richyvrlimited

iTrader: (1)

Built a MegaView yesterday, I've posted this on the UK forums I frequent, If this constitutes cross-posting please tell me and I'll delete it!

did a bit of a build log, it's not very exciting, but meh



So armed with my trusty soldering iron i set to it, first job was to solder in the CPU socket.


Then came the MAX323 chip (keen readers will remember this being the serial communications chip!


Next, a bunch of capaciters


and then the power regulator - and I used a heatsink compoung to ensure a good seal with the board to aid heat dissapation.


Soldering is getting very good IMHO (H = Humble ) :lol: :P the prongs on the far right are on the bottom of the board and are for the display to connect to.


More Capacitors, a few Diodes, the timing crystal and the DB9 connector.


Hex Standoffs for the display


Ohhhhh ECU!


The display, it's beautiful in the flesh. viewable in direct sunlight too :thumb-up:


underside again, the wiring for the switches are added


and back topside for the completed unit!


I was a bit dissapointed it only took me an evening, to build. However I've got to fashion a facia/case from scratch, so that will take some time.

I tested it on the way to work today, (I'll get action shots in a bit). At the moment it's power comes from a 9V battery which is hardly ideal. I'm hoping to tap into a 12 source from the DB9 cable so it's powerd via the Megasquirt. Just need to make a box then I can fit the switches and it's done!



pics of it running and a crappy vid







vid is here (right click save as please!)

Vid

I need to figure a way of powering it through the DB9 cable. apparently pin 1 is 5v, and I may be able to connect that to the output leg of the voltage regulator, but I'm not sure if 5v is enough to power the screen. :(

It'd make the install much cleaner if it could be powered via the serial cable!

JonC

Pin 1 and Pin 9 (on v3 boards and maybe others) are +5v, but I think the MV requires atleast 9v to run.

I'd be very very careful about putting 12v into your db9 cable, as the first time you forget it is there and plug it into your laptop or computer you could fry something very quickly. 12v is most definatly outside of the RS232 specs.

Aside from that looks awesome!

richyvrlimited

iTrader: (1)

I've had to remove pin 9 on the MV as its a ground and MV won't work with 5v going into the ground

I was hoping MV would run off 5v to be honest, then I could just hook it upto Pin1 on the DB9. some people have had success of that on msefi, but I think they were using different displays :(

Al Hounos

That's really cool man.