So I'm waiting for my MIMA with FAS, and have been thinking about what kind of buttons/switches I want to use. Here in Orlando, we have a pretty cool place that has all kinds of junk, including some switches.
Check out what I found below. What do you guys think? What are you using or what have you thought about trying?
I really like the blue switch to match my blue car for MIMA power or a clutch switch. I also like the arcade buttons (big and small red ones), because they could be easy to hit for FAS.
I like the blue switch the best of those also.
Do they have any others? I would try to get somethig as close as possible to the stock look.
Aside from the cost and the installation, what keeps me from getting MiMa is the ugly mountings and buttons that it entails. If it blended with the cars interior I would be all over it.
Epoxy joystick jutting ajar.
Wayward wires, what for?
Crying, scab I must pick.
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The link describes my early brake and clutch switch mod installation, but when i got Mima later i put the joystick/buttons in the same place with the extended joystick which i can operate without taking my hands of the wheel.
I used a sperate miniature on/off switch mounted on the centre console to enable/disable the mima unit.
There's no need for them to light up. Just wire all the toggle switches so that up is "on" and down is "off". The small ones in picture two even spell it out with the "I/O" icons.
Erik,
The MIMA install fit and finish can be as neat or sloppy as the effort you are willing to put in.
The epoxy putty allows you to mold and blend the enclosure for the joystick into the car.
Yes it takes time and some sanding and painting to make it look really good, and yes most people dont have the time or desire to take it that last step. It can take less time than a wash and wax.
MIMA is hand built, very limited production, and even in the unfinished state represents many hours of my time to build and test each one.
I spent most of the last two days just building up 30 joysticks.
Yes if we were selling thousands of them,a nicer finished enclosure could be developed and molds made, but with only 120 system sold since 2005,the volume is not there.
Some nice looking installs: MIMA Honda Insight Modified Integrated Motor Assist - MIMA #005 Hypermiler Highwater MIMA Honda Insight Modified Integrated Motor Assist - MIMA # 50 Dan Carrington http://99mpg.com/mima/people/andygoldsteinhafnh/ http://99mpg.com/mima/people/allertjacobs/
All it takes is a little creativity,sculpting, finishing and painting. and the MIMA install can be whatever you want it to be.
I moved my shift console back 1", its easy to do, and there is still enough flexibility in the boot to allow the shifter to work fine. I did this to accommodate the 7" monitor for my computer above the cup holders. What this has done as an added benefit is that I now can mount a 1.5" matching (Black) plate on the aft end of the shift console where I can mount the MIMA switches and joystick. It should look perfectly stock.
BY the WAY, I love that big red button. I think that would be good for the Halon fire extinguisher in the engine compartment ...like I had on the Formula car I used to drive.
BTW, if you move the console back, you cannot go more than 1" or it will interfere with the emergency brake handle operation.
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"If you are not living on the edge, well then,
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I've been planning on doing a footswitch for the clutch mod. I was considering either one around the area of the dead pedal or one on the backside or bottom of the clutch so I could lift my foot and tap the bottom of it. It would need to be a sturdy switch that is small. I prefer to keep my hands free and if my foot is on the clutch, I'm not going to need to be pressing it. I'm going to go switch shopping at a surplus store that sells pretty much everything and quite alot of various wire, clips, switches, motors of every size including a Prestolite that might be about as powerful as an ETek but much heavier, relatively large, and very old. I'll have to snag a switch or two to play with and wire up a clutch switch until I can order MIMA.
I really like the blue switch to match my blue car for MIMA power or a clutch switch.
With MIMA, you wouldn't need a clutch or FAS switch, only a MIMA kill switch (i.e., on-off). Some MIMA users prefer a separate FAS switch, but I have found depressing the joystick to work well for FAS.
MIMA is "on sale" now because many people who had told Mike that they would buy a MIMA system backed out after Mike had ordered the components. So a pre-built plug-and-play MIMA has never been so affordable.
The installation has never been easier as well. The plug-and-play wiring harness makes MIMA easy to install. The most time-consuming part of the installation is the disassembly/reassembly of various parts of the car.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Erik
what keeps me from getting MiMa is the ugly mountings and buttons that it entails. If it blended with the cars interior I would be all over it.
The only visible MIMA components are the kill switch, LED display panel, and 1 or optionally 2 joysticks. The kill switch could be an on-off switch of your choice that blends with the interior as closely as you desire.
The current LED display panel is low-profile and hardly noticeable. It could be installed at a location of your choice, but the suggested location, perched low centered in front of the instrument panel, is very unobtrusive. It and its epoxy putty mount invisible underneath and behind the display panel can be painted as you desire. Flat black blends in well.
The joystick console(s) can be mounted where you desire and painted the color that you desire. The suggested gear shift knob and parking brake handle locations are convenient but may not satisfy the esthetics of every driver. Mike has referenced clever installations chosen by several MIMA users. Other locations are certainly possible.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Erik
Wayward wires, what for?
The current plug-and-play MIMA wiring harness has no wires that I would consider wayward. The only wiring that is visible is a short section of flat ribbon cable connecting the joystick console to the MIMA main board. It can be painted or taped to match its background or hidden altogether depending on one's choice of joystick location. All hidden wiring is bundled or is ribbon cable keeping everything very neat. I needed fewer than 10 tie wraps to secure the MIMA wiring.
So maybe you are referring to some of the earlier MIMA versions which were not as plug-and-play as the current version.
With MIMA, you wouldn't need a clutch or FAS switch, only a MIMA kill switch (i.e., on-off). Some MIMA users prefer a separate FAS switch, but I have found depressing the joystick to work well for FAS.
Ah, I didn't realize that was an option - thanks for the info!
I like the idea of hitting the BIG RED BUTTON, but that'll be one less thing to drill and... I HATE DRILLING!
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