custom display for non-ECU engine data (mostly NMEA2000)

[vas]

hello all and a happy new year!

following previous questions on the topic, I finally bought a v.expensive 7inch touch display for my arduinos to fool around for xmass. Kidding, screen was 30quid, shield and actual arduino to run it another 15 Needless to say it's NON waterproof and mostlikely not very sun readable (alhtough fairly bright ) but it is touchable (not that it will be of much help tbh as it's mostly going to be sitting on one screen...
Nevertheless, after managing to get it running and working (well impressed took me less than 4h...), I decided that my next winter project will be getting this thing showing various engine data for the f/b.

Garmin displays cannot present some of the engine vital statistics I definitely need (see thread here: http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...-pressure-etc-DISPLAY-My-Garmins-don-t-work-( ) so I decided to keep on using the one 8inch plotter on each helm for navigation, the one small 4inch display for various extra nav/wind/depth/etc related info and have a dedicated display for all engine stuff on the f/b. Lower helm tbh cannot be bothered as when I'm there I'm probably doing 7kn and cooking or something and furthermore I've got a fairly elaborate list of VDO gauges there...
FWIW, engines are old non ECU IVECOs and a noland engineering black box provides rpm, oil and boost pressure as well as coolant temp to the NMEA bus.

Having seen the info the dedicated MAN and CAT engines present to their users, I sorted a list of things I want to see (based on what data are already available on my NMEA2K network and what I can add using my arduinos.
So, the idea is that this display will show all that via a NMEA2000 link, converting them to numbers and NOT nice graphic gauges as it's a hell of a job doing that at these small slow displays with very primitive graphics libraries! Refreshing just a dozen numbers is doable though

Came up with a screen layout and before I proceed in prototyping (layout done in Photoshop for speed) I'd like to have some feedback from you lot.
Mind, I cannot have things like load and other fancy stuff available on ECUed engines (unless someone explains how it can be done through consumption, boost, revs et al), but I think this display should be sufficient.

and this is clean without the alignment lines:

what do you think?
Values are obviously just random (reasonably close to reality...) Note that I tried simulating some issues with high (or rather dangerous!) values being red and low abnormal values (denoting an engine not ready for pushing) being blue, will think about it.
I used this font as it's relatively close to the size and shape of one of the fonts I found in the library I'm using as I'd really like to avoid building fonts as well for this project!
Yes I'll eventually replace the pic with one with the hardtop but not now.
Finally I'll have to add a decent beeper to alert (and annoy!) me if something goes off limit and a small switch (most likely touch) to silence it and not break the screen in anger!

Actually seriously thinking of integrating that on the f/b hardtop above the helm to keep it dry and in the shadow Anyone seen a hardtop being used for such a thing and/or can think of any problems arising?
Any feedback welcomed.

cheers

V.

 

[Keith-i]

If I were to be critical Vas I find the font hard to read and in particular some of the words too small. I realise you’ll get used to it and the location of each bit of data but as a casual observer it would take a second glance to interpret.

Love what you are doing with the Arduino though. If I ever find the time to get into it I could find lots of uses on my boat.

 

[vas]

If I were to be critical Vas I find the font hard to read and in particular some of the words too small. I realise you’ll get used to it and the location of each bit of data but as a casual observer it would take a second glance to interpret.

Love what you are doing with the Arduino though. If I ever find the time to get into it I could find lots of uses on my boat.

thanks Keith, I'm aware of that, it was just a quick sub2h test on Pshop to make sure at the right pixel sizes that the numbers fit and are legible-they sort of are.
This Porsche style font is not ideal for reading on a bit of chop seeing 8 vs 9 or 6 is going to be fun... The UTFT library fonts are more square so definitely more legible.

My main concern at this stage is if I'm missing something that would be useful (or would kill this project)

When I get sometime this week I'll try and redo it with the "right" font and post again. I'll even load it on the SD of the screen and take it down to the boat and see how visible it is although after a month it is pissing down with rain for 3 days now and it's dark and miserable, so I have to wait...

cheers

V.

 

[MapisM]

My main concern at this stage is if I'm missing something that would be useful

I think you already nailed the most important parameters, V.
In fact, I'd be more than happy to have such system on my boat! :encouragement:

My only doubt is about the fuel burn. I'm not sure of what you mean by "average": since last engine start, the last reset, or what?
Regardless, any flow measurement sensors that you would fit can give you also the instantaneous fuel burn, and that's a number well worth including in your screen, imho.

If I should really think of something else, another parameter which I'd like to have is the shaft seal temperature.

 

[vas]

I think you already nailed the most important parameters, V.
In fact, I'd be more than happy to have such system on my boat! :encouragement:

My only doubt is about the fuel burn. I'm not sure of what you mean by "average": since last engine start, the last reset, or what?
Regardless, any flow measurement sensors that you would fit can give you also the instantaneous fuel burn, and that's a number well worth including in your screen, imho.

If I should really think of something else, another parameter which I'd like to have is the shaft seal temperature.

I'm trying to do everything on a cost conscious manner and replicate info that may be floating about a boat. Hence me wanting to do it as a NMEA2000 display.
As such I do have a problem adding temps (or other data) that are not officially supported (sea water at the mixer for example....). I've been looking at it and it seems that I can "add" unofficially PGNs (NMEA2000 sentences) to support what I like. Means that the black box in the engine will pick from the right sensors, process, encode and broadcast on the NMEA2000 network unofficial info (of course together with the official supported data!) that the other devices on the bus will simply ignore and only my display will decode and present. I'm working on it atm, and I believe that what I typed is 99% doable, need some testing still.

Therefore, exhaust flexhose temp (after the mix with water which would ensure that seawater still circulates around there...) as well as stern tube temp (which I have to admit never passed from my mind) can be added easily. Display real estate may be an issue, but I think I can handle that!

This setup will work with the differential fuel flow meter from Belarus which I mention in a thread nearby and I'm currently halfway though the 200page manual that got today off them . Once all works, it's easy to repeat/customise/redo, I'll let you know.

Regarding fuel, you are right I was typing average and thinking instantaneous (but word was long and ugly, I wanted to find a nice one and eventually forgot about it...) Actually last night I was thinking that I may be able to have a second screen on consumption (it is a 7inch touchscreen afterall) and present that together with diesel level (another sensor again NMEA2000) and do some calcs re nm left at current speed, hours left at current speed as well as total fuel burn for the day or excursion or whatever. It's just a bit of programming and thinking about what you want. So yes, main screen value has to be instant consumption, maybe current as a better word, not sure? What does the EN natives of the panel think?

cheers

V.