Does anyone have a really technical explanation of how class 2 databus works, or know where I could find out more about it? I'm kind of curious about the subject...I know that there are commercially available interfaces for GM/Jeep doorlocks, GM radios, etc.; but I'd like to think about what an installer could potentially do with it.
Its basiclly called multiplexing - definition in laymans terms= taking alot if information and combining it to one wire. In the communications industry lets say, you have an office bulding and everyone has a computer and phone, you could take all of the digital info from this office building and comine it (multiplex) to one or two fiber optic cables and sent it to where it needs to go.
When dealing with automobiles, they generally use resistances. (It may be much more complicated than that). What this allows the car electronics to do is have serveral funcitons happen on one wire. Take the Jeep Grand Cherokee data bus for example, with one wire hooked up to the vehicle can control door locks, door trigger and some other features.
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Thanks for the info tuneman. I think automotive databus is kind of closer to the data cable analogy in a building than to regular multiplexing in a car, just because it's apparently more complicated to interface with(i.e. you can't just send resistance to ground or 12V+ to control a vehicle function.) My cousin's a computer geek, so I'll have to ask him about this stuff too(I'm just a mobile electronics geek :). I'll keep posting as I find out more.