which have a long life expectancy and will likely outlast the vehicle. If, however, there is damage or a failure, each of the three LED PCB assemblies in each overcap can be replaced individually. The entire system is modular so each component can be replaced individually. This means that any damage or failures does not require an expensive replacement of the entire wheel.
Each wheel contains a wireless modem which enables it to communicate with a computer. The included USB wireless modem may be plugged into any desktop or laptop computer for this purpose. The range of the modem will vary depending on a variety of conditions, but should be at least a few hundred feet permitting the user to program the wheels from a desktop inside a building with the vehicle parked nearby. It is possible, however, that environmental conditions such as electrical interference or shielding could dramatically reduce the effective range of the modem. There is two way communication with the wheels so it is possible to confirm that sent messages have been received. Communication is secure, so the wheels can only be updated by the user. It is not possible for somebody driving close by to send a message to your wheels.
The wheels can be updated (sent a new image) at any time (as long as they are powered on) whether they are moving or stationary. If using a desktop computer, the user can load up to six images into each wheel and set them to change at pre-set intervals (so each wheel will display anywhere from one to six images which change at the desired intervals while driving. These same images will continue to display until the wheel is reprogrammed). If the user desires to change images while the vehicle is in motion, a laptop or notebook computer is required. With a portable computer (with USB wireless modem plugged-in), the images can be changed while the vehicle is in motion.
The computer (desktop or laptop) is the responsibility of the user. System requirements are very basic, calling for hardware which runs Windows XP (home or business), has a USB port, and a CD ROM drive. Minimum processor and memory requirements required for Windows XP are satisfactory. The user must install two pieces of provided software in their computer: the PimpStar Paint application (which is the user interface for creating and sending images to the wheels) and the driver for the USB modem. An inexpensive Dell notebook computer may be optionally purchased with the wheels which is pre-configured with the required software and is ‘plug and play.’
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