Are there any cool "LCD screen" gauge solutions out there....???

[Greg72]

I've been searching the interwebs but so far I only see a few lame implementations....


I'd have thought that someone like AutoMeter would already be all over this kind of idea:

• An LCD panel (possibly touchscreen) that could be customized to show any number of desired auxilliary gauges (volts, water temp, trans temp, oil temp, oil pressure, etc)

• An intermediate controller piece with maybe a USB port that would allow custom "skins" and other attributes to be downloaded to the display and would have electrical connectors for standard electric sensors (water temp, oil pressure, etc).

• User could define gauge size, color, operating ranges, set thresholds or limits with triggers to activate a buzzer or warning lamp as desired.

• Of course, you could wish for data-logging features, and perhaps even "context-sensitive" drilldown on the touchscreen.... touch the temp gauge, and the screen zooms to specific details about the operating temperature, and/or other relevant data.

I found something from PLX Devices (www.plxdevices.com) that seems close, but I can't tell if the unit will work as a pure standalone device or if it requires the OBD-II port connection even when monitoring standalone sensors.

This is the sort of thing I'm talking about....the same effect as 6 standalone gauges, but on a single small screen.

I could use this fluid sensor....

.....which would allow me to add a temperature sender to each of my Unimog portal hubs and monitor them during long stretches of highway travel to make sure that none of them are burning up. I could add more sensors to monitor trans temp, power steering fluid temp, and whatever else I wanted without adding TONS of gauge pods all over the interior of the truck. Just one simple LCD display that would allow me to quickly scan for issues.

Anyone know of another vendor doing this type of thing, or am I just out-to-lunch thinking this would be a cool product???

 

[Russell]

That would be a very cool product! All you need to do is install an Allen Bradley PCL in the back and install an industrial HMI in the dash, they are all touch screen and are pretty compact. You could easily make screens to show any kind of gauges or data you wanted.

Only problem is that such a system would probably cost you around 30 - 40 000 to install in your truck, haha!

 

[NorCal_Chris]

Only thing I think comes close is a racepak unit. allows for 28 inputs.

· Display up to 28 inputs via 4 pages · Blue backlight · Gear Indicator · 8 user defined alarms with warning text and lights · User defined 5-character sensor input names · User defined shift lights · Shielded, low luster display for sunlight viewing · Metric / Imperial Configurable The IQ3 Display Dash can be utilized with any of Racepak's V-Net data loggers, providing a compact, fully programmable LCD digital dash for use in a variety of motorsports. Progressive shift lights, eight warning lights and all inputs are easily programmable through the DataLink II software. A single V-Net cable is routed to the rear of the dash, providing power and access to all sensor information transmitted to the data logger. Up to 24 different sensor inputs may be displayed on a total of four programmable pages. The blue backlight provides excellent viewing for both daylight and nighttime usage, while the low luster display screen provides excellent protection against scratches

 

[Fordum]

Check out this outfit. I don't think they have it prebuilt, but you can get all the parts to do it a heck of a lot cheaper than Allan Bradley.

http://www.automationdirect.com

As far as I know, they don't have a setup designed for OBD-II, but their PLCs can be configured and programmed to do most anything and still interface with their touchscreens.

 

[pmpski_1]

I really want to do this. I think it would be easy enough (relatively) to DIY, but by the time I get around to it someone will already have made it and put out a kit for it.

I was thinking of a few simple things from the OBD1 hookup in my 91, but I like what you're talking about Greg. The ability to add physical sensors for other things you want to monitor and then set up your own guage parameters for them is a great idea.

 

[Greg72]

Check out this outfit. I don't think they have it prebuilt, but you can get all the parts to do it a heck of a lot cheaper than Allan Bradley.

http://www.automationdirect.com

As far as I know, they don't have a setup designed for OBD-II, but their PLCs can be configured and programmed to do most anything and still interface with their touchscreens.

To clarify, I do NOT want to find and OBD-II solution... (unless there happens to be a hidden port on my '72 K5 that I haven't located yet! )

For the later model cars/trucks it's pretty easy to find what I want. There are smartphone apps (ie. Rev) that will display OBD data on your iPhone via Bluetooth.

In my case, all I want is a simple way to hook up a LOT of temperature sensors and monitor them on some sort of simplified display. I don't want a row of six or eight identical temperature gauges running across the dash top. I thought about using some sort of multiple-selector switch so that I could tie all the sensors to a single gauge through the switch and only monitor one-at-a-time. But the idea of having to constantly fiddle with the switch to check each sender for an over-temp issue isn't very practical.

Ultimately, if I set a threshold temperature for each sensor that would trigger a warning light on the dash, then I could just monitor a bank of LEDs instead. If one of the LEDs lit-up, I could then switch the selector to that sender to see the specific temperature information on the gauge. Not a terrible solution, I suppose but I was hoping for something more elegant.

 

[jekquistk5]

There are multiple touch screen LCDs that have logic built in. Similar to what fordum posted. This is what I am using at work. http://www.unitronics.com/Series.aspx?page=Vision1040 My only complaint is the programing side. Sub routines never work, and it often locks the computer up while flashing. But it is a pretty cheap solution considering its I/O

 

[Blue85]

I have this functionality with a tablet, TunerStudioMS and my Megaquirt. There are several channels of inputs in the ECU and then there is an add-on board (GPIO) available that adds more I/O. It can do things like control an electronic transmission. While overkill to use a complete powertrain controller just to have gauge readouts, these things are cheaper than most commercial products - probably $400 for MS-II + GPIO. As an added bonus, the software would let you select turn-on temps for your fans and stuff with a few clicks of the mouse.

If you were handy with programming, you could write an interface for this using a tablet PC or remote mounted PC + touchscreen. The I/O circuit would be cheap since monitoring gauges is so slow. You should poke around hotrod and hobbyist forums, as somebody may have coded up an app like this.

But be warned that LCDs suck. (So do PCs, but that's another topic). There are OEMs putting out "virtual" dashboards, but viewability is part of what has pushed it off so long. The screen must be viewable in all conditions - including direct sunlight. This problem is even worse in a convertible. Transflective screens are OK, but still don't stand out like "real gauges" in the bright stuff. The angle has to be just right. So if you find a system off the shelf, be prepared to have trouble seeing it sometimes.

 

[Fordum]

Well, the link I posted sounds like what you want. Their PLCs can handle anywhere from about 8 to over thousands of inputs, and pretty much any type you want.

And the programming is fairly simple. And, being dedicated processors and not running Windows, they almost never lockup.

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

I know a number of folks that build their own Reef-Controller's.
I'm sure it's not that difficult.