Not sure who all would find this interesting, but thought I'd throw it up here.
Still working through a few little issues, but overall it's working in the car.
So, one Friday night, I was thinking how the clock cluster / CEL cluster really isn't used, especially if using an aftermarket ECU.
I thought... well, what can I do about that?
I decided to teach myself to use a program to make a PCB that would fit in, and utilize some new LEDs that you can command to be any color, in addition to maybe adding an OLED display or something. But, I wanted this to read data from CAN bus.
I spent a couple weekends learning the PCB software, understanding various circuits, what's required, etc. I'm not an electrical engineer, but thought.. just like my car, I can probably jank something together. haha!
Originally planned to use an Arduino setup, CAN modules from Amazon, etc. But then thought I could do better. Originally started with a basic 5V linear regulator as the power supply, but burning 7V as heat seemed bad. So, I looked at various switch mode regulators. Built the recommended circuit for that, threw it into the setup.
Considered various microcontrollers from ESP32, to AT Tiny setups with external CAN chips. But, stumbled onto STM8AF series. Specifically focused on automotive applications and has CAN built in.
Resource wise, programming the STM8AF was challenging, especially for the LEDs, due to utilizing WS2812B LEDs. Programming took me a good couple weekends to figure out. Ended up using an Arduino to simulate CAN signals onto a test bus for RPM, CLT, and a few other things.
Initial development (while waiting for PCBs to arrive from China) was done on a STM8S103 board. Very basic, but I was able to get LEDs working and the start of the program done.
I currently have it in the car and it's reading CAN from my Megasquirt3X, showing LED when car is cold (due to forged pistons, have to wait to drive until warmed up), showing when temp is too high, and when RPM is over the thresholds changing from warning, to shift, to overrev flashes.
The LEDs are full RGB programmable, so... they can display whatever color is needed. I'm using yellow for 'get ready to shift', green for 'shift!', and flashing red for 'rev limiter hit'.
I don't really know if it's the best place for it... but, wanted to jump into a project and utilize the space.
I'm currently working to revise the PCB to include space for an onboard 'buzzer' for an audible 'shift' signal, better power filtering, and CAN bus filtering for stability. Code wise, I haven't implemented the OLED yet, but want to do that. I haven't fully decided how I want to implement it though, or what size OLED or LCD display will look best / fit there. Partially wanting to move OLED / LCD controls to existing switched in the dash, or something easier to reach when strapped into the car. Easily implemented via CAN bus. I'm also trying to get the LEDs slightly better centered, but the are pretty close.
I'm also trying to improve on the faceplate. Currently just a piece of plexi spray painted with 'tint'. I think the final plexi will have stenciled images for my bottom LEDs (overheat, car cold, etc), and maybe just diffused or something....
But, I thought I'd share. Trying to modernize the FC electronics to be CAN bus compatible. Next I'll be building / printing the dash cluster PCB, utilizing X27.168 gauge stepper motors for the various gauges and CAN bus to get data from the ECU. To replace the old resistive setups that came in the FC.
https://youtu.be/NkXC993-H2gVideo of initially getting MCU to read correct CAN ID and parse RPM signal.
https://youtu.be/ZupkeM2LFBMVideo of testing it in the car, verifying it's reading 11-bit CAN bus and triggering. (Sorry, forgot to put black shroud back in ... haha)
(Pictures... the one in the white shroud lacks the bottom LEDs when I took the image)
I'll try to remember to post updates in here as I get the time. For sure appreciate any input from people who know more! haha!
