iDuino MPGuino

[Thalass]

I think I might build this! I'll order the parts when I get paid next, and they should get to me in... three months or so. heh.

One thing though, does it have to be a 2x16 lcd display? I have my eye on a 2x8 display which should fit where I want it. Would that be do-able? I'd probably have instant L/100km on one line, and tank L/100km on the other. Just the number and an I or T.

[dcb]

the 2x16 is pretty small as it is, and the bignum screens won't display properly without it either. But if you know what you want and how to tweak it then go for it.

Given that an iduino is like $20, and a lcd is about $10 plus misc regulator/zeners/resistors shipping, a kit with everything you need plus custom pcb for less than $40 is as close to a no-brainer as it gets though.

[lyd]

Originally Posted by dcb

the 2x16 is pretty small as it is, and the bignum screens won't display properly without it either. But if you know what you want and how to tweak it then go for it.

Given that an iduino is like $20, and a lcd is about $10 plus misc regulator/zeners/resistors shipping, a kit with everything you need plus custom pcb for less than $40 is as close to a no-brainer as it gets though.

I actually found the kit because I was searching for a group buy on a good quality pcb (figuring that you guys had to have been doing that by now) and was expecting to pay at minimum $10/board + shipping for the low volume I figured would be generated out of this forum. Then I'd still need to deal with the rest of it. So yeah, the kit was a total no brainer. For anyone who hasn't ever done much electronics monkeying around, please take my word for it that the pleasure of building on a nice, masked and screened board instead of perf or stripboard is worth $40 all by itself. The fact that you are basically done with the legwork when this kit shows up is just gravy.

Would still like a good case suggestion, though. ;-) If another revision is done, it might be worth designing from the start on board dims to fit a known sku from mouser or someone.

I'm still just happy it is here, though. Hooray for kit designers! I love you guys! Heck, I'd propose to Limor if she didn't already seem to be attached. ;-)

[wyatt]

plus, if you were going to try to hide the iDuino behind your 2x8 display, it just won't work as the iDuino is just as wide (a little wider actually) than the 2x16 display. You could build it and house the iDuino and other guts elsewhere and put the display anywhere you wanted. I have to go with dcb, though... the kit is going to cost less than the iDuino build. You may be able to build the PCB design and somehow squeeze it behind the 2x8 display, but you have to have a separate duino to program the chip.

[Thalass]

I was thinking of putting the screen on the dash between the speedo and tacho, which would be too small for a 2x16, and having the iduino somewhere else. Hopefully there wouldn't be lag problems with having them a foot or two apart? I was also thinking of putting the switches in another part of the dash, but discreets like that won't have lag trouble.

Also having single line sized readouts would fit the style of the existing instruments (trip meter/odometer and clock ), too.

[dcb]

Also, just remembered, you won't be able to see the setup screen either and won't be able to properly calibrate the thing in the car. You will have to do your own custom programming to work around any issues.

[modmonster]

i don't think that it is obvious enough that there is a all-in-one kit now available. i think we sould rename the thread or something. you have to trawl through the thread till page 3 to find out.

[wyatt]

I think MetroMPG moved one of my posts once to start a new thread... would we be able to move all the kit and kit related comments to a new thread? If I knew how I would just go ahead and do it.

[gascort]

Just ordered mine!

[wagonman76]

Originally Posted by moorecomp

Ordered mine today! Now where the heck is that mailman!

Cool. Id really like to see it when you get it all together.