Thread: Arduino Modular Engine Sensors Unit (~$50)

Originally Posted by haydent

thanks ! unfortunately i cant edit he opening post so its hard to present an upto date summary of the project state, i can understand people not wanting to read through 13+ pages for a few relative posts...

check out my github page too.

So do you have a unit available that I can buy?

not yet, but i could make one up or maybe make some instructions/schematic

would you go more for diy or off the shelf ?

DYI if it is not hard. My definition of hard is when programing is involved.

If it is just a matter of following instructions and some soldering I would love to DIY.

I recently came across a site by a bloke called David Pye from the UK. He was making kits for lowering SLS in D2's and was happy to share the info for DIY.

He built the kit using Arduino but after communicating with him I found out that an eprom(I think that was what it was)had to be programed.

See posts 31 to 34 here.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/discovery-...-remote-4.html

great, as it will be easier at this stage of development for me to provide a schematic. would that be ok? or would you need a pcb by itself ? or pcb with components ?

its arduino based and you just load my code onto it which is 1 click via usb

currently i use it with the factory coolant temperature sensor, factory oil pressure switch, and float switch added to coolant tank. im just testing an oil pressure sender too.

theoretically it would work with any sensor. (apart from k-type thermocouples as they put out such small voltage that needs amplification that i have not got in this circuit, though it could be added)

The stuff is cheap so not really much to lose if I stuff it.

I would love to have a crack so long as you don't mind helping.

so how do you want to do it ?

Updated screen layout
Temperature & Oil reading/maximum/alarm

Originally Posted by bacicat

Yes, I can't believe how cheap all the stuff is.
One more thing - is there an RFID Shield that could be used to make some sort of ignition activation circuit - so if you are close enough with the correct RFID tag, the car could be started without a key like some of the new flash cars out there...?

Im currently thinking the RFID would be better used as a sort of immobiliser just keep it on a keychain or something I guess but not let your car start unless its within range (not sure if you could code multiple RFID chips if you had multiple sets of keys but couldn't see why not

Originally Posted by Judo

I picture something like: each reading in a box/circle with a background colour that changes based on the reading. I.E. All reading normal would be a bunch of green boxes with digital reading printed inside each. The background colour slowly changes to orange, then red (using shading in between) to represent the status. This means for the most part you never even have to read the screen.. (Except when you want to see all the cool things you're tracking )

Love the idea of changing led colour depending on temps

Originally Posted by Dougal

It's a great way to get classic looks with modern performance. I'm all for it.

It's the way that pretty much all cars have been running their instruments for at least a decade now. It's only recently that a few have one LCD display that looks like gauges (current RR etc).

LCD display that looks like gauges would be quite cool and if I have my way would be what I prefer.

Originally Posted by haydent

currently i use it with the factory coolant temperature sensor, factory oil pressure switch, and float switch added to coolant tank. im just testing an oil pressure sender too.
theoretically it would work with any sensor. (apart from k-type thermocouples as they put out such small voltage that needs amplification that i have not got in this circuit, though it could be added)

Im interested in the float switch you added to your coolant tank I believe you have a td5 however I have a 300tdi wondering if something similiar could be hooked up with the 300tdi cooling system
Also a huge thanks for kicking my brain into this train of thought
haydents website so I can find it easier later
Currently I am thinking this could be a great project for the dash of my car and engine too I guess. Im thinking arduino could monitor all my engine pressures, temps, fluid levels for anything my engine requires at a fraction of the cost of buying actual gauges.