MPGuino release one workspace

[larrydag]

Originally Posted by dcb

re: larry, you back in action?

I'm back. I'm going to use my serial freeduino. I tried replacing the ATmega chip from the serial into the USB and it worked fine. So apparently I blew out the USB ATmega. I might try to bootload it to see if anything happens. Either way I've already order a replacement.

[MetroMPG]

Welcome to the party, Silvernight.

Originally Posted by dcb

re: metroMPG, any news? Do you even have a gas car to put on in? I'll be happy to send you the small form factor one if you have a home for it.

I just today finished fixing up the EV - the car show is tomorrow. So next week (barring any unforseen detours) I can devote my tinker time to ye olde mpguino.

I do have a gas car - I just never use it. Project Guino will be my excuse to work the rust off the brake rotors.

[AndrewJ]

Haven't had the chance to re-wire mine yet, so no new info there. I did reload the new code.... Does anyone else find it a bit buggy? The LED turns off after ~15 seconds. And screen names ie "instant data" only flashes across the screen for a fraction of a second, not enough time to really read it. Tried re-copy and paste, but no dice.

[dcb]

I added some code to turn off the LCD 15 seconds after the key is off (assuming it still has power), it turns off after 15 seconds on the bench too. The menus/navigation/buttons do need some more polish.

[AndrewJ]

Ok, so it turns of after 15 seconds with no VSS or INJ signal then right?

And there's no need for switched power right? Is the constant power necessary for tank data memory?

[dcb]

Originally Posted by AndrewJ

Ok, so it turns of after 15 seconds with no VSS or INJ signal then right?

Not exactly, it would turn off at an engine off stoplight then too. It was noted that with the key off, cars were looking to the guino like the injector was stuck open. So if the injector is open for a "rediculously" long (1.5 seconds) time then we start the clock on the LED Backlight shutdown, and eventually the part where we (will) reset the current trip and write the tank and other trips to permanent memory, after several minutes (5?).

Originally Posted by AndrewJ

And there's no need for switched power right? Is the constant power necessary for tank data memory?

Constant power will become necessary once once the "save the tank/trip data and reset the current trip 5 minutes after the car is turned off" logic is written, yes.

[Mr. Cheap]

Originally Posted by silverknight

Hello,

I found you guys from the hackaday blog and am excited to join in building one of these babies for my '96 Acura. I have searched the net for something like this so I am glad to finally find a project like this to get into.

I am majoring in EE but only in my undergrad right now. Any advice before I plunge into replicating what you guys have done so far?

Thanks,

Welcome to the project, silverknight. I'm also an EE undergrad. I found ecomodder when hackaday featured the aerocivic.

Welcome to you too, cmags.

I don't have that much advice, but I'll share the mistakes I've made.
1. Don't use Vin to set pins high. I blew a zener doing this, but it could destroy the chip.
2. Wiring diagrams may be incorrect. I tapped the wrong side of the injector first.
3. Vehicle seats generate a lot of static. I zapped my guino pretty bad once and it didn't work right until I let it rest a while. I thought I toasted it.
4. If you disconnect an injector to tap the wire, remember to reconnect it. I did this one on a single injector tbi engine.

5. I installed resistors at my connection points to protect my vehicle. I'm using 10k with no problems. I had difficulties with 100k in my first test vehicle but those problems may have been from incorrect wiring.

dcb: I'm doing pretty good here. I just haven't been driving much.

[larrydag]

I tried connecting it up last night in the car and I'm still having signal problems. I'm also seeing the same issues that AndrewJ is seeing. AndrewJ, where are you hooking up the VSS and INJ signals?

[dcb]

Andrew, Larry, one step at a time here:
First, make sure you are on the latest version of the code, Andrew is, Larry can you confirm?

for VSS, can both you tell me what color wire you tapped into?

for injector, can you go through this procedure and confirm:
1. Take a multimeter or voltage probe:
2. unplug an injector, so you can see the connectors on the plug
3. turn on the ignition but don't try to start.
4. probe the plug, one lead should have ~12 volts on it, the other should be zero.

Now, make sure that your tap is connected to the lead with zero volts. If not then you are probably tapped into the wrong side of the injector.

Don't forget to plug the injector back in

Also note that I updated the wiring diagram, so that you can see the orientation of the parts (flat side on the transistor, black line on the zener), can you take a look at your circuits and double check the polarity of those components?

[AndrewJ]

dcb: Thanks for the how-to on the injector hookup. I was a bit confused about that one, still I'll have to wait till Monday (my day off) to try it out.

Larrydag: I'm tapped into A-4 (for INJ) and B-10 (for VSS) in this Honda ECU pinout.