Displaying engine sensor readings on an LCD touchscreen?

Discussion on Turbo electronics including Boost Controller, Turbo Timers, WideBands, etc
Post Reply
DamnedButDetermined
Learners Permit
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2012 3:47 pm
Location: Jax, FL

Displaying engine sensor readings on an LCD touchscreen?

Post by DamnedButDetermined »

I do not want to install a bunch of gauges in my car, not only because it doesn't look right (just my opinion) but it will also draw the attention of thieves. I do want to make sure I can monitor everything that is going on though. My hope is to install quality temp/pressure/wideband sensors on the car, but have a separate processor interpret the readings from the sensors and display them digitally on a touchscreen in the double DIN slot of my S13. I was actually thinking about dropping the AC controls to the bottom of the console and using the top two spots for the display for easier viewing.

I imagine this kind of a setup will require a, for the lack of a better word, remote sensor interpreting block (RSIB) that will have all of the sensors connected to it and then send that information via USB/Serial/??? to the touchscreen for display. I think I am correct in saying that the temp/pressure/wideband sensors only change the voltage that travels through the wires depending on the different temps/pressure/rich/lean so this RSIB would have to analyze the voltage that it receives and then send a digital signal to the touchscreen that corresponds to a certain reading on the display. This would require some kind of programming for each sensor input specific to that sensor manufacturer. Yes this seems like a lot of work, but for a computer programmer this doesn't seem too complicated FYI I am not a programmer but my best friend is so I will be relying on his skills for this part of the project. So why am I not talking to him about this you ask???? Well I am but I want to do most of the hardware legwork before really involving him because he has many other things to work on right now.

I plan on using MegaSquirt as my engine management so I realize that some of the sensors will have to go straight to the MS unit as well as the RSIB and hopefully that will not interfere with accurate readings on the MS. I wouldn't think so but I am no electrical engineer ;)

One idea I had about this was purchasing quality gauges and hacking into them and instead of sending the data to the display screen on the gauge have it go directly to the touchscreen. I think this way would still require some hardware and software work and it cost way more than building the RSIB.

Another thing to mention on this project is that since the double DIN space will be occupied by the touchscreen I will be loosing my radio placement. Instead of locating it somewhere out of reach I was hoping to integrate a music player into the new system as well as a few other features. I would like for this system to perform the following functions...
Act as a hard drive to store music files, and if at all possible perform data logging from the MS engine management I plan on using.
Act as a music player and EQ for the stored music files (output as USB to feed an multi-channel amp)
Act as an AM/FM Radio and have blue tooth capability so I can use Pandora for streaming music from my phone
Display multiple gauge readings that are not already on the gauge cluster IE:boost, oil temp, intake air temp, wideband (not positive on this yet...I may mount that on the steering column for easy monitoring), exhaust gas temp, etc...
Act as a navigation device instead of using my phone

Thanks for reading and hopefully someone can help,
Zac
User avatar
beercandrifter
Belongs To The TOP CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS!
Posts: 2271
Joined: Fri Oct 27, 2006 7:57 am
Location: Melbourne, FL

Post by beercandrifter »

phil was a nice guy and developed the android app called shadowlogger. have it on my phone right now. lets you remote display your megasquirt sensor readings on any android device by bluetooth module connected to the ms unit

actually doing this in my car here with this round of megasquirt, going to run it with a 7" tablet (needs bluetooth support). was planning on replacing my stock cluster with it though.

using a tablet you gain access to all the car apps (music, gps, etc), but truthfully, i would rather have a seperate device to manage entertainment and one for just sensor readings/gauge faces. wouldnt want to be turning off my guages in the car while I am using it

as for the radio, a simple 4 channel amplifier with a 1/8" input would effectively replace the stereo system if you plug it into a tablet. some even come with the ability to get fm radio
91 240sx Hatch: HomeBrwd
25psi hx35/8.8:1/264^2 cams/95lb injectors/Megasquirt 2/ka24de build **RIP**
T56/4.8 LSx/LS9 Cam/60lb injectors/comp 918 springs/Megasquirt 3/all custom wiring
User avatar
beercandrifter
Belongs To The TOP CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS!
Posts: 2271
Joined: Fri Oct 27, 2006 7:57 am
Location: Melbourne, FL

Post by beercandrifter »

guess they have a new way to do it
viewtopic.php?t=57943

happy day
91 240sx Hatch: HomeBrwd
25psi hx35/8.8:1/264^2 cams/95lb injectors/Megasquirt 2/ka24de build **RIP**
T56/4.8 LSx/LS9 Cam/60lb injectors/comp 918 springs/Megasquirt 3/all custom wiring
DamnedButDetermined
Learners Permit
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2012 3:47 pm
Location: Jax, FL

Post by DamnedButDetermined »

That is awesome!!!!!!! I was searching all the forums yesterday evening and couldn't find anything and it looks like this was posted after I signed off. I am going to do more research on this and make sure it is what I am looking for.

Using a tablet would be great for this because everything is already built in and I like the idea of 1/8" adapter to amp to handle the music features. Now I guess I need to find a inexpensive good quality tablet that hopefully has am/fm receiver (I need to listen to my football games when I am traveling)

Thanks for pointing me in the right direction,
Zac
User avatar
beercandrifter
Belongs To The TOP CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS!
Posts: 2271
Joined: Fri Oct 27, 2006 7:57 am
Location: Melbourne, FL

Post by beercandrifter »

google nexus 7

http://www.google.com/nexus/#/7

specs are beautiful for this type of application, usb, bluetooth, contrast, quad core etc

also an amazing price



for 10" displays it gets a bit more pricey with other brands
91 240sx Hatch: HomeBrwd
25psi hx35/8.8:1/264^2 cams/95lb injectors/Megasquirt 2/ka24de build **RIP**
T56/4.8 LSx/LS9 Cam/60lb injectors/comp 918 springs/Megasquirt 3/all custom wiring
DamnedButDetermined
Learners Permit
Posts: 18
Joined: Sun Sep 09, 2012 3:47 pm
Location: Jax, FL

Post by DamnedButDetermined »

And wouldn't you know it just might fit into the trim piece depending on how rounded over the corners are. It will take some custom work to make it fit, but I have an extra trim piece so no worries if I mess up.

Thanks again for the help,
Zac
knight240
NooB
Posts: 1
Joined: Mon Apr 23, 2012 3:57 pm
Location: atlanta ga

Post by knight240 »

check out

http://www.zeitronix.com/Products/Products.htm

their site used to be a lot more informative to the lcd screen they offer but this should solve all your problems. if u got the money
User avatar
schmauster920
Belongs To The TOP CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS!
Posts: 2612
Joined: Tue Feb 20, 2007 5:25 pm
Location: CA

Post by schmauster920 »

A tablet would be better since you get almost endless functionality and huge storage, plus you cant tune, datalog (without extra $), steal peoples wifi and watch porn, etc from the zeltronics thing

Not to mention you could have the tablet say "DANGER TO MANIFOLD" before your floor pan falls out.


(lol thanks fast and furious)
D21, Built KA24DE, 740cc, T4, WeatherGuard Tool Box, Tial 40mm, Megasquirt 3 in progress
s14tilo
Driving Mom's Station Wagon
Posts: 29
Joined: Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:45 pm

Post by s14tilo »

I believe the GTR has the technology you are wanting. Maybe you could look into how that system works for some ideas.
body80
240sx Wannabe
Posts: 137
Joined: Mon Apr 02, 2007 8:20 pm
Location: Tavares, FL

Post by body80 »

Here's another option.

http://www.zeitronix.com/

Look into the LCD display
I had it in my old car.
You can monitor AFR, Boost, EGT, oil press, temp, RPM, TPS.
All from a digital display
Plus you can datalog all of it.

Just an option that's already sorted and it worked GREAT for me.
Jeff
User avatar
Kamilitaryman
Encyclopedia-Nissan
Posts: 1045
Joined: Wed Mar 11, 2009 7:27 pm
Location: Buffalo, NY

Post by Kamilitaryman »

The only thing about bad about these OBD bluetooth modules is the data latency. Other than that, they're great.
PM me if you're interested in getting something powder coated!
User avatar
beercandrifter
Belongs To The TOP CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS!
Posts: 2271
Joined: Fri Oct 27, 2006 7:57 am
Location: Melbourne, FL

Post by beercandrifter »

picked up shadow dash ms for displaying all my megasquirt sensor inputs and have it on my tablet, really liking the interface.
91 240sx Hatch: HomeBrwd
25psi hx35/8.8:1/264^2 cams/95lb injectors/Megasquirt 2/ka24de build **RIP**
T56/4.8 LSx/LS9 Cam/60lb injectors/comp 918 springs/Megasquirt 3/all custom wiring
User avatar
emo_tactical9
Belongs To The TOP CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS!
Posts: 3086
Joined: Tue Sep 18, 2007 3:21 am
Location: Bowling Green, KY

Post by emo_tactical9 »

beercandrifter wrote:picked up shadow dash ms for displaying all my megasquirt sensor inputs and have it on my tablet, really liking the interface.
You should try MSDroid also. It actually tuning capability. No ability to load .msq files yet, though.
Just call me Adam.
95 240: DIYPNP and T28.
08 Honda Fit
84 200sx: Sold after almost 10 years.
My file hosting:Calum,MegaSquirt,FSM
User avatar
beercandrifter
Belongs To The TOP CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS!
Posts: 2271
Joined: Fri Oct 27, 2006 7:57 am
Location: Melbourne, FL

Post by beercandrifter »

emo_tactical9 wrote:
beercandrifter wrote:picked up shadow dash ms for displaying all my megasquirt sensor inputs and have it on my tablet, really liking the interface.
You should try MSDroid also. It actually tuning capability. No ability to load .msq files yet, though.
ahh yes, they added loading msq files on the shadow dash. i think i prefer the netbook for tuning just for the keyboard to type in numbers over a virtual keyboard.
91 240sx Hatch: HomeBrwd
25psi hx35/8.8:1/264^2 cams/95lb injectors/Megasquirt 2/ka24de build **RIP**
T56/4.8 LSx/LS9 Cam/60lb injectors/comp 918 springs/Megasquirt 3/all custom wiring
Post Reply