Ford F6 Tornado Project Log - Page 2

mrbean_phillip · 02-09-2007, 01:45 AM

Here is a short update, had the car at Ford today, got my friend Mr Steve to flash new firmware into the Hvac Interface Module, previously it was programmed to accept inputs, and adjust vanes/aircon etc according to Manual ICC inputs.

Thanx for your very good Service levels, Etheridge Ford (Melbourne), I am so glad I decided to buy my car from you!

Well, now I can safely say everything is working as it should from the factory, radio, manual mode, semi-auto, and full auto modes on the Dual-Zone ICC.

So, the electronics are all sorted, all I have to do now, is fit the split shafts to the airbox, and install independant actuator to allow individual adjustment of different zones, passenger or driver.

That has to wait until I am back around the 23rd of Feb, of to Finland from tomorrow to the 18th, then Perth, then back to Melbourne.

Will keep you guys posted.

I luv the new look anyway, now to mount the carputer, and connect it to the LCD

Here is a piccie showing radio volume, and fanspeed indicators, this overlay will be active whenever something is adjusted. After a couple of seconds, the main vga input will become active (foreground) again.

Here it is running in semi-auto mode, with trip-computer active:

and here, full auto climate control is active:

Other than the driver-side actuator, Ineed to fit new passenger-side external mirror, which houses the ambient temperature sensors, which it uses to calculate aircon-compressor speeds, to allow comparison with cabin temp sensor, and do auto climate controls.

long.1 · 02-16-2007, 11:01 AM

G'day Beanie,

You won't know yourself with the Premium ICC. Great stuff.

Pretty keen to see the CarPC in your car and interacting with the new ICC. Even keener to see the "touchscreen overlay" approach come to fruition as that will be awesome.

Should things progress as you expect, and you're looking to offload the 7" Xenarc, then I'm a potential buyer. Is it this one ?

Keep us posted when you get back from Finland mate.

Cheers,

Long.

mrbean_phillip · 02-16-2007, 11:34 PM

Hey Long,
I am just about boarding my flight back from Helsinki, but will only arrive in Melbourne Sunday 21h40 - long flight ahead of me

Anyway, that's the same screen I have, brandnew, took it out of the box to test it, really the best quality on the market by far - for these applications anyway.

My gfx from England has arrived, so now I can drive the arcade-inputs on the Ford ICC, so I should make good progress from hereon in.

My Wife said a parcel has arrived during the week, so I can only assume it's the gfx - I hope!

Anyway, I still need to source the correct 5-wire resistive overlay, then all good

Will keep you posted as to selling the 700TSV.

Chat to you soon.

Kind regards,
Beanie

mrbean_phillip · 02-22-2007, 07:53 PM

Ok, back home, still recovering from the timezone difference - 9 hours twice in one week not fun, let me tell ya

Anyway, having decided (for now) to use the standard Ford TFT LCD in the ICC, I had to get myself an ArcadeGFX card to properly drive the composite sync RGB input of the stock Ford unit.

Card has arrived, working great.

Well, now having to use the PCI-Express card, makes for another small problem - I have to source a new case, small footprint, that will accept the pci-express gfx card, but maintain good looks, small size, etc...so, I just found this: The Cubit 3 - Hoojum split off from the Company making these, so there are only a few left, and they will not be manufactured anymore, so if you need one speak to Graeme at KustomPCs.

I should receive it next week, and will post some new pics of the setup then. Currently it is assembled on a temporary tray setup, until I get the new case.

Can hardly wait

meddler · 02-24-2007, 12:49 AM

That's some nice work there. I look forward to seeing some more from this project.

mrbean_phillip · 02-25-2007, 12:26 AM

Heya Meddler,
Thanx, will keep you posted - cannot do more without the Cubit case, will most likely recieve it next weekend - I hope

PC is up and running, everything ready, but for the case.

Soon now....

Laidback · 02-25-2007, 03:43 PM

Hey Beanie,
Did you move away from the Ublox for this project? Did you ever get the daughter board made up?

mrbean_phillip · 02-26-2007, 05:00 AM

Hello Everyone,
@ Laidback: I still need to order a gyro from uBlox to go with the next part of my project, some pics below - the gyro is very expensive shipping (Euro 60- from their webshop) and ontop of the purchase price, will cost me Euro 120 approximately - I need to make another plan, as that is over the top.

I will still make the daughterboard, and use the setup for my GPS/GSM tracer system

Will do the db soon though, within next 2 weeks most probably, or as soon as I am back from Bangkok on the 9th of March.

a Small update: I have received my final toy for this carputer setup (excluding the Cubit case that is): a new Siemens TC35 dual-band GSM Modem - which you can use for normal incar mobile phone, dialing is via batfile and AT commands, for example.

Can be used as a device to connect to a GPS, as it has a std RS-232 serial port for accepting data from GPS and sms'ing it to wherever....see where I am going with this.

So, the unit will be used as my incar mobile telephone, using a standard 3V Simcard, and then connected to the serial output on my GPS to transmit NMEA strings via SMS to a pre-programmed mobile number - theoretically I could do a simulcast to WiFi hotspots as well, onto a homepage, but the problem is if a hotspot is not available, or close, I could always have the data sms'ed too.

Ok, I know that thieves could scramble (blank) GSM frequencies.....there's only so much one can do...ontop of car tilt-sensors, decent alarm system, etc.....

Anyway, here's a few shots of the unit, and the last one showing my other addition, recently purchased at Heathrow airport - my Freedom Mini Keyboard (bluetooth)

Enjoy. Will keep you posted of my progress.

Laidback · 02-26-2007, 05:20 AM

I only asked as mine has stopped working and I'm not sure whether it's the board I made up or the actual Ublox GPS board. Still trying to work it out!

mrbean_phillip · 02-26-2007, 06:12 AM

Ouch. Bad one.

You could test the powersupply from the db to the gps, and then maybe the max ic.

What's the symptoms? Any output from the gps when you check the comms with some software tool?

Or nothing?

Post some info, maybe we can check it out....

Laidback · 02-26-2007, 06:44 AM

Don't really want to fog up your thread with my problems! But seeing as you asked

(can always delete it)

No output on the comms, seems to have a steady .5v at pins 11 & 14 on the Ublox which exits the MAX pin 5 & 18 at 7.8v

Should be pulsing I think.

mrbean_phillip · 02-26-2007, 06:45 AM

Mmmm...if you unplug the max chip, and check the outputs from the uBlox?

Might be the max that's bonkers....

Laidback · 02-26-2007, 07:08 AM

Yeah, dunno. In my lack of 'making a circuit board' skills

I just soldered the max straight to a breadboard, so I need to get the iron out! Damn, It would be nice if I had used a holder and I could just pop it out....

mrbean_phillip · 02-26-2007, 07:39 AM

Ouch - solder time then - mount an IC socket at the same time

mrbean_phillip · 02-28-2007, 08:31 AM

a Small update - ordered my Cubit 3 case from the UK on Thursday, in the mail on Friday, in my hands Wednesday

Great service, Greame from KustomPCs - thanx Mate!

Here's a few shots showing bare outside, insides and endplates....

Here's my Sata 2.5" 7200rpm harddrive fitted to the hd tray:

and the bottom of that tray, where the M2-ATX PSU will be fitted - it can go to the top, next to the HD too, there is holes, and enough space, but, I wanted to get my cable-runs optimized, so to the otherside it will go....

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