So I've wanted to build my own gauge an monitoring system for a while. I'm working on the brains and the sensor network, and just got this cool little display fired up. (click to enlarge)





It's tiny, and I plan to put it into a standard size gauge pod with a nice polished face. It's surprisingly readable, and what you see is the smallest font. It can draw larger fonts as well. It will have moving graphs, and trouble lights. Everything will be customizable to the users wants.

I plan on making the whole project open source. I know not a lot of people participate in homebrew electronics, but I thought I would share.
FWIW, the values are static, and my car isn't about to explode.

 

Very cool, do you know how many readings or values will fit and will you be able to scroll to others?

 

I am very, extremely interested... What a cool project! Are all of the values based on stock sensors?

 

Thanks!
It can display as many parameters as I program into it. The user interface will be two or three capacitive touch pads hidden behind the face, and it will be able to scroll, and manipulate everything on the fly.

As for data collection, I may build an OBD2 bridge to pull data, but my main idea is a two-wire i2c network running between all the sensors to a main controller. This will allow me to choose any sensor I want, and I can tailor and link the data anyway I want. It will have both digital and analog inputs, as well as outputs for parameter based switching. The code will be open sourced for people to write their own sensor drivers if they want to. I'm talking diff temp, diff ultrasonic, trans temp, trans pump output pressure, caliper surface temp...complete monitoring. most of it is overkill, but it's a fun way for me to learn all of the sensors.

The main idea for the sensors is for them to be modular. The controller has a row of generic inputs. You plug a sensor cable into anyone of them and presto it appears in the menu for configuration. A simple two wire connector, no crazy connections with a flashlight in my teeth and a screwdriver.

This will take me a while to mature. I may sell it as a assembled kit one day, but I don't want anyone to wait for it. I'm not doing this to bring a product to market. I'm just a geek.

 

What type of temp sensors are you planning on using, and how will they be mounted? Any idea yet?

Is this on an arduino?

 

The temperature sensors for anything up to 250deg will be Dallas 1 wire sensors. I'm going to machine some threaded fittings and pot the sensors into them. Anything higher will be a thermocouple with the same type of housing. Everything else is pretty generic after that, with the selection being based on the limits of my readings. Most of them will be off the shelf discrete parts in custom housings, but I think any automotive style sensor could be made to work with the right scaling.

I'll be using as many drain, and machining plug points as possible so I don't have to drill any holes in the car.


It is running on a bare Atmega328P running Arduino Uno. This is my first Arduino project. I've always used PicMicro's, and I figure it was time to see what all the fuss was about. I couldn't bring myself to pay $30 for a microcontroller,when Pic's are $1, but then I realized you could buy the bare ATmega for $4.75 pre-loaded. As long as it can run fast enough, and I don't run out of memory, I may stick with the Arduino bootloader. If not, I'll program it in machine code. I do love having native variable arrays though.

 

Sounds great, and very reasonably priced all-together too. Do I understand correctly that for some of these temp sensors you will basically be drilling through a drain bolt, inserting the sensor, and sealing the drilled hole, then using a crescent wrench etc (since socket wouldn't work) to put the new bolt/sensor combo back in? Just trying to make sure I'm following you correctly.

 

I haven't the faintest idea of what exactly all that stuff means, but put me down for one when they become available! I can follow install and config instructions that you'll hopefully supply- quite well.
This would fit nicely in my unused Audio Control knob space on the left side near the start button.

 

For some points yes. Temp sensors would only be in a well. No need to have a hole all the way through that could leak. Pressure sensors would either be Tee'd off of existing ports with common fittings, or installed into replacement plugs. Pretty much just working with what's available. I have a rule with my S that it has to be able to go back to stock with no scars. I figure a weather tight connector close to the sensor would allow it to be removed easily without twisting the cables. Really, the diff is the only one that would be in a plug, and it doesn't get worked on as much to be too annoying.

It's all on paper right now. I'll work out the usability issues as I start prototyping.

 

Very cool project man, props on the work you have done so far. Looking forward to the results!