-
14th May 2014, 09:10 PM
#1
Arduino Relay Bank Control System
This idea was suggested to me by a fellow member helping out an environmental research association gear up their expedition defender with the generous help of sponsors.
The idea is to have an 20x4 LCD & 4 buttons in a box on the dash, that shows a menu system to operate needed relay's around the car (mainly under the bonnet).
The aim is to save space and money over 'traditional' individual switches.
Could support any number of relay channels, but will start with between 12 & 16.
It will easily powered by an Arduino Mega 2560, which will have plenty of capacity left for further features to be added if desired.
Source code is open, and available here:
https://github.com/hayden-t/ArRelays
Where you will also find the latest & complete details on parts used and photos, as well as details on another project ive been working on, an Arduino based engine monitor/saver:
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/projects-t...unit-50-a.html
https://github.com/hayden-t/ArEngineMon
-
14th May 2014, 09:37 PM
#2
Hey Guys,
I would like to give a huge thanks to Hayden for helping me out with this project. I eagerly followed his other thread on an engine monitoring system, and thought of the idea for this.
The groups "Eco Expedition Vehicle" is a 2006 TD5 Defender, infact it is the one in my DP. It has been fantastic to have so many Australian Companies come on board and help with the fit-out of it.
As i am sure you could appreciate, the defender is not only used for research, but as a marketing tool for the sponsors. This was particularly true when it came to LED lights.
In total we have a 52" light bar, 40" light bar, 2x 80 LED spot lights, 2x 7" 75w HID, 2x 9" 75w and 3x 40w light bars on each side and on the back of the vehicle.
Now just to switch these lights we would require 8 switches, and at $15 each that comes to $120 + relays; and i would need to find space in the cab for all these switches...
In addition to these lights we would have a 12v pump, reverse camera, battery link override, inverter, compressor, Winch in/out... and the costs are adding up, and the cabin is starting to resemble that of an air craft.
What if it could all be done, switched, via an LCD screen and 4 buttons...
Enter Hayden
With this system you could have as many switched items as you wanted, provided you have enough pins on the controller and space to mount them, and still take up no more room than an LCD display. WOW
I am excited to see the outcome of this project to say the least.
-
14th May 2014, 09:48 PM
#3
-
14th May 2014, 09:59 PM
#4
Originally Posted by
haydent
that's a lot of light !
You are not wrong Hayden.
Obviously we would never use them all at once, with a draw of 91 amps all up i don't think the alternator would like it very much 
However over the length of a trip we find that we will use most of them, as dictated by the conditions, i.e. highway, dense bush, open bush etc.
If we were to have only what we needed then i would say we would keep the 40" (240watt w/ 10w crees) and two of the 9" 75w HID
-
18th May 2014, 07:20 PM
#5
Is there a touch screen shield for aduino that you could put in a mud pod or something on the dash?
Would make the menus a bit easier to navigate?
-
18th May 2014, 07:33 PM
#6
for sure they are available but slightly more expensive and I assume out of my clients budget. And I actually don't have a use for this project so won't be developing it further than my clients immediate requests. Nor even completing and installing a unit. Your Free to add this feature though...
Posting Permissions
- You may not post new threads
- You may not post replies
- You may not post attachments
- You may not edit your posts
-
Forum Rules
Search AULRO.com ONLY!
|
Search All the Web!
|
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks