Re: raw data for MGF trip computer
Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2015 3:23 pm
I think in the interest of keeping the wiring "tidy", it's best to just collect all the sensor readings in the rear of the car and then run one "all-in-one" cable/loom up to the front of the car where all of its wires will connect straight to the trip computer.
For example, sensor cable can have eight wires and more in it. I've used it for similar projects, it's highly flexible and very heat/cold/wear resistant. I've got a big Conrad shop three minutes from my home where I can just buy it by the metre, as well as most of the other small parts and components that this project will require
Anyway, with the sensor cable, you could pick up the following from the rear of the car:
- fuel injection signal
- crankshaft sensor signal
- speed transducer signal
- fuel gauge signal
- as a bonus, a low coolant warning sensor could be installed while I am at it.
- ...
I could probably just pick up the fuel gauge reading at the instrument cluster, but again, in the interest of keeping things tidy, I will probably just tap into it right at the petrol tank.
I've got a million other ideas for this project at the moment, but first of all I am going to have to get started at all... I am right in the middle of programming an alarm system for my Audi using the same Atmega microcontroller, because some mugs tried to steal it over night a few weeks ago... but that's going nicely now, so I will probably be able to start the MG trip computer in earnest in about a month's time.
This is probably the display I am going to use. A 2.2-inch diagonal should be plenty to display readably all the data you want the system to show, plus maybe a little fun can be had with it by giving it a "welcome screen" with an animated MG logo... again, all this isn't witchcraft, such a welcome screen will mean 10 extra lines of C code, although first you have to create the animation as a series of bitmap files with some sort of Photoshop-like software.
The screen will go in the centre console in lieu of the hazard lights switch; I will move the switch to the bottom of the centre console where the cigarette lighter is now. I will use a hazard switch from a Rover 75, as somebody has done before: http://s44.photobucket.com/user/Scarlet ... l.jpg.html . The added bonus would be having the panic button from the Rover included.
For example, sensor cable can have eight wires and more in it. I've used it for similar projects, it's highly flexible and very heat/cold/wear resistant. I've got a big Conrad shop three minutes from my home where I can just buy it by the metre, as well as most of the other small parts and components that this project will require
Anyway, with the sensor cable, you could pick up the following from the rear of the car:
- fuel injection signal
- crankshaft sensor signal
- speed transducer signal
- fuel gauge signal
- as a bonus, a low coolant warning sensor could be installed while I am at it.
- ...
I could probably just pick up the fuel gauge reading at the instrument cluster, but again, in the interest of keeping things tidy, I will probably just tap into it right at the petrol tank.
I've got a million other ideas for this project at the moment, but first of all I am going to have to get started at all... I am right in the middle of programming an alarm system for my Audi using the same Atmega microcontroller, because some mugs tried to steal it over night a few weeks ago... but that's going nicely now, so I will probably be able to start the MG trip computer in earnest in about a month's time.
This is probably the display I am going to use. A 2.2-inch diagonal should be plenty to display readably all the data you want the system to show, plus maybe a little fun can be had with it by giving it a "welcome screen" with an animated MG logo... again, all this isn't witchcraft, such a welcome screen will mean 10 extra lines of C code, although first you have to create the animation as a series of bitmap files with some sort of Photoshop-like software.
The screen will go in the centre console in lieu of the hazard lights switch; I will move the switch to the bottom of the centre console where the cigarette lighter is now. I will use a hazard switch from a Rover 75, as somebody has done before: http://s44.photobucket.com/user/Scarlet ... l.jpg.html . The added bonus would be having the panic button from the Rover included.