Aaron's Custom ST16x Econometer

I wish.

I can get them made fairly cheap though.

aaron.

 

UPDATE

Since I posted last, I have been mostly fine tuning my calculations, optimising bloated code and making a couple of the menu items work better. I will be making an update video tomorrow of me driving around with the econometer running :thumbsup:

I'm thinking of building a plastic vacuum former so that I can mold my own plastic cases and gauge cluster mounting parts, it might cost a little bit more due to having to buy plastic sheets but it will look a multitude better than a plain rectangular box. I could even mold people's names/custom text/designs into the cases.
I will be building a vacuum former regardless because I love the idea of being able to roll my own plastic bits and pieces, so the cost of that will not affect the cost of the econometer at all.

I think a name change might be in order for final production also, since it is much more than a simple econometer at this point. What do you guys think?
Naming competition begin!

aaron.

 

Well here's a current list of all the functions I've included and am ( wtf english? ) working on;

Fuel usage and distance monitoring functions - inc. L/100Km, L/min, mL/rev, Km & time till empty. These make up most of the functions.
Can be connected to and monitor up to 5 different sensors at a time -inc. A/F mixture, vacuum, oil pressure, coolant temp
Display injector duty cycle
T-VIS state monitoring and control
Check Engine Light diagnosis
Trip save/load/view

It doesn't look like much with all the fuel and distance functions in one group

Currently only 1217 lines of code! All hand typed

What do you think of the custom vacuum formed case idea?

aaron.

 

If you have a sensor for it, I can display it. Can't give you a reading if there's nothing to read.
The sensor list is non-exhaustive. You can connect anything that you like, give it a name and set it's voltage/resistance data.

A pain? Alarms are simple, no problem coding an alarm function. I'll add it to my list

I have 2 more digital I/O pins left, I can either add a buzzer alarm and something else or up to 8 LEDs. I think LEDs would be more useful, but like I said before, I can do custom kits.

I have a feeling I'm going to keep adding to this project for quite a while after v1.0, I'd love to eventually have a fully digital, fully customisable LCD gauge cluster in my celi :drool5
I've no doubt that I can do it, time is all I need.

aaron.

 

That is actually a great idea. I can trade 4 analog inputs for 8 analog inputs, effectively giving me 9 gauge pins ( 10 - buttons input ) instead of 5.
Don't know why I haven't done this yet, I thought of it a while ago and didn't do anything about it.

Thanks

aaron.

 

This is not a bad idea at all, but might cost slightly more for the addon circuit, extra PCB and all.
I'm going to be getting the PCBs made properly for the final version, perfboard is just for my prototype

Thanks I love writing manuals so it will definitely be coming with one.

That's pretty much exactly how I was going to do the CEL reader, except the microchip bridges the connection to make it flash by itself.

Rockhampton test drive results
I didn't get time to finish the data saving code for the econometer before we left, so I couldn't keep track of all the fuel consumption. Having said that though, when I had it running for long periods of time it was pretty much spot on, referencing the fuel gauge at the halfway point ( as we know, the most accurate point on the dial ). It was quite neat knowing exactly how much fuel I was using, we got there on just over a full tank ( with roadworks ) and came back on less ( much less roadworks ).
I'm going to have to increase the size of the buffer capacitors, the buttons are still erratic under car battery power and it sometimes resets for no reason.

Regarding my loss of power in higher gears, I got some CRC Carby Cleaner ( good shit, I recommend this to ANYONE working on engines ) and blasted the throttle body with it. A whole heap of black oily gunk came out and I had white smoke for a good 5 minutes when I started it back up again.
As it turns out, my idle was also set depending upon how much black oily gunk was around the idle screw. This is now not the case
The clean out gave me a bit of power back, but I'm still not getting anywhere near as much power in the lower rev range as I used to. I have a feeling either my brakes or one of my CVs might be to blame for some of the perceived power loss, I'll bleed the brakes tomorrow.

I also found after I blasted some brake cleaner at the oil on my tranny that the seals are gone, which is why I had to replace the oil.

aaron.

 

UPDATE!

I did a bit of programming last night and tonight, but I'll let the pictures do the talking.











I've also ordered some multiplexers for the analog inputs so we can read 9 sensors instead of 5, I will be working on the code for the sensors once I get the multiplexers in the mail

 

Just looked up what these were, dead simple. I could build one separate easier with just one microcontroller and a handful of LEDs, both of which I have in my toolbox of magic tricks.