Computer interface to replace gauges?

lowkee

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Dec 13, 2008
Messages
1,890
Is there a, possibly USB, interface which can replace the gauges on your dashboard?

Say, a box which has hookups for speedo input, tach, fuel, trim level, batt, etc and hooks to a PC via USB and has a program which displays them.

I'm looking to replace my dash with a touchscreen laptop and this would be nice to replace the gauges, seeing as the touchscreen will be used for GPS and be at the console.

Maybe the next great invention, but I'm hoping someone else has already made it for the non-yacht-owners among us.
 

bigb2008

Seaman
Joined
Jul 10, 2008
Messages
61
Re: Computer interface to replace gauges?

http://www.mp3car.com/

May want to poke around there. I have this in one of my cars, though it was custom made, and powered by a full on PC(a miniATX), though that would not be ideal for a marine installation.

I am also using a home-brew ECU which gives me everything I need. Most of the things your going to find will be based on ODB interfaces(which most cars 95/96+) have. Your probably looking a much more "custom" solution for something like this.

I can program, so let me know if your up for it, and I can certainly help you out.
 

rrhodes

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 24, 2008
Messages
636
Re: Computer interface to replace gauges?

The trick is getting all of your information to the PC. http://www.seagauge.com/ It is a digital gauge that allows you to send to a laptop via Blue tooth or serial cable.

G24N_DEMO_NIGHT_400W.jpg
 

bigb2008

Seaman
Joined
Jul 10, 2008
Messages
61
Re: Computer interface to replace gauges?

Agreed. If you could get the info to the PC, I could certainly help you with the software to view it anyway you'd like. The one in my car does a little bit of everything (speed, gauge levels(Oil temp, Fuel pressure, fuel flow, secondary injector settings, boost, air temp, exhaust temp(on 4 seperate sensors)). Also does video, camera images(front and back), as well as the internet, and gps.

Anything is possible once you get the data on to a pc style interface.

Here is one for Marine use, but @ 2100$, that's a bit nuts.

http://www.navstore.com/detail.aspx?ID=1674

You'd probably be better off getting an off the shelf MiniATX, and making your own mount. Some of the units are also fanless/driveless(using solid state disks). Mine has a fan, but it is "driveless", due to the bumps and such killing harddrives. :)
 

lowkee

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Dec 13, 2008
Messages
1,890
Re: Computer interface to replace gauges?

I found a perfect solid state tablet pc for displaying the stuff. It's the interface I'm after. I don't think 'marine' is a requirement, as I can enclose it and, being an I/O, we're really talking automotive anyhow.

bigb2008, is the carpc setup you have avail for purchase anywhere? That sounds exactly like what I'm looking for!

The pic rrhodes posted is what I'm looking to duplicate (without the $2000+ price tag, of course)
 

rrhodes

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 24, 2008
Messages
636
Re: Computer interface to replace gauges?

Megasquirt it is a DIY custom ECU that you can build and hook up. Then port to your PC for tuning. MPH would be collected from your GPS of course.

http://www.diyautotune.com/

VirtualDashboard.jpg
 

Chris1956

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 25, 2004
Messages
28,109
Re: Computer interface to replace gauges?

Lowkey, The salt environment will be He** on that PC.

Some companies (Reytheon?, Furino?) have proprietary communications protocols. I think one of them was "Seatalk". I do not know if these have graduated from the radar, GPS, Sounder arena into the gauge arena.
 

lowkee

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Dec 13, 2008
Messages
1,890
Re: Computer interface to replace gauges?

For those interested, I found this site selling a USB interface ($30) with free software. It seems perfect for hooking up the boat engine. It also supports adding buttons to the software which can be used to replace your dash switches (up to 12 of them).

http://www.fusioncontrolcentre.com/FusionStore//catalog/index.php?cPath=25_29

The only hitch for me is the software runs on Windows 98/2000/XP and the touchscreen I am looking at runs Windows CE.
 

bigb2008

Seaman
Joined
Jul 10, 2008
Messages
61
Re: Computer interface to replace gauges?

Megasquirt is what I am using in my car, but I am not using their software. I wrote my own. So technically yes, it's available for purchase, though my software is not. I'll give it to you if you want, but I would certainly need to clean it up for your use.

What I have is way overkill for what you would need. (your not going to have separate EGT gauges on all your cylinders, and your probably not boosted/turbo, so alot of what I have would not mean much to you). If you have an idea of which direction you'd like to go, let me know and I can help you out.
 

Nandy

Commander
Joined
Apr 10, 2004
Messages
2,145
Re: Computer interface to replace gauges?

Megasquirt is what I am using in my car, but I am not using their software. I wrote my own. So technically yes, it's available for purchase, though my software is not. I'll give it to you if you want, but I would certainly need to clean it up for your use.

What I have is way overkill for what you would need. (your not going to have separate EGT gauges on all your cylinders, and your probably not boosted/turbo, so alot of what I have would not mean much to you). If you have an idea of which direction you'd like to go, let me know and I can help you out.

What language?
 
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