This is a project I started developing with the blessing of Tom (ECUPlus guru) which will be a plug-in display addon

This is a prototype based on a matrix orbital display, and basic stamp project board. I think I will upgrade to a 4 line display but so far its an interesting project.

I'm working out some packaging ideas and some other ideas, but I wanted to generate a little interest in the project.

The size of the unit is about the size of a CDRom drive faceplate.. the depth of the display is about an inch (probably less with the newer displays I found)

Plans for the device is a display/logger that writes to an SD Card and you can retrieve your logs later..

 

You got my attention.
I have a BG Micro ACS1375 VFD sitting around at home and would love to give it a new life somewhere in my car. :}
/subscribed.

 

Basically it'll be a little project box that you can hook up a display to or just do logging.. Something SORELY lacking anywhere in the Evo products is an easy way to log data and view operating parameters without having a PC hooked up..

 

That's looking pretty good. I am interested. What kind of information would be displayed?

 

MalibuJack: Could somehow make use of the display box that came with the Zeitronix WB?
As for the display output you could probably send anything from ECU+. i.e. :Timing, fuel trim, knock voltage, or any of the 0-5V auxillary input that can be read by the box. Sound about right?

 

Yep, It will log everything, and the display "should" be configurable or at least scrollable. The display box if you know who manifactures it, I can fit a matrix orbital or similar display into it.. But I want to get something working first.

 

Reminds me of the PSI3 display

http://www.psi3.co.uk/index.php?act=...od&productId=5

very cool MJ! I would for sure use it if/when it does logging to CF!

 

I think I'm going to use a module compatible with SD cards.. CF is possible but SD is alot smaller.

 

That works too. Logging to a portable media other then a laptop or palm is a godsend for a track guy like me.

I would really be interested in a higher resolution display, maybe something along the lines of the last SAFC (not the nero)

 

You tha man Jack. I would wash dishes for that....... I really don't need any mechanical gauges now that I have ecu+ If that display fit in the stock din opening for the radio I would be all set!

 

thats the plan, actually the plan was to make it about 1/2 din with a smaller display. Originally I wanted to place the display in the opening for the clock but I found some better VFD and OLED serial graphic displays that I"m researching at the moment.

The hard part is finding the hardware to do the function of logging and driving the display. At the moment the demo will be running as software on an old laptop but only until I can find hardware to do what I want.

 

I wrote a simple application that used serial ports on my PC for the time being to get the code and features roughed out.. And in the process I found something interesting about FTDI Serial devices and how they work together.. I definitely got caught up in that and resolving some other issues so this got delayed.

HOWEVER, my Basic stamp development kit showed up, I have to create a few quick circuits to do serial communications since its only equipped with one. I also am waiting for a hardware chip based reader/writer since I have a flash chip, and know how to program that, There is something that does something similar for SD cards, so I'm trying to get more info.

With some of the cool features coming around the corner, I wanted to bump this thread to let people know that my "black box" is being worked on also.

 

So how far off do you think a finished product is Jack?

I have been thinking about putting in a car pc with touch screen for logging and gps nav, but the main thing I want is logging (without the laptop) and a display for the ecu+ data. ECU+ rules the logging world, but really needs some sort of digital dash you can use... the graphs are great for sitting down and doing some analysis, but for real time I would like to digital read out for afr, boost, egt, etc.

 

Great job, this will be a sweet feature when its finished, keep us updated...

 

Wow, you definately got my attention with this. So how far off is a production run? You can put me down for one already. This would be the icing on the cake for the ECU+. I really like the ability to use a SD card to transport logs from the car to the laptop.

Will you also allow users to somehow use the display to scroll through a log to make changes? That would be a neat feature.