Connecting a PC / Laptop to the ECU

[BleakBoy]

Hi,

I am looking to install a Touch Screen Monitor with PC in the Rex, and was wondering if there is a way to hook up the ECU to the PC,

Was thinking of using the screen to show the air / fuel ratio, and boost etc...

I am half way through planning this, and this is the only problem i have at the moment, and if it all goes well, will be documenting this and post some pics up.

[grinder]

speak to a guy called PROF he is clued up in all things elec

[BleakBoy]

ok i will do thanks for the info

[Prof]

Which ECU have you got - only the stock ones don\'t chat much !  :Snoring

If you have an after market one like Apexi or a piggy back, then I think you can plug a PC/laptop in whilst driving - but I wouldn\'t go changing any settings  :yes  - Most of the good ones will give you some of this info.

Failing that you can get some 3rd Party products that let you monitor anything with a voltage and show it on a PC.

See Race Technology

and Innovate Motorsports

Plus there is always home brewed...    ...for those like me that want to do this on the cheap!  :Laugh

Is that the sort of thing your after ?

[Gerry M]

might find some help on the digital car club

[kbareham]

I have this working in my FD now. The shopping list is something like this:

Motorised touchscreen - try linitx.com

PC - EPIA 800 mini-itx PC. You need a power controller to do the shutdown and startup. Try the M1-ATX.  Then there is the obvious such as memory, disk etc. Running windows 2K.

Apexi PFC

Zeitronix datalogger (wideband Lambda, but also monitors EGT, boost, RPM. Connects to datalogit) BTW, you can use it without the PFC/datalogit for monitoring only.

Datalogit (the bridge from the PC to the PFC, plus software for mapping, logging etc)

Optional bits such as GPS reciever and software for navigation.

Wireless ethernet bridge to allow the car to associate with the home network. Allows mapping from the study with a cup of coffee!



I linked the sound card to the radio, and used the aerial control output from the radio as the on trigger for the PC. So now when I turn the radio on, the screen opens out and the PC boots. Windoze is a little slow to boot, but tolerable for the things I am doing - monitoring, mapping and navigating.




Keith

[Prof]

For speed you could put your OS and apps onto a flash card, they should boot much quicker than from disk - downside is write cycles on flash memory.  It\'s easier to do this with Linux, - see DSL (Dam Small Linux), or Knopix

New Nano ITX boards will be much smaller as well - better for in car applications.  Boards with TV out will offer more screen options.  

There are some good forums for ITX applications - just google for ITX

[Prof]

Try here for screens and goodies:

CarTFT

should get you started !  

[BleakBoy]

cheers for the info,

at the moment, have got the pc, sorted, and i am playing with either getting a motorized screen, or getting a non motorized screen and replace the double din head unit with the non motorized screen.

PC Spec is 1Ghz EPIA M1000 LVDS
512mb Ram / maybe upgrade to a gig if needed
40gig H/D
USB Wireless Adaptor & USB GPS
CDRW/DVD

ON ECU I still have a stock ECU, but if i need to get a APEX or another ECU then i will start looking at which is the best one.

Will let you know once i decide on which way i go

[kbareham]

Chaps
I tried using the TV out on my epia to a video input on a screen. My experience is that the picture quality is too poor for the small text that is associated with using apps like datalogit. I upgraded my manual PAL screen to a motorised VGA touch screen - its a vast improvement.

Keith