Startup / Shutdown Controller w/ LCD Char Screen

Inverter Based Startup/Shutdown Controller

This SSC is features a Microchip PIC16F877A microcontroller for system control.

Features:

- Startup/Shutdown on key or bypass button
- Inverter power only option
- Subwoofer amplifier power toggle
- Outside/inside temperature digital readings (F or C)
- Pushbutton menus for timing delay selection
- 16 x 2 Character LCD screen visual interface


I am working on a PC Board for this controller since you can see the mess of soldering and wires I made of this thing. But it works. Currently I do not have the DS18B20 digital temp sensors installed or coded properly. I will shortly and will update accordingly.

Here are some pictures:

Here is a video showing a brief overview of the operation.
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Check it out. Let me know whacha think.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCdxgZeacPY
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Wow, that is some very nice work. Aside from the power controller, all your fabrication looks really nice! Do you have a larger image for your schematic drawing? This looks like something I might try to put together, even though I don't have any experience working with a PIC or anything. I have a LCD screen already in my setup with a serial control board, it would be neat to see if I could integrate a controller like yours into that.

nice work!

Board looks good but if you decide to build another one, you might want to take a good look at these. The price can't be beat.
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/power-supplies/82800-custom-controller-for-opus-120w.html

This is what I used. the I/O cards come with cables and connectors for daisy chaining to 4 channel cards together. The Controller comes with a builtin programmer.

That is a sweet little dev. board. The price is pretty unbeatable too. I built mine and programmed the logic, for utility yes, but almost purely for the challange of it. I have been in the process of learning microcontrollers and circuiting for the last several months because of this little thing, (since I knew nothing of either 6 months ago). I love the possibilities of programming and conjurring logic for microcontrollers and electronics. I have a LONG way to go too. I spent a lot of time figuring all of this out, but it was totally worth it. I would have felt cheated had I bought something. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it and that would have been the smart thing to do. Thank you for the suggestion, it's a good one.

Happy building fellas!!!

I am in total aggrement with you. I brought this up mainly for those who might want to do something similar but lack the time or experince to tackle someting like this. I also had no experience with the PIC 6 months ago. I was also going to build my own as you have done, but my main interest was getting my carPC up and running reliably since the OPUS 120 PSU built in controller was not reliable. I also thought about problems later and having to troubleshhot and repair the parts I built. I now have spare parts for everything, even a OPUS PSU that I thought was bad, but ending up being a short on the motherboard.

I have added inputs for the ACC/RUN switch, remote door unlock, remote door lock, door open, OPUS/CPU reset and Valet switch

My outputs control the OPUS idle/power mode, CPU power on/off, CPU reset, XM Radio Module power, Xenarc TS Power

With this I/O I have complete control over my PC. for example:

Normally either the remote unlocking the door or the door being opened will start the PC, but If I don't want my PC to start from pressing the remote open or door being open I press the remote lock and then within 1.5 sec I press the unlock, the PC will not start until the ACC/RUN switch is turned on.
This was added when I found that while cleaning the car I was constantly opening and closing the doors.

Sweet!! That sounds very nice and sophisticated. I love it. You should post your controller data for all of us folks so that we can take advantage of your hard work. It's fun to realize how simple this stuff really is when you take the time to learn it. Then possibilities seem endless.:tune:

holy crap!!
that is definitely the nicest install i've ever seen. love it so much

is there any chance you will sell the startup/shutdown controller with lcd??
i'll be very interested :D

Me too!! :)