LCD Instrumentation for Cougar Controller

[Freyguy]

Thanks Jackbauer! As is the work I've seen you post.
Got the image link thing working with Paul's help, so you can see the pcb in my previous post.
As for the code- Well, I'm a guy that does things the hard way, that is... ALL of this is done in PIC assembler. I'm not a glutton for punishment, I just never learned C. I worked in new product development for 14 years and as a hardware designer, I only had to design the schematic & pcb, then write a specifications document for the software engineer. Sure, I'd write little assembly routines to verify functions on all I/O in my designs, but they did all the heavy lifting.
This probably represents the most code I've written since school (think Intel8088). That being said, making this have a serial command interface to change parameters would be a significant undertaking for me.
A $35 investment in a PIC programmer along with downloading the free MPLAB IDE is the only option. You open up the project, go to the declared variables section and change parameters. I have this well commented in the code and I plan on doing a step by step writeup showing how to change, recompile and reprogram the part.
However, anyone with a background in programming PICs in C and who is interested in this project is welcome to add the serial command interface. While they'd need to purchase all the hardware themselves I would donate my spare PCB (I had 2 done by BatchPCB).

[wakinyantanka]

Originally Posted by Freyguy

Hey Thanks guys!
Mr Bigh- the display is easily readable at 3'. Reason I chose the oversized character version. It could work in parallel with RTD Explorer only if RTD is used to receive data from the Cougar. Both RTD and the LCD can't transmit unless you incorporate some kind of A/B distribution switch. More than 2 profiles gets complicated and now you need an indicator showing which one you're running with.

Wakinyantanka- As long as the status message sent from the high amp version is formatted the same it should be compatible. If the configuration parameters are different, it shouldn't matter since the user programs in the serial data he wants transmitted as his "profile".
DCB- Yes, every pin is used up. You could drop in a PIC18F2420 which is the same part without the CANbus. The two I/O lines for CAN then become standard I/O.

So the crazy people like me that are shooting for 2000 amps with our controllers could set it up to read the amperage draw? That would be awesome!!!

[dcb]

For the budget minded, there is a $17.50 pickit 2 clone here that I have used successfully:
Build A PIC Programmer Based On PIC18A Prototyping Board

[Nevyn]

Macungie, PA? A LOCAL! Well, sort of. I work in Allentown, but live northward. I'm working towards an EV conversion of my own - this will be a great addition!

[jackbauer]

Started out with the 6809 myself back in the day. Did a lot of pic assembler starting on the 16C54. I'm not much good with c but find mikrobasic very easy to use. i am so building me one of these

[Freyguy]

Wakinyantanka,
Currently the range for CF and BA are 511.Most likely due to the 2.5~5V range of the LEM which corresponds to 511 steps of the 10-bit(1024) range of the Atmega A/D. This voltage range shouldn't change with Paul's Melexis part for high amp controller. So 1000A will still be conveyed over the same 511 steps. In my firmware there is a "scaler"parameter associated with motor amps. It was added because my custom Cougar firmware's full throttle range is 600A versus standard 500A, so I needed to scale CF's 511 range to 600. I see no problem with this being able to scale to 1000A.

[Freyguy]

Originally Posted by Nevyn

Macungie, PA? A LOCAL! Well, sort of. I work in Allentown, but live northward. I'm working towards an EV conversion of my own - this will be a great addition!

Ya, Macungie is home of the car shows.....Wheels of Time, Das Awkscht Fescht, and don't forget the Macungie EV show. That one is April 30th this year. I hope to see you there Nevyn! I'll be there even if my car isn't ready

[Freyguy]

Originally Posted by jackbauer

Started out with the 6809 myself back in the day. Did a lot of pic assembler starting on the 16C54. I'm not much good with c but find mikrobasic very easy to use. i am so building me one of these

16C series huh? I've worked with them and can tell you the 18F's are SO much better. Larger instruction set which includes compares, and 8x8 hardware multiplier which I use FREQUENTLY in my code. I'll have to look into mikrobasic.

[wakinyantanka]

Originally Posted by Freyguy

Wakinyantanka,
Currently the range for CF and BA are 511.Most likely due to the 2.5~5V range of the LEM which corresponds to 511 steps of the 10-bit(1024) range of the Atmega A/D. This voltage range shouldn't change with Paul's Melexis part for high amp controller. So 1000A will still be conveyed over the same 511 steps. In my firmware there is a "scaler"parameter associated with motor amps. It was added because my custom Cougar firmware's full throttle range is 600A versus standard 500A, so I needed to scale CF's 511 range to 600. I see no problem with this being able to scale to 1000A.

Paul's quote of readable amperage was very funny. Could the scale be adjusted to 2000A?

[Nevyn]

Didn't know about the EV show - I'll have to put it on my calendar!