arduino & touchslide

[Jon Wildsmith]

I finally got around to making another of these for my current 80 and switched to a wide format 4DG screen that are widely available and seems perfect for this application:

EGT sensor not fitted yet, or oil pressure and RPM feed. The Arduino interface board hasn't changed much, just the display.

I don't have time to make these up but if you're handy with a soldering iron and ok on a windows PC to upload software I can look into current costs for bare boards and component kits on a purely enthusiast basis while I'm back on the case with this ...

 

[Crispin]

wow - been some time since you first made those Jon
What screen is that? IIRC, you (or I?) had an OLED screen which suffered from burn. Yours does not look OLED.
Are you reading OBD or similar or bespoke sensors for it?

 

[Lorin]

I finally got around to making another of these for my current 80 and switched to a wide format 4DG screen that are widely available and seems perfect for this application:

View attachment 338736

View attachment 338737

EGT sensor not fitted yet, or oil pressure and RPM feed. The Arduino interface board hasn't changed much, just the display.

I don't have time to make these up but if you're handy with a soldering iron and ok on a windows PC to upload software I can look into current costs for bare boards and component kits on a purely enthusiast basis while I'm back on the case with this ...

Such a good idea this. I’ve wanted one of these since you built the first one. I already have some of the sensors, it would be great to replace all the gauges with a single screen. I’d definitely be interested to know what is involved.

Could it also do boost pressure?

 

[Jon Wildsmith]

wow - been some time since you first made those Jon
What screen is that? IIRC, you (or I?) had an OLED screen which suffered from burn. Yours does not look OLED.
Are you reading OBD or similar or bespoke sensors for it?

The screen is by 4D systems - 4D Systems pixxiLCD-39P4-CTP TFT LCD Colour Display / Touch Screen, 3.9in, 480 x 128pixels | RS - [Leaving Land Cruiser Club] they do lots of different sizes and I've experimented with some of them, but this long format suits my needs. The programming is the same for all of them, just different screen layouts needed for different aspect ratio / size screen. Using bespoke sensors, mainly VDO. OBD is possible, but not applicable on the 80. When I get to tinkering on the 100, I might look and see what's available via OBD as well as the bespoke sensors.

Such a good idea this. I’ve wanted one of these since you built the first one. I already have some of the sensors, it would be great to replace all the gauges with a single screen. I’d definitely be interested to know what is involved.

Could it also do boost pressure?

It does everything Lorin. EGT, ATF, H2O, Boost, oil, pre intercooler, post intercooler, internal and external temps, AFR, RPM, speed and speedo correction, trip meters, battery monitoring, battery linking, and has other spare inputs and outputs.

What's involved is soldering a lot of through hole components onto a circuit board. Slightly fiddly, but not super fiddly. Connecting lots of wires. Making some sort of mount for your screen. A bit tedious, but an indoors project until it's ready to fit. Then give it power, and connect sensors ...

 

[Bat21]

I don't have time to make these up but if you're handy with a soldering iron and ok on a windows PC to upload software I can look into current costs for bare boards and component kits on a purely enthusiast basis while I'm back on the case with this ...

I may (or may not) have chipped Play Stations many years ago so (may) be handy soldering at component level so would be interested in finding out more @Jon

 

[Jon Wildsmith]

I'm sure that's handy enough for this project - no chip soldering required. What else would you like to know?

 

[Bat21]

I'm sure that's handy enough for this project - no chip soldering required. What else would you like to know?

I like the idea of a small digital readout like you have created there.

Currently I have two pod mounted 50mm gauges, one for ATF temp and one for engine coolant temp. These take their readings from sensors in the gearbox and coolant hose.

What would I need to buy, and where from, to move from the pod gauges and create the set up you have there. External and internal temp sensors added to it would be good too.

 

[Jon Wildsmith]

Checked current prices so here goes:

Bare interface PCB and kit of parts to populate it £80
+£20 for EGT interface if you want EGT. Just interface, need to add your choice of probe.

You need an Arduino Mega 256 to plug the interface board into e.g. A000067 | Arduino Mega 2560 Rev 3 | RS - [Leaving Land Cruiser Club]

Edited to add: you'll need a USB-A to USB-B cable to program the Arduino if you don't want to rely on sending it to me for programming.

You need the display e.g. 4D Systems pixxiLCD-39P4-CTP TFT LCD Colour Display / Touch Screen, 3.9in, 480 x 128pixels | RS - [Leaving Land Cruiser Club]

Edited to add: 4D Systems 4D Programming Cable | RS - [Leaving Land Cruiser Club] to program the display if you don't want to depend on sending it to me for programming.

Plus sensors. If there is data available for your current sensors they could be re-used e.g. VDO publish all the data for their sensors so I use those where I can, but have in the past used others where the data was available for them.

You'll need to make some sort of mount for the screen. Currently I just cut a piece of aluminium angle. In an ideal world I'd get a 3D printer and make nice cases, but don't have the time.

Up to you if you put the brains in a box. Mine is just sitting in the glovebox for easy access to make new connections as I add sensors, and for reprogramming when I do updates.

Populating the PCB will take patience and attention to detail to avoid mistakes, but the soldering itself is straight forward, there's just a lot of it.

Lead time for a first / one off you're looking at around 1 month.

There are much easier and cheaper solutions for sure.

 

[Bat21]

@Jon thank you for the info.

Will try and get my head around it all and see what I can create.

 

[thelal]

impressive work. like the 3 battery ability as well

 

[Jon Wildsmith]

Experimenting with different display options - this one is velcro'd over the rpm guage.

Haven't installed an oil pressure sensor yet, but I have a Bosch dual temperature / pressure sensor ready to go in, and I plan to replace the current VDO resistive coolant temp sensor with the same Bosch dual sensor to copy Frank's idea of monitoring coolant pressure to detect burst pipes etc.

 

[Bat21]

Nice job there @Jon