Automotive sensor display system

[boroko]

Amoque, let me expand your perceptions just a bit.
I understand the need for CANBUS, OBDII, and all the benefits that they bring. And I understand that it has developed into a robust system and allows for major troubleshooting. Before you shoot holes in my thread, understand that not everyone's needs are the same. Feel free to look up an '90 Audi V8Q and tell me how much OBDII info is available. It is the older system that blinks out codes. How about a '98 Subaru Legacy, can you tell me the PID for the oil pressure and temperature? Or how about a '87 VW Vanagon? it doesn't even have OBD, let alone give me the tranny lube temperature. EGT is another parameter that is helpful that I haven't seen. Or a race car, or a tractor, or a generator set...

Bottom line is this, I would like to monitor a number of things that are not available through On Board Diagnostics on the vehicles that I own. For that, I would like to augment what info is available through OBDII without having a dash full of gauges that make my vehicle look like the inside of the Millennium Falcom. Any help to that end would be useful. As it appears to be something that few others have interest in, so I will continue to pursue it on my own. If I am successful, I will likely share it here. The move to an existing device as the display is also intriguing, thus the interest in sending it wirelessly to an Android App. I'd like to stay with PIC's, but what I have seen is on Arduino, and I am completely clueless on C or Java for the Android. Not to mention that there are a small number of people working on the previously mentioned MuntiDisplay, and they are mostly German. Anyway, thanks for the input, and when I start driving a 2015 Mercedes, I wont have as much need for this. Until then...

Bo

[boroko]

Archangel, thanks for the video. Wow, Skimask, what a project! And it is pretty cool to "meet" you. Its interesting that our perceptions of someone are usually greatly different than reality.
Bo

[Demon]

As far as the OBDII, the system is primarily for emissions and doesn't often monitor basic engine functions for older models.

.

There, fixed it for you.

Robert
:-)

[boroko]

Thank you. I stand corrected

[Amoque]

You are correct, Boroko, in my zeal to define how I see the system I have not adequately accounted your specific needs. Only vehicles 1996 and newer are OBDII equipped and, sadly, the '96 Subaru was improperly implemented and so still we offer an alternate test for that vehicle. I am anxious to help however. Here is a list of the "P" codes available from that vehicle.

I would suggest that if there is a sensor it is being monitored by something (if there is no indicator in OBD or no gauge on the dash... I suspect there is no sensor) and it is likely (to my limited electronics experience) outputting variable voltage - to be read by ADC through a voltage divider, variable current - can be modified to be read by ADC, or a PWM output. I have used "Frequency to Voltage" chips with success - or perhaps the PBP functions of COUNT or PULSIN will be adequate. Once you are able to capture the signal (either from an existing sensor or one installed by you - while only 2015 Subaru may come with the sensor, it might be added...), Let the PIC condition the signal, then output to Android with one of the serial Bluetooth links. There are some pretty good "BASIC" programming apps for Android that should, with some study, allow the development of a display.

I suspect you have come to this same conclusion and are looking for a template, so as not to have to reinvent the wheel. Alas, I do not know of one; however, for a limited number of channels this project might require a reasonable amount of effort and, if the Bluetooth is eliminated, seems almost trivial once the sensors are located or installed. I am using several "analog" voltmeter gauges, driven by I2C DAC's - with custom background templates - they look quite nice and, such gauges are traditional in vehicles, even those without OBDII .

Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of luck and stand willing to help in any way I can.

[J. Mark Wolf]

I started a project some time ago with the following features.

1. Battery voltage monitoring
2. 4 EGT thermocouple channels
3. 4 CHT thermocouple channels
4. Electric water pump current monitoring
5. Water temp
6. Oil temp
7. Charge Air temp
8. O2 sensor via serial port
9. Manifold pressure
10. Barometric sensor
11. Tachometers
12. Log data to a compact flash card
13. Graphic LCD output via serial port (Text and bar graphs)

Software is 80-90% complete but written in Proton syntax. Would be a relatively simple port to PICBasic.

Circuit board is complete.

Project was designed for an aircraft application, but the project went away.

PM me. We'll talk.

[Tobias]

I have an agriculture Android based electric motor controller that I use Bluetooth to communicate with the PIC chip(s)

I use B4A (basic for android) It is great.

Example screen shots
http://www.grahamelectricplanter.com/gc/

[boroko]

That looks quite nice. thanks for letting me know about it.
bo