Startup / Shutdown Controller w/ LCD Char Screen

**LUWE SYGABU** · 01-25-2007, 09:51 PM

HAHAHA, all of this does raise the question, in many that I know (sometimes in myself), what's the point?.... but then they say "that is awesome, how did you do that?, I want one." , thanx for the comp.

**Chris31** · 01-26-2007, 01:42 AM

Originally Posted by LUWE SYGABU

I've thought about this a few times, but after seeing the 2140 I'm thinking of incorporating a PIC18F4550 (or similar) to this board which will give it USB communication abilities. That way I or someone can built a windows based GUI that can be incorporated into a Front End and then you could control it from your screen. And you can update the firmware directly from your computer without needing a PIC programmer.

This simliar project of mine have been collecting dust for about 2 years now. Yeah basically its an advance SDC/PSU monitor connected to USB. All the configs are done by the windows apps, saved on the EEPROM so that the SDC can still work standalone in the events of crashed windows. Never got around to add the watchdog timer, but that can be useful for some.

Too much ideas not enough time here unfortunately

**optczr** · 01-26-2007, 04:48 PM

I have completed the board and will post photos, part list and drawing later today.

**Ruffy** · 01-26-2007, 09:26 PM

Question to the OP. Where did you get those touch switches you have mounted in the dash!

**LUWE SYGABU** · 01-26-2007, 09:34 PM

Originally Posted by Ruffy

Question to the OP. Where did you get those touch switches you have mounted in the dash!

If you are asking me, I got them out of a broken phone, they are the contact/recoil pads for the numerals. They work great.

OP - here you go, your email wouldn't go though and I couldn't attach a file in PM.

HERE IS THE HEX FILE>>>>>>>

**optczr** · 01-26-2007, 11:56 PM

Ok, here it is. I have attached a photo of the board, but I have to say that I have already made changes, so it will look allot cleaner then the one in the photo. Again the board was designed to simply use a IDE ribbon cable from the board to the LCD. All the jumpers which you see next to the power cables have been removed and replaced by a two caps.

Again the board can still be trimmed further around the edges, which would make it allot smaller.

**elricfate** · 01-26-2007, 11:57 PM

Wow... That's definitely going to be something I fabricate into my dash. I don't care if the M2-ATX has auto-startup/shutdown, the cool factor for this microcontroller outshines it.

**optczr** · 01-27-2007, 01:11 AM

Here is the PC Board layout and parts list. The board was designed with express pcboard software, which is free for download at http://www.expresspcb.com/ExpressPCBHtm/Download.htm. I do have to say, that I am having a issue with the unit. I believe it to be the display that I'm using and like 99.999% sure that its not the board.

**optczr** · 01-28-2007, 04:18 AM

I believe that my photo has caused some confusion, when I say that you can use a IDE or floppy disk ribbon cable (or make your own) from the board to your LCD display. My photo shows a IDE ribbon cable cut and soldered on my LCD pc-board, but on the controller side its normal. Since my LCD doesn't have a standard pin-outs like most due, I had to cut the IDE cable and solder.

Since I have a normal pin-out 16X2 LCD display, I took pictures to clear things up. Also before anyone asks why its not on, this display has been damaged from another project and not from this board.

**gameboy** · 01-28-2007, 07:07 PM

you care to make and sell a few of these, id like to buy one pre-made(or mostly pre-made, i can do the cable, but don't really have the time to build the board, or a way to program the chip