BCM Gauge Battery Data Display

[retepsnikrep]

I'll post a pic later. Good point though cubby hole may only be on european cars. Perhaps our US owners can suggest a place to stick it.

[satchel]

If it had a flat area on top of housing I could stick it to the bottom of the SGII, or if not too wide velcro it beside the SGII. Certainly not as elegant as fitting it to an existing cubby hole but works for me.

[Varak]

Long time since I've done electronics, but I'll give the list a go.

Digikey had so many products that I'm sure I picked the wrong ones on some/all of these. Hopefully the experts can fine tune this list.

1 x LTC1487 8 pin dil RS485 Bus driver ($1.55)

Digi-Key - LTC1487CN8-ND (Manufacturer - LTC1487CN

2 x 8 pin dil IC sockets (optional) (not sure I got right socket, but these are 2*$.66)

Digi-Key - A24794-ND (Manufacturer - 2-640463-2)

2 x 330R 1/8w 10% or better resistors (2*$.04)

RES 330 OHM 1/8W 1% 0805 SMD - RMCF 1/10 330 1% R

2 x 16v 100uf miniature electroytic radial caps (2*$.15)

Digi-Key - P833-ND (Manufacturer - ECE-A1CKA101)

1 x 0.1uf poly or ceramic cap ($.30 - this is for a 25v cap since no voltage was listed)

Digi-Key - 490-5380-ND (Manufacturer - RDER71E104K0K1C03B)

1 x 78L05 5v 100ma TO92 regulator ($.54)

Digi-Key - MC78L05ACPREGOSCT-ND (Manufacturer - MC78L05ACPREG)

1 x IN4001 50v 1A diode ($.30)

Digi-Key - 1N4001DICT-ND (Manufacturer - 1N4001-T)


JST connector ($.05)

Digi-Key - 455-1126-ND (Manufacturer - PHR-3)

The other connectors are SIL 0.1" pins or screw terminals.

Not sure which terminal you needed, but here is the list from their site ($1-$8 depending on size)

Terminal Blocks - Wire to Board | Digi-Key

Total for those except for the terminal block is $4.44

DigiKey does not sell 5M cables (minimum was 100) so did not include that either.

Shipping will probably double the cost.

Originally Posted by retepsnikrep

Below is the PCB layout of the 50 x 40mm Board.

The parts list for this project is as follows

1 x PCB = $15 (Order from me)
1 x 12F683 8 pin dil Pic (Pre-programmed) $15 (Order from me)

1 x LTC1487 8 pin dil RS485 Bus driver
2 x 8 pin dil IC sockets (optional)
2 x 330R 1/8w 10% or better resistors
2 x 16v 100uf miniature electroytic radial caps
1 x 0.1uf poly or ceramic cap
1 x 78L05 5v 100ma TO92 regulator
1 x IN4001 50v 1A diode

1 x 5M subminature three core screened cable for connection to LCD. (I'm still looking for the best option for this. I want it as thin as practicable!)

Connector J2 is SIL 0.1" pins

The other connectors are SIL 0.1" pins or screw terminals.

(I use screw terminals they are more expensive but make connecting a breeze.) This range is very nice. Browse for Products | Farnell United Kingdom

LCD as advised in earlier post. The connector on the LCD is a JST type

JST (JAPAN SOLDERLESS TERMINALS)|PHR-3|HOUSING, 3WAY | Farnell United Kingdom


If someone in the US could price up the parts from a local supplier and post the list/links here that would be helpful. Thanks

[retepsnikrep]

Thanks for that Varak.

I think I might have found a nice cheap enclosure for the LCD.

Rapid Electronics - ABS BOX BLACK 129 X 40 X 25MM (RC)



I have ordered a plain black one without the battery compartment to see how it fits. You would have to cut the hole for the LCD but otherwise looks nice and might be able to make a template for the lcd cutout or some sort of acetate overlay. Some sticky backed velcro and could be fixed anywhere.

Perhaps someone can find the equivalent over in US?

[Varak]

Digikey has thousands of boxes in every conceivable size.

Boxes | Digi-Key

Here's one close to the size of yours.

Digi-Key - SCR28B-ND (Manufacturer - C28,BK)

[retepsnikrep]

With the abs box I mentioned earlier which arrived today, I had to sand about 1mm off the edge of the specified LCD pcb to get it to fit. 30 seconds work with a sheet of sandpaper on the bench.

The most difficult bit is cutting the hole for the lcd screen itself to poke through. I managed it after about an hour filing/drilling etc. It's not difficult but requires time and care to get accurate. I will speak to my local vinyl sign guy to see if he can do a small piece which covers up the rough edges of the LCD hole.

It's a nice looking box and will fit well with the stock look.

PCB's should be here in next two days. Then final testing can take place.

[jonnyvtec]

Originally Posted by retepsnikrep

Back to the LCD and mounting it.


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?

I can potential get some things SLS'd (Selective Laser Sintering) so I 3D CAD model something then get it printed in a VAT of powder into a functional plastic part. Im gonna start work on a upper grill block for the Insight one day that will mount on the OEM hole positions on the slam panel etc.

[Mr. Mik]

Originally Posted by retepsnikrep

I have been working hard on a neat little display which every Insight Mk1 enthusiast will want I hope!

It integrates directly with the BCM, and so far will display

Battery Volts
Battery Current
Battery Soc
Battery Temp
Fan Status

All this info is gathered by the BCM stock system. I'm collating and further processing it with a little 50x40mm pcb which then drives a small backlit 16x2 serial lcd display very similiar to the Scangauge look.

It only involves 4 connection taps in the IPU compartment (power, ground and two to the BATTSCI data lines) a three core ultra miniature screened cable will take the lcd drive signal to the front of the car where you can mount the LCD in whatever housing or position you want. The unit will activate when the ignition is on.

Hopefully gone will be the days of guessing the battery voltage/temp/soc/current.
You will have a fast accurate lcd which refreshes several times a second and actually shows you the current flowing so you can see if that dreaded background charge is going on. The battery temp will be useful for those with grid chargers and in hot climates to ensure they don't cook the battery.

The component cost is pretty minimal. I'll probably sell it as a complete kit including the pre-programmed pic, but possibly minus the serial display which can be bought locally saving overseas postage.

I'm expecting to complete final testing within a month. I'll post some pics when I have it wired up into the wifes car in a couple of weeks. My pcb has ICSP fitted for program updates and a spare in/out connector. It may be possible to dump the BCM data via the spare connector to a connected PC or use a switch to enable a sub display of codes etc, but that's for the future

Price will be around $40-50 minus the lcd display and postage. The lcd display is around $25

PM me if your interested in being an early adopter or beta tester

Does the device work by reading Canbus messages from the stock BCM?

If so, then you may be able to adapt this for sale to Vectrix owners.

I have analysed the Vectrix Canbus messages for the battery 12 temp sensors, battery current and voltage, speed, and some other functions.

I'd like a device that monitors the Canbus messages (without interfering) and shows values in DegC, Volts, Amps etc rather than Hexadecimal gobbledigook! Do you think this would be adaptable?

A 12V DC (0.5A) power source is available next to the Canbus plug in the Vectrix glove box.

Here is a link to the list of "decoded" Vectrix Canbus messages: Vectrix CANBUS Data Logging and Analysis | V is for Voltage electric vehicle forum

Do you think that would be another application for you device? If yes, I'd like one asap and will gladly beta-test!

[retepsnikrep]

Originally Posted by Mr. Mik

Does the device work by reading Canbus messages from the stock BCM?

If so, then you may be able to adapt this for sale to Vectrix owners.

I have analysed the Vectrix Canbus messages for the battery 12 temp sensors, battery current and voltage, speed, and some other functions.

I'd like a device that monitors the Canbus messages (without interfering) and shows values in DegC, Volts, Amps etc rather than Hexadecimal gobbledigook! Do you think this would be adaptable?

A 12V DC (0.5A) power source is available next to the Canbus plug in the Vectrix glove box.

Here is a link to the list of "decoded" Vectrix Canbus messages: Vectrix CANBUS Data Logging and Analysis | V is for Voltage electric vehicle forum

Do you think that would be another application for you device? If yes, I'd like one asap and will gladly beta-test!

I had a quick look at your data Mr Mik. Very interesting and a good decoding effort well done.

Sadly the I1 does not use CAN Bus and my device reads the proprietory serial protocol chat going on between MCM & BCM.

The pic's I am using cannot do serial comms at CAN bus speeds on their own, but there is probably a CAN interface chip available which could then act as the gobetween for a device similar to mine. So in essecence my device will not work for you but the theory is sound, and you have done the hard work for the vectrix,someone on your forum ought to be able to build something similar. Good luck.

[Mr. Mik]

Thanks for looking into it!

Mik