21 replies to this topic

[SleeperSaab]

Hi guys, hoping this is the right forum for this request.


I have the need for a boost gauge in my car. I don't want to mount something on the A-pillar or dash (hello... Sleeper!), so I'm thinking about putting something electronic in.

Ideally, a small output with two digital numbers to display psi would be perfect, but failing that I'm thinking about a little computery thing that I could use to replace the normal In-dash display (like where the time and temperature and such is displayed).

I would like to have poost pressure, air temp, outside temp, horsepower (some have them, but not sure how accurate they are or if that's even possible) and so on.

I can use an ODBII connector to get most of the information, but also happy to install other sensors and such as required.

Any ideas?

Also, just to be difficult, I'm hoping I can get something in the vicinity of 15cm by 5cm for the display - or something around that size. Or, if anyone has a lead on the two digits for psi thing, the smaller the better.

Here's a picture of the part I'm hoping to be able to replace....



It would be perfect if I could get a display the same size that could fit behind and look like it's stock. But anything close, or a different solution would be fine.

Thanks in advance!

[Blkfxx]

Read into Arduino.

[SleeperSaab]

Read into Arduino.

Thank you for the verbose reply.

I had a bit of a read about it, but it seems like there isn't many products around, just a lot of people building their own little projects. Whereas I think it would be fun and rewarding to learn how to do all that sort of stuff, it's really time consuming and I don't have the time to dedicate to something like this.

However, I would be keen to sponsor a project like this. Does anyone out there have much experience with Arduino? I'd be very keen to talk to someone about funding/ideas/brainstorming and working with someone who could do the build side.

[Gobbledok]

how about something like this?
http://www.scangauge.com/
they are only a couple of hundred bucks locally...

edit - i would totally rip out the saab hud and integrate the scangauge...

Edited by Gobbledok.inc, 05 May 2011 - 11:25 AM.

[Banned.ScrewYouTeam.inc]

how about something like this?
http://www.scangauge.com/
they are only a couple of hundred bucks locally...

edit - i would totally rip out the saab hud and integrate the scangauge...

thats pretty much what I was looking for, for my Laser, except the Laser is OBDI

[Big_Valven]

A scangauge would be closest to what you want out of a pre-made product.

As for something custom, the sky is the limit, you'd just need to talk to the right person (a large wallet would help too if you want to go down the fully custom route...)

[Giant]

https://market.andro...e=search_result

I was just looking at something like this this morning.

Get yourself a Android based phone(i think telstra has one for $99 prepaid, not that you need credit on it) (or tablet if you want a decent screen) and get this app, and a OBD2 bluetooth adapter and you have full access to the OBD2 sensors.

[SQXPRT]

for just boost, you can get a digital pressure gauge and sensor, and custom mount it.

the OBDII and android is cool too.

[syd-monster]

http://www.dakotadig...prod/prd377.htm

link

Im sure you could integrate that easier, plus there are cheap ebay copies similar to it.

[SleeperSaab]

I know it's been a while, but I'm getting closer all the time.

I'm going to have a tablet style pc set up mounted to the dash and connect all manner of gauges (including ODBII) to it. The key thing will be the boost gauge, but there will be a range of other info as well. The idea will be a touch screen set up that you tap for the gauge you want, or a summary read out.

If people want, I'll put up details of the build. Hopefully it will be completed over the next couple of months...

[ubernoob]

What size tablet? I use a tablet PC for my diagnostics and datalogging but I don't have it permanently mounted in the car.

The best unit I have come across is the Zeitronix system that uses either a 7" display or a smaller monochrome(?) dot matrix style display, it lets you download to a PC and looks very well thought out.

For the Android app the Bluetooth OBDII modules are so cheap on ebay it's not funny, I am going to get one and run the android shell on my PC, for $10 all up what is there to lose?

[SQXPRT]

I got one of those OBDII BT thingys.
what is a good android app to use?

[SleeperSaab]

@ubernoob, I will be building my own tablet (with some help from a mate). I'll do the build here if people are interested and if it goes well, I may also look into selling them. The tablet will be as small as I can get it while still retaining functionality. It will slip into a mounting clip I'll put on the dash.

I've done a lot of research and it looks like the best method for what I want.

[ubernoob]

I thought about running a VGA adaptor to the factory nav screen but would have been too small.

I'm all for people doing new things but I really think you will find a suitable option if you search the net for long enough.
What do you want it to do that commercially avaliable ones don't?

Something like this should do or you really want touchscreen functionality?
http://www.hksusa.co...ore.asp?id=3471

Running my diagnosic software sees my computer consuming at least 1.2g of RAM and I'm not sure if that goes up whilst datalogging, I can run a graph of up to six sensor outputs but the idiots at Volvo make it really hard to work out values and a calculator is always needed so I find myself prinscreening a hell of a lot.

Having hadwriting recognition is quite cool as you can enter values with dirty hands.

[SleeperSaab]

Hey ubernoob, looks cool, but two things. Firstly, the main thing I need is to run a boost gauge, but the one you linked does it only as an extra. Secondly, that extra is on top of the $600!

In theory, the one I'm designing will have all that functionality, plus touch screen, plus HEAPS more.

I've started in earnest now, so I'll link to my blog where I will do the whole build and design, if anyone wants to follow it.

[ubernoob]

Yeah I found the HKS in no time in a Google search and was just an example however the Zeitronix I mentioned earlier is way better but still expensive.
http://www.zeitronix...q/dashdaq.shtml

I wanted this one but decided to spend my money on the Volvo scan tool which is good as I can clear codes but the data logging is lest than perfect.
http://www.zeitronix...s/LCD/LCD.shtml

Edited by ubernoob, 21 December 2011 - 09:07 PM.

[db-pioneer]

Am interested

[Gruelius]

id go for putting it on the instrument cluster. find a way to remove one of the more boring gauges and replace it with boost

one guy does it for e30's

[ubernoob]

Common you've had a month, this should be finished by now, I want pics.

[Captn_Awesome]

id go for putting it on the instrument cluster. find a way to remove one of the more boring gauges and replace it with boost

one guy does it for e30's

Cool but if your interested in seeing your boost pressure surely your interested in the state of your manifold at all times so why not also show vac.?

[TMM]

Read into Arduino.

Probably the best solution. You could even get an inverted orange LCD that looks exactly the same as the stock one.

Pretty big learning curve for someone whos never done programming though

[SleeperSaab]

Common you've had a month, this should be finished by now, I want pics.

Heh heh heh, yeah I know, I'm still looking into this. I have started to collect information and equipment and will be getting there slowly.

I've decided to up the ante a bit and do a full car pc that will have heaps of functions, but it's going to take a while. I'll do a full build thread on my blog and post here with updates when I can.

Pretty big learning curve for someone whos never done programming though

And damn straight. Although, I've done programming, not the issue - it's the electronics side I have to learn... probably a bigger task.

So for the record, I will be using arduino. I'm going to start off with using a netbook computer that will plug into an arduino box with a bunch of stuff plugging into the arduino box. Once that all works well, I'll move from the netbook to a tablet pc and then to a fully run arduino set up with a TFT display. But that may take a really long time. I'm researching and learning at the moment and will let you guys know how I go.