XKGLOW Light Bar Installed & First Impressions Review (w/ Videos)

[Fabville]

If your cantrails are on solid why fix something that’s not broke. If you do take it in for that purpose,I would remove the light bar to keep it from getting damaged during the fix.

I haven’t kept up on the details of the recall, wasn’t sure if adhesion failure was highly likely at some point or if there’s several that haven’t and likely won’t have issues.

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[hemiarch]

I haven’t kept up on the details of the recall, wasn’t sure if adhesion failure was highly likely at some point or if there’s several that haven’t and likely won’t have issues.

https://www.cybertruckownersclub.co...ding-off-on-the-cantrail-recall.48939/page-10

 

[mitch9]

" It's not the UI so much as needing to sit on the LIN bus and handle commands. It can be done. "

I discovered what that "3rd Green wire" is, from the light bar wiring, it's called the "LIN Bus"

I did some research into it, here are a few links:

Circuit Cellar made a circuit to bypass his TPMS system:
https://circuitcellar.com/research-design-hub/projects/understanding-lin-bus/

He mentions an IC from Microchip, called the MCP2021, which is a LIN bus controller/interface.
Here is the Microchip page on it: https://www.microchip.com/en-us/product/mcp2021

Interestingly, they make an interface to a PC that plugs in via a USB port, and can be used for diagnosing/testing the LIN bus. Are you getting what I am saying? It would be awesome to monitor / record the LIN bus, when someone who has the OEM lightbar powers it on, and then sends the 2 commands availble for the gutter lights vs the main light, I'm sure there is some handshaking involved as well, to make the Cybertruck aware of the OEM lightbar... The reason I am interested in all of this, is the OEM lightbar for non-Cyberbeast owners is pretty much unobtainium, and if you can find one, they are asking $2000-$2500 or more.. when this XKGlow could be used to emulate most of the functions of the OEM, with a small microcontroller/interface.

Take a look at the $50.99: LIN SERIAL ANALYZER they have:
https://www.microchip.com/en-us/development-tool/APGDT001

Overview
The LIN Serial Analyzer development tool enables the user to monitor and communicate to a LIN (Local Interface Network) bus using a Personal Computer (PC). This is a powerful tool which can be used to send messages, monitor the bus traffic, perform errors checks and filter messages amongst many other features, allowing the user to develop and debug the system implementation

With this and some time, a developer/madman can figure out the handshake/protocol, and emulate it, making the Cybertruck think it has an OEM lightbar, then a bluetooth or wifi interface could control this lightbar, or even one of the lower cost $400-$500 lightbars as well (they would need modification however, since they are simple 48V on/off devices)

P.S. The reason for all of this is of course the "light show" where the OEM lightbar is already incorporated into it, if it exists and also allows it to be recognized & controlled from the touchsceen

Thoughts?

Mitch

 

[TexasRaider]

After months of waiting, my XKmax Light Bar from XKGLOW finally arrived yesterday. Overall I am quite pleased though I've only messed around with it a little bit.

Here are my first impressions:

• Build quality seems solid, instructions were clear, and it took about an hour to get installed.
• Extra items needed were a wire stripper, heat gun, electrical tape and socket wrench.
• XKmax app is easy to pair, mostly intuitive and has plenty of preset themes and customization.
• Didn't notice any extra wind noise driving around town up to 65 mph.

Pic in DRL mode (white):

And some vids in light bar mode and preset themes (sorry for the poor quality):

Let us know how much the impact to efficiency (wh/mi).

 

[hemiarch]

" It's not the UI so much as needing to sit on the LIN bus and handle commands. It can be done. "

I discovered what that "3rd Green wire" is, from the light bar wiring, it's called the "LIN Bus"

I did some research into it, here are a few links:

Circuit Cellar made a circuit to bypass his TPMS system:
https://circuitcellar.com/research-design-hub/projects/understanding-lin-bus/

He mentions an IC from Microchip, called the MCP2021, which is a LIN bus controller/interface.
Here is the Microchip page on it: https://www.microchip.com/en-us/product/mcp2021

Interestingly, they make an interface to a PC that plugs in via a USB port, and can be used for diagnosing/testing the LIN bus. Are you getting what I am saying? It would be awesome to monitor / record the LIN bus, when someone who has the OEM lightbar powers it on, and then sends the 2 commands availble for the gutter lights vs the main light, I'm sure there is some handshaking involved as well, to make the Cybertruck aware of the OEM lightbar... The reason I am interested in all of this, is the OEM lightbar for non-Cyberbeast owners is pretty much unobtainium, and if you can find one, they are asking $2000-$2500 or more.. when this XKGlow could be used to emulate most of the functions of the OEM, with a small microcontroller/interface.

Take a look at the $50.99: LIN SERIAL ANALYZER they have:
https://www.microchip.com/en-us/development-tool/APGDT001

Overview
The LIN Serial Analyzer development tool enables the user to monitor and communicate to a LIN (Local Interface Network) bus using a Personal Computer (PC). This is a powerful tool which can be used to send messages, monitor the bus traffic, perform errors checks and filter messages amongst many other features, allowing the user to develop and debug the system implementation

With this and some time, a developer/madman can figure out the handshake/protocol, and emulate it, making the Cybertruck think it has an OEM lightbar, then a bluetooth or wifi interface could control this lightbar, or even one of the lower cost $400-$500 lightbars as well (they would need modification however, since they are simple 48V on/off devices)

P.S. The reason for all of this is of course the "light show" where the OEM lightbar is already incorporated into it, if it exists and also allows it to be recognized & controlled from the touchsceen

Thoughts?

Mitch

I may know such a madman. @mongo , care to chime in?

 

[loganthefrst]

Do you have much wind noise? This is my biggest concern and why I was holding out for the OEM Light Bar as that is affixed directly to the windshield glass (I pay the mo. sub to Tesla for Windshield repair so if I had a light bar, that replacement would also include removing the light bar and reinstalling it (now that the bracket for the recall has been implemented)

 

[Art138]

Do you have much wind noise? This is my biggest concern and why I was holding out for the OEM Light Bar as that is affixed directly to the windshield glass (I pay the mo. sub to Tesla for Windshield repair so if I had a light bar, that replacement would also include removing the light bar and reinstalling it (now that the bracket for the recall has been implemented)

In my case no noticeable noise. Had it several times to 90mph without issue. I still want the brackets when the SC is ready to install them. I have the OEM.

 

[dragnframe]

Just installed the XKGlow light bar on Saturday and while I'm happy with the build quality the app doesn't seen to work great, Its slow to respond and sometimes doesn't respond at all. If I keep closing the app and reopening it then sometimes the drl will come on but isnt responding to the changes I make in the app( led colors wont change color or pattern) Then If I try to turn the light bar on it is not responding. Very frustrating especially at the price point it comes in at. I have sent an email to xk and we will see what the response is.

 

[Fabville]

Just installed the XKGlow light bar on Saturday and while I'm happy with the build quality the app doesn't seen to work great, Its slow to respond and sometimes doesn't respond at all. If I keep closing the app and reopening it then sometimes the drl will come on but isnt responding to the changes I make in the app( led colors wont change color or pattern) Then If I try to turn the light bar on it is not responding. Very frustrating especially at the price point it comes in at. I have sent an email to xk and we will see what the response is.

I’ve noticed a delay of several seconds after turning the power feed on before the DRL turns on and I’ve had to pair the app back with the light a couple times now. I haven’t noticed any other issues with the app yet. Be sure to post what you hear back from their customer service and if they’re able to resolve the issue for you.

 

[dragnframe]

Just installed the XKGlow light bar on Saturday and while I'm happy with the build quality the app doesn't seen to work great, Its slow to respond and sometimes doesn't respond at all. If I keep closing the app and reopening it then sometimes the drl will come on but isnt responding to the changes I make in the app( led colors wont change color or pattern) Then If I try to turn the light bar on it is not responding. Very frustrating especially at the price point it comes in at. I have sent an email to xk and we will see what the response is.

Emailed them on Monday. Got a pretty quick response, with they are sending out a New controller no question asked. Stated sounded like there was a blue tooth connection issues. ETA is Wednesday. I’ll keep everyone posted.

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