[thibble]

Will be running account of project, which I'll be putting on my github. I got a really late start because of back surgery and life.

Project is to build an all in one 7" touch screen RPI for pushing new code/remote serial monitoring of LiBCM

• Support VNC & SSH
• Client & AP mode WiFi
• Powered by LiBCM ?
• Shutdown on low LibCM %?

Nice to haves:
Carplay/connect to amp & speakers. Who knows. Way too long printing and reprinting case to get it right. Still futzing with proper RPI back cover.

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[mudder]

Sounds like a fun project. LiBCM's onboard power supplies can source:
-5V @ 2A
-12V @ 1A

These supplies are always on, unless LiBCM turns itself off completely (i.e. when the battery is low).
LiBCM can turn the 4-pin "LiDisplay" header on/off in software, so that's an option, too.

 

[thibble]

Sounds like a fun project. LiBCM's onboard power supplies can source:
-5V @ 2A
-12V @ 1A

These supplies are always on, unless LiBCM turns itself off completely (i.e. when the battery is low).
LiBCM can turn the 4-pin "LiDisplay" header on/off in software, so that's an option, too.

Thanks. 2A is a little low but anticipated based on arduino spec. Display will be powered by accessory (cig) plug. Next iteration will be on headless banana pi vice an all in one. RPIs are hard to find and expensive. BPI are still cheap, the BPI M2+ is close to RPI 3 spec, lower power requirements than the PI4 I'm using.

 

[mudder]

Thanks. 2A is a little low but anticipated based on arduino spec. Display will be powered by accessory (cig) plug. Next iteration will be on headless banana pi vice an all in one. RPIs are hard to find and expensive. BPI are still cheap, the BPI M2+ is close to RPI 3 spec, lower power requirements than the PI4 I'm using.

The 2A 5V rail isn't related to the Arduino... it's a discrete 12V->5V buck converter on the LiBCM PCB. I just didn't need that much power so I designed around an efficient, low current supply.

 

[*sean*]

@thibble Neat project.

I have been looking at a lot of display options for my Insight Pi and Arduino projects and thought you might be interested.

This includes a 7" official Pi display like the one I think you are planning to use that looks like it would fit in one of those double-din Insight bezels. That would be a neat setup!

But I like my cupholders so I have been favoring a single DIN-sized display. The display area fills the DIN hole perfectly but the borders are too big, nothing that a dremel didn't fix. I mounted this in a gutted Insight radio.

Also found a display that is a candidate for replacing the instrument cluster. Somewhere on the site I have a picture of the above two mocked up.

A small round display (like for an e-watch) that fits well in the middle of the IMA circle in the instrument cluster, just resting on top.

But if you take a cluster apart, where the shift indicators are, there is a rectangular rounded hole in the LCD panel and if you dremeled out the plastics behind it you could install a small LCD display. Leave it off and it would look totally stock, turn it on and you have a nice place to put a lean burn indicator. Or accurate coolant temp sensor. Or whatever.

I would like to find a single-DIN radio that had a good slide-out display that I could drive with the Pi.

Finally, today I found a 1024x100 display - not a typo, a bar display - that's 10.4" long and quite narrow. It could sit on the dash and show various stuff.

If any of this interests you, let me know and I'll search for details.

Good luck on with your project.

 

[thibble]

@Sean yeh interested I've been looking at replacing analog cluster in another vehicle with aruduinos and rpi but never got far into it. Too many cars (.

Slow movement on this one. RPI4 with a display is drawing too much power from LiBCM USB, even with the display off. RPI boot loops. I stuck it on a power bank and second issue was builtin wifi doesn't have enough range. Fine if I park close to house but any of the further spots no go. I have a usb wifi adapter/antenna coming for it.

 

[*sean*]

@Sean yeh interested I've been looking at replacing analog cluster in another vehicle with aruduinos and rpi but never got far into it. Too many cars (.

Slow movement on this one. RPI4 with a display is drawing too much power from LiBCM USB, even with the display off. RPI boot loops. I stuck it on a power bank and second issue was builtin wifi doesn't have enough range. Fine if I park close to house but any of the further spots no go. I have a usb wifi adapter/antenna coming for it.

I plan to power my RPI from the 12V battery and am going to have to implement something that powers the display off some amount of time after the car shuts down unless I intervene, and starts booting when it first senses I'm approaching or entering the car. Not that hard, and there are 12V supplies that do some of this that are intended for the Pi, but I need more time too.

Perhaps all you need is an older RPI that consumes less power, with an HDMI output, or even zero. It is not really doing that much. I see older RPIs around; just picked up an RPI 1 from digikey.

 

[thibble]

RPI for insight has not had progress, redid my print farm which is now on a PI 400 and doing pysical work (rebuilding from hurricane still). I did buy this Getting Started with reTerminal - Seeed Wiki to use for Insight RPI and will be doing 12v from the car as Sean mentioned. Mine is always on a battery tender and libcm charger so I'm not worried about draw.

 

[mudder]

FYI: If you can power your RPI with 5 volts at less than 1.5 amps or so, then you can use the LiDisplay 4p connector... LiBCM can turn that connector's power on and off in firmware.

 

[thibble]

Minimum 3A for the ReTerminal RPI device.

 

[mudder]

Minimum 3A for the ReTerminal RPI device.

Is that what it actually pulls... or it's specified maximum with external loads connected? For example, if the RPI's I/O can source up to 1500 mA, then the RPI itself would be listed at 3A(max), even though it's only consuming 1.5 A.

 

[thibble]

Is that what it actually pulls... or it's specified maximum with external loads connected? For example, if the RPI's I/O can source up to 1500 mA, then the RPI itself would be listed at 3A(max), even though it's only consuming 1.5 A.

Yeh, I know a 4gb RPi4 running on microSD card and external monitor won't boot from my 500ma source. It'll boot completely headless but boot loops. Not a scientific test, nor have I tested the sources for verification of manufacturer claim. I know the touchscreen will add, and I OC them, so pushing for the native LiDisplay output of 1.5 isn't in my 'goals'. I'm sure it can be done

 

[thibble]

Update: Way late, work has been crazy. The RPI has been running in the car, it's not anything special. RPI 4 4Gb 32GB fast MicroSD. USB3 Wifi dongle (for greater range). VNC for remote desk. Arduino IDE. As car is always on 110V tether parked the RPI is on same 110V as the grid charge. Next step is Remote VPN for car admin when I'm traveling. Currently I can monitor/push updates from the house, which is what I wanted since car is rarely used anymore. It's become a too many cars thing here.

 

[*sean*]

Update: Way late, work has been crazy. The RPI has been running in the car, it's not anything special. RPI 4 4Gb 32GB fast MicroSD. USB3 Wifi dongle (for greater range). VNC for remote desk. Arduino IDE. As car is always on 110V tether parked the RPI is on same 110V as the grid charge. Next step is Remote VPN for car admin when I'm traveling. Currently I can monitor/push updates from the house, which is what I wanted since car is rarely used anymore. It's become a too many cars thing here.

Sorry, can't resist. You have a 65 Mustang? What if we put an Insight motor in the engine compartment driving a generator and recharging a modest number of lithium or LTO packs that are powering, say, a rear motor from something like a wrecked Tesla? Enough output from the Insight motor and generator for sustained speeds of, oh, 70 MPH, but enough current for some happy starts?

Have you considered a display on your Pi4? I have engineered a single-DIN-sized display to replace the radio, built into an old radio chassis. I have also found a display that will fit where the current instrument cluster is now, but requires a LOT more work (including keeping the cluster electronics to maintain the odometer without modification.) Not installed as more work needs to be done for powering up and down intelligently, and having a replacement for the radio. Perhaps this is something to collaborate on (Pi driving some kind of display).

 

[thibble]

Sorry, can't resist. You have a 65 Mustang? What if we put an Insight motor in the engine compartment driving a generator and recharging a modest number of lithium or LTO packs that are powering, say, a rear motor from something like a wrecked Tesla? Enough output from the Insight motor and generator for sustained speeds of, oh, 70 MPH, but enough current for some happy starts?

The mustang is the next project to restore, but it's original owning family with original engine V8 car so I won't hack it up. The 59 Ford is a better candidate. Pretty crusty, missing original drivetrain, and very light car. Huge engine compartment and trunk.

Have you considered a display on your Pi4? I have engineered a single-DIN-sized display to replace the radio, built into an old radio chassis. I have also found a display that will fit where the current instrument cluster is now, but requires a LOT more work (including keeping the cluster electronics to maintain the odometer without modification.) Not installed as more work needs to be done for powering up and down intelligently, and having a replacement for the radio. Perhaps this is something to collaborate on (Pi driving some kind of display).

I had a 5" touchscreen on but took it off, no need of it. I thought about using one for only the needed driving telemetry and doing without LIDISPLAY but not that interested in project anymore. I have the 72 Vette apart right now. It only gets 100 or so miles a year but I identified some not quite proper things on it....pulled those threads and ended up disassembling quite a bit in an OCD pursuit of perfection . Once it's sorted I'll be pulling the Mustang out of deep storage for it's long term restoration project.

 

[*sean*]

Well, I was a dumb kid and pulled and have everything except the original block on the Rustang - even have the heads, pistons, crank, pan. I do have an engine from a 66 in it but it has not been on the road since before I moved here. So I am unbound and can do whatever I want with it. Smart kid, maybe?

 

[thibble]

heh. Yeh but the '59 Ford would be good for that, and it's a two door. Rusty and ugly so a great rat rod with hybrid drive, keep it all rat ugly rusty on the outside, then go for a full 'back to the future look' under the hood and in trunk. Lots of LED, enclosed tesla tower, etc. Be a fun project.

 

[thibble]

I'm actively planning for retirement, so RPI project is as finished as it will get. Final is: RPI 4 4Gb 32GB fast MicroSD. USB3 Wifi dongle (for greater range). VNC for remote desk. Arduino IDE. As car is always on 110V tether parked the RPI is on same 110V as the grid charge. This works really well, I can push new code, monitor serial, etc. It is headless since I don't need to be in car to access. You can make the VNC connection from PC/Mac/Linux/Android/IOS.