BCM Gauge Battery Data Display

[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

Edit

For all those who have already PM me expressing an interest or posted on here you should have a PM with further details.

Others should PM me if you want purchasing and disclaimer details.

Software Update Important. All software updates will go here!

V1.0 Original release.

www.solarvan.co.uk/Gauge/BCMGauge_V01_270710.hex


V2.0 Changes include.

1) Improved SOC code masking, hopefully to avoid Marks bizzare readings.
2) Forced sparkfun lcd backlight to max brightness.
3) Slowed down data transfer to lcd to help with lazy displays.
4) BCM data input timeout and message if no BCM data being received.
5) Minor correction to hex dump code.

www.solarvan.co.uk/Gauge/BCMGauge_V02_060810.hex


V2.1 Changes include.

1) Improved amps code and increased resolution to 1/10th of an amp.

http://www.solarvan.co.uk/Gauge/BCMG...021_160810.hex


V2.2 Changes include.

1) Sorted Logging code to provide correct data output to Excel Spreadsheet.

http://www.solarvan.co.uk/Gauge/BCMG...022_170810.hex


V2.3 Changes include.

1) Improved BCM Data error rejection with addition of a checksum routine. If the incoming twelve byte data packets from the BCM do not pass the checksum they are rejected and the gauge waits for the next valid packets. This gives much more reliable data. We know the Insight is a nosiy RFI/EMI environment so this helps a lot. I strongly recommend people upgrade to this version as a minimum.

http://www.solarvan.co.uk/Gauge/BCMG...023_180810.hex


V2.4 Changes include.

1) Fixed temperature calculations for all temps above freezing. Note the gauge will not display temps below 0C/32F. Anything below freezing is forced to 0C or 32F at present.

http://www.solarvan.co.uk/Gauge/BCMG...024_210810.hex


V2.5 Changes include.

1) Further improved temperature calculations to show temps below freezing. Down to -32C for Centigrade mode and 0F (-18C) in Farenheit mode

http://www.solarvan.co.uk/Gauge/BCMG...025_220810.hex


V3.0 Changes include.

1) Addition of 5 way switch for option selection and menu control.
2) Selectable Lcd backlight brightness high/low.
3) Full raw hex data dump on/off.
4) Splash screens on/off.
5) Hex Display on/off.
6) Converted hex dump on/off.
7) Temp centigrade or farenheit.
Extended Soc display on/off. (Dummy 10ah Battery) (Not working yet)
9) Reset Extended Soc.

Source and Hex code is attached FYI.

www.solarvan.co.uk/Gauge/BCMGauge_V30_260810.hex

[uhtrinity]

I would love to help out with this as I would love to track remaining capacity. However, will this track other than stock capacity?

[retepsnikrep]

This new gauge only tracks stock capacity.

I may be able to help you later with a custom module which can track the soc of parallel packs. We can discuss that off list in a month or so.

[retepsnikrep]

This is the proposed LCD display that will be reqd to use the gauge.

SparkFun Electronics - Serial Enabled 16x2 LCD - White on Black 5V

http://www.sparkfun.com/datasheets/LCD/SerLCD_V2_5.PDF

[RobertSmalls]

This certainly is an interesting project, and more instrumentation is always welcome. No more wondering what's really going on behind Honda's gauges.

You are fortunate to have such a tech-hungry wife. I've never dated a girl who asked me to install more instrumentation in her car.

[Rush]

Sounds great! I would certainly be up as a beta tester/early adopter.

[aisbell]

Originally Posted by retepsnikrep

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.

For those of us with MIMA, would the necessary BCM signals be available on the MIMA distribution board? If so, we would not need to string another cable from the IPU compartment into the passenger compartment.

[retepsnikrep]

No the relevant signals are not available on the MIMA board ASFAIK.

[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

one connector is required as are three pins to fit it, or you can solder to the lcd if you are confident enough. I recommend the connector which should also be easy to thread through from the rear of the car to find a way to the lcd.

If people want to make their own boards up that's fine. The schematic is below.

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


If you are really keen and I later release updated software for the project with more functions etc then you will need a USB programmer to upload new software to the Pic. I've been using one of these and it works a treat.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/iCP01-USB-Micr...item41510b3461

As an aside most of my other projects use this programmer to program the chips so it would come in handy if you partake in any more of my Insight Pic projects in the future

[Mike Dabrowski 2000]

Cool device
I will take one when you get it worked out.

Can you setup an I/O port so the grid charger can read the battery data, if the BCM/MCM was powered up during charging?