AJKS

Andrew,

Cheers for the offer - most appreciated (and you have mail!).

Re the PCB's - luckily I work within an Engineering consultancy firm (specialising in biomedical instrument design)of 150 engineers (mech, soft, elec, industrial design), so fortunately I have acccess to lots of breadboards, ability to make prototype PCBs (not sure what the tech name for them is!), but access to get one offs printed professionally (if I ask very nicely!).

Thanks again,

Adam

Paul_M

Looking forward to seeing the info go up. Are you saying we can buy a PCB with the connections for the chip and LCD screen ready-made? Since I don't have PCB making gear I usually end up using stripboard which works but is really messy and tedious to build, not to mention prone to faults.

Adam I've done some microcontroller stuff, although it's been a bit of Motorola stuff (68k based) but mostly PIC micro (16F6xx) in assembler. Very tedious because of the amount of code required to do even simple tasks (it's RISC with only 36 total instructions) but it works and is not actually too difficult. Atmel stuff looks pretty similar but I've never bothered learning any of it so can't comment on relative difficulty etc. Although I can only imagine BASIC will be a damn sight more intuitive than assembler.

At this point in time I'm not really too interested on knowing exactly how the information is gleaned from the ECU, so the source code isn't something I'd be looking for. Mainly would just like to build something, connect it up and see what kind of values my car throws out. May eventually go for the commercial S.E.C.S system which is bound to be more advanced due to the commercial nature, but the MY00 version isn't out yet so who knows when the MY97 will be available.

I'm guessing the core version you're developing is still the MY97/98 JECS and other versions are being developed from that?

Thanks again
Paul.

Jolly Green Monster 2

I only learned about this today.. and have spent the day thinking about it and grinning lots.. the select monitor makes things sound so much more complicated than they are, thankyou for destroying that myth.

I think I will be ordering the list of items from your website and giving it a go.. I have emailed you but from reading all this I see you are busy.. I am suppose to be a Software Engineer so should be able to code something up, although I am lazy and so anything you have done already I would feel a waste me doing again.. hint hint ha ha.. I also have a Pre-97 car a UK MY96 to be precise.

Your website is very informative thanks you for placing it all in the net Andrew.

I only wish I had seen this before I bought a boost gauge etc..

I think it should be easy to add LED's and bleepers if required to the monitor so if you happen to be not watching the display and the water temp gets too high or something else you get an LED illumination of buzzer sound etc..

I shall let you know how I get on but I doubt my order will be dispatched before Xmas.. I'll stop waffling and order as much of it as I can online.

An pre-97 tips gratefully received.. I am just interested in a display rather than logging.

JGM

AJKS

For anyone that has checked out Andrews website previously, it should be mentioned that some new info (parts and sample code) were placed there the other day.

Thanks Andrew!

Adam

[Edited by AJKS - 12/18/2002 9:51:55 AM]

Jolly Green Monster 2

Halfway through ordering bits from Maplins and I am thinking caps, crystals.. hummm.. I know nothing about the hardware.. no idea what to connect to what etc...

Doh....

JGM

AJKS

Well in that case check out:

http://lillith.sk.tsukuba.ac.jp/~kas...ar/ecu_mon.pdf

Its from a Japanese website (Andrew C has this also referenced on his site) and is essentially the circuit you need to build. Except the micro controller used in the schematic is a PIC whilst Andrew's is using an Atmel chip instead. Between that schematic and the parts list on Andrews website, you should be pretty close...

Adam



[Edited by AJKS - 12/17/2002 11:33:17 AM]

Jolly Green Monster 2

Thanks mate!

JGM

AndrewC

As some of you have spotted I have added some more info to the website as promised.

As for building a circuit based on the DT107, if you follow the DT107 link on the hardware page there is a bill of materials/assembly instructions, I will add some info about which bits you need and which you don't.

Andrew...

Paul_M

Just ordered all the bits to build this. What works with the code available on the website at the moment? And what software do I use to program the chip via the parallel port?

Can I point out on your ordering list it states the switches are push to break but the maplin part numbers show push to make ones. I assumed the latter is correct, but could you clarify this.

Has anyone else built the unit yet?

Cheers.... looking forward to seeing this in action even if it is still in the early stages.

Paul_M

ttt

JonDBM

Any idea when the source for the routines you are willing to publish will be put on the website?

Jon.

ozzy

Andrew,

What sort of progress have you made on the 99/00 decodes?

Would it be a simple case of providing a seperate binary file?

Stefan

jim litten

As Andrew has pointed out before he does have a day job(if you can call tapping keyboards ) and this was only something that he was working on, as for the 99 set up a few problems keep getting in the way!



Jim

ozzy

Jim,

Thanks for the info. Like the rest of us, I realise he does have a full time day job too.

Is Andrew working on things himself or are there other members who could take on some of the work? That's if Andrew wants to keep it open source of course.

Stefan

AJKS

Guys,

Finally got mine working over the weekend! I didnt use Andrews kit but his help got me in the right direction. Got to say its pretty groovy and not to hard to do. Just be careful and dont do what I did - get confused with the TX and RX lines on the ECU side. The pins labelled TX and RX on Andrews sight are actually referenced in regards to the ECU monitor. IE pin 12 is listed as TX but this is in fact the line you would connect the ECU monitor TX line to - therefore pin 12 (in my opinion) is actually the ECU RX line: ECU Monitor TX line connects to the ECU RX line. Anyway, if things dont work for you, make sure you have it connected correctly...

Its well worth building guys, and if you get the kit from Andrew, should be dead simple. I chose to go it alone because I wanted to get some more experience with micro controllers - it took me a couple of months, but Im glad I did.

Adam

Now, I want to build in a lap timer and a few thermo-couples..

[Edited by AJKS - 1/13/2003 2:47:52 AM]

Paul_M

Nice one Adam

I'm half-way through building the kit that Andrew designed, however stumbling on a few points that aren't clear to me such as the connections from the Simmstick are referred to as PortB and PortD but I can't find any reference to these either on the board or in the documentation. So I don't know where to wire the LCD and select monitor to!

Other than that, building the board has been quite easy. Makes such a difference soldering components into defined locations on a PCB rather than making something using stripboard and having to cut tracks and add link wires etc...

Still waiting on the Mega8 from Farnell, but hopefully I'll be able to get the details sorted out and program the Mega8 once it arrives and we should be ready for takeoff! I don't know what software to use to program the Mega8 on the Simmstick either though.

Got any pics of yours in action? What parameters can you measure? I quite fancy adding a few temp probes for EGT, IAT and external ambient temp.

bruce

iTrader: (5)

Paul, the ports will make sense when you see a pinout for the mega8, there on page 2 on this link http://thomaswe.stud.hive.no/data/da...atmelmega8.pdf

[Edited by bruce - 1/13/2003 1:16:14 PM]

Paul_M

Ahhh cheers Bruce! Really should have been able to work that out seeing as I've done development on PICs and their I/O works in a very simlar way

Here goes...

ozzy

Are you guys on working on MY97/98 cars? No decodes for MY99/00 yet?

Stefan

Paul_M

Well mine is a MY98, but I'm just using the code provided by Andrew cos I can't program Atmel. Besides even if I could I know nothing about the select monitor protocol.

I've now made the connections to the LCD and done the wire for the select port (obviously not connected to the car yet though). Just need to add the switches, LED, then make the parallel port cable and program the chip once it arrives. Can anyone confirm whether the switches are supposed to be N/O or N/C? The part list says N/C but the part numbers provided are N/O. Hence why I'm not adding the switches yet.

bruce

iTrader: (5)

Paul in an email from Andrew he says the switches need to be push to make.

Paul_M

Nice one... that's what I bought

What software did you use to program the uC, and will it work through the "kanda" port on the simmstick connected to the parallel port of the PC?

BTW Is yours a MY97/98?

bruce

iTrader: (5)

My car is an MY97WRX, and I bought the Mega8 pre programmed from Andrew.

Paul_M

What functions are working so far then?

I considered buying a pre-programmed chip from Andrew to save the hassle of programming but decided I'll be better being able to do it myself cos the SW is currently at version 0.1 so there's obviously going to be a few updates! Much easier if I can just connect one cable to a laptop and reprogram when a new version is made available.

Did you connect up the serial port? I realise this is only for logging, and possibly not implemented in the code yet but I want to connect it anyway. Can't find any reference to what goes where though, in terms of pins on the board and 9-pin connector. Dare say it's something on J6 that goes to certain pins on the 9-pin but the Simmstick instructions are very vague here (no mention of the J6 at all) and Andrew hasn't put anything about connecting the serial port yet.

Thanks for your help

bruce

iTrader: (5)

I'm passing on info from Andrew as I have had some problems getting it working, cant thank Andrew enough for giving up his time to help. Heres another bit of info from another email..

"I have added a link at JP4 between pins 1 & 2 so that the board can be used as a programmer.

I suggest you add a header at J4, because at some point you will want to upgrade the software."

Theres info at the bottom of the Hardware page on www.scoobymonitor.co.uk that shows the pinouts for a parallel programming cable.

Paul_M

I'm going to add a header there, alredy have the parallel connector and IDC connector, just waiting for the header to be delivered. However I still don't know what software to use to download the hex to the board, I've downloaded Atmel AVR ISP but not sure if it works with the Kanda port (which is what J4 is).

AJKS

Bl00dy hell, you guys have been busy with the keyboard whilst i have been asleep! Paul, the program you need is BASCOM-AVR (a basic based language):

http://www.mcselec.com/

This is what Andrew used as well as myself. If you can prgram basic (ie Visual Basic, etc) you will pick this up in no time. Its great cause its a nice easy high level language that you can still write assembler into if you ever want greater control over certain parts of your code.

Another site you may wish to check out for support is:

www.avrfreaks.net

Found it very helpful in getting started - granted it is more tuned towards assembly language code (which is what AVR-Studio is) but there is still some good examples for Bascom. All the Atmel-AVR datasheets are there.

Also subscribe to the BASOM mail list:

http://www.grote.net/bascom/

I got a lot of assistance through reading the threads on it. The only problem is searching the archive is a freaking pain - but when you get stuck it is the best place to start looking for info.

Hmmm, what else? What parameters have I got working so far? All the ones listed on Andrews website. They are all there and the conversions are correct. When I get around to it I will integrate a few thermocouples for around the intercooler etc, etc, as well as some RTD platinum temp sensors for around my brakes (so that I dont cook my hubs and bearings again...) as they are very robust and can withstand 600degC enviroments. Plus designing a lap timer which shouldnt be much effort. The 8.0000Mhz cystral will be accurate enough for a real time clock (no point using a watch crystal). Im currently trying to find a reasonably priced 4 line backlit LCD to replace the 2 line one Ive been mucking around with.

I probably wont finish this for another month or so - apparently my work prefers it if I spend my time design bio-medical instruments and not my own projects...

Adam

PS - does anyone know whether there is either a oil temp or oil pressure sender on the engine anywhere? I was always under the assumption that there wasnt (there is no input to the ECU for either and no dash display for them, so why would they be there? Plus I have never seen them sitting on the engine anywhere), but I thought I read somewhere the other day there was. Otherwise I will install both senders and connect them to monitor as well.

Paul_M

Hi Adam,

Thanks for the info. I'll have a look into that, although TBH it's probably a bit OTT for what I want to do - basically download the hex that Andrew has provided (already compiled) to the Mega8 using the Kanda port on the PCB. I can do a bit of PIC assembly so learning Atmel shouldn't be too hard, but I know nothing of the select protocol so really I'd be starting from scratch.

I'm very interested to see how yours comes along, I've now got my box etc ready to go so really just waiting for the Mega8 to arrive (and a way to program it!). I also quite like the idea of a bigger display since it could be used either for displaying more parameters simultaneously or better descriptions (e.g. "Boost: 12PSI" one one line, "IDC: 80%" on the second, "Ambient: 8°C etc). Something to consider for the future once I get this one going

A 4x20 LCD of the same type as the current 2x16 one is available here. Costs £40 though, a fair jump from the £12 for the current display. Might be worth it though if you could make good use of the extra space. Dare say there are cheaper suppliers, Maplin just happens to be convenient in the UK.

Don't think so, since all the aftermarket gauges have their own sender units. The only thing that comes close is the oil pressure switch in the sump which is a simple on/off switch to warn of low pressure - totally useless for any monitoring information. I do like the idea of oil temp and possibly oil pressure monitoring as well, along with the temperature monitoring mentioned earlier.

AJKS

Thanks mate. There a few suppliers here in Oz - luckily working within a engineering consultancy and manufacturing company I have access to commercial suppliers who can do things at very good prices (even samples for free sometimes) so Im just waiting on a couple of them to get back to me.

Re the code/programming. Its actually very simple. Especially if you use the dumper.bas code that Andrew has placed on his site as a starting point. But Bascom-AVR is the program you want to use to program the chip with the parallel cable if using a hex file. But Im not sure about how to download the .bin file on Andrews website - unless it is a .hex file. Hmm, dont know about that one - let me know if you work that one out.

Paul_M

Just found this 40x2 for £24 - maybe a bit big!

Or 32x2 for £27

16x4 for £23

Dunno if any of these are suitable? Or if they're backlit?