DIY Microcontroller based SDC project with menu-driven LCD

**phat_bastard** · 01-19-2007, 04:27 PM

This is something I threw together a while back in my spare cycles - my first (?mis-)adventure into the world of microcontrollers. This is based on the Atmel AVR Butterfly evaluation kit ($20 from digikey). I don't intend to post many more pictures here, but I will update the project page on my personal website as frequently as possible.

ButterflySDC

Currently there are three full-res pictures in the zips but they're probably not-so-great quality. As time permits I'll get some better pictures up as I build the second (i.e. non-experimental) board. Source for the firmware is licensed under the GPL and is included with the full archive. Schematic was done in TinyCad. Microcontroller firmware is easily flashed to the Butterfly eval board through it's built-in UART port and bootloader. The average hobbyist should be able to build this for ~$50 in three or four hours.

Update: here are some videos of the controller in action. Sorry for the shaky videography - we were in a hurry to get done and enjoy a gorgeous spring saturday. Thanks goes out to my son Josh for helping with the ignition switch.

Startup Sequence
Manual Shutdown
Menus
Legend to LEDs (JPEG)

**phat_bastard** · 03-26-2007, 03:19 PM

Check out the videos added to first post.

After using the controller for a few months with very few problems (all were temerpature related) it's become apparent that I need to add an infinite setting for the power good timeout or expand the timeout based on ambient temperature, since my inverters don't hit operating voltage all that quickly below 20° F. Also, an input for a manual power button / remote ACPI function would be very useful. Right now I'm working on some projects (the type that pay the bills) so unfortunately those items will have to wait until summer. Hopefully I'll have a chance to port in the latest changes to the Butterfly GCC source then as well.

**phat_bastard** · 01-08-2008, 05:43 PM

Thought I'd update the thread - added low / high thermal protection, low voltage shutdown and a remote auxiliary on/off button input. Go to project web page for development log and latest plans.

Will try to update with pictures of second prototype soon.