BCM Gauge Battery Data Display

[retepsnikrep]

Mike

Well i did design it with a spare data out port on the board, what info do you need at the port for your charger design?

I can send serial data at upto 9600 bps 8N1 from it, or do you just want a high low/signal when battery voltage or temp gets above a certain point?

The gauge device itself only uses a few ma so can pretty much be left on all the time.

[Rush]

Mike - that is a great idea. How good to see integration between 2 different ideas!
Cool!

[Varak]

I'm definitely interested in one of these as well. One of the reasons I haven't bought the ScanGauge yet is because it lacked the information on the IMA system.

[Mike Dabrowski 2000]

Probably best to use the serial port since I don't yet know how I will use the information.
Maybe just broadcast the data in a specific sequence.

[retepsnikrep]

OK I'll echo the display data to the port we can discuss later how you want it formatted.

[Mike Dabrowski 2000]

That will work.

[retepsnikrep]

Back to the LCD and mounting it.

Making non stock instrumentation look good is always a problem.

The LCD i suggested a few posts back is almost a perfect fit into the little hinged flap cubby hole. 30 seconds work with either sandpaper on the top or bottom edge of the LCD pcb will enable that to fit nicely in the hole.

The issue then is a bezel with a suitable cutout for the lcd which also fills the hole and allows the flap to shut as standard. Some matt black abs plastic with a cnc or laser cutout for the lcd seems the most sensible thing. Anyone got access to something like that?

Getting a Pcb made for the bezel sounds good as it can have the lcd cutout machined into it and be esentially plain matt black with white screen print text wherever we want it. I have asked my pcb supplier for some samples.

I have seen people use printers on acetate sheets to produce overlays with an acurate cutout for lcd's. Perhaps someone would like to have a look at that as an option.

[retepsnikrep]

Appologies looks like my pcb's will be at least another week comming from China

Did anyone have a look at US prices for the parts list I mentioned a few posts back. It would be helpful if someone could price up the bits over there and post a guide with some links.

No one any thoughts on LCD Mounting? Where else could it go?

Would people be willing to pay for a matt black PCB panel that fills the cubby hole but has a cutout for the recomended LCD? I estimate cost at < $5. Pcbcart are hopefully sending me some samples of the matt black material with my order.

[satchel]

Originally Posted by retepsnikrep

Would people be willing to pay for a matt black PCB panel that fills the cubby hole

I would but what is this cubby hole you speak of? I'm guessing it's only on European cars as I have no hinged flap cubby hole.

[faxe]

I would too, but as satchel i would need to know what this "cubby hole" is. ?

Is it in the hinged compartment which is only on the RHD models under the radio. ?