ok heres the deal I have about thirty switches in my car and its starting to get ridculus. I have an old mother board with a custom box and seprate fans for each componet. but I lack the code language nesscary to write a decent program to do it all. Im wondering if there is anyone out there who can help me write a decent program that can let me interface with a swticher box. all while having something to look at . for example I click on the neons on the car on the screen and the neons in My car come on. is there any way to get this done.
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boobs now with Riboflabin"
it would either have to be a really @!#$ty prog or it would be very complicated
This is like what I do at work. The difference is that we would use programmable logic controlers to interface with the computer controls. I'm sure the method that I could help with would cost more than you would be willing to spend (I'm amazed at what my company pays for some of this stuff).
Do you have relay output cards on you computer? How is the switcher box controlled? Is it just a box with manual switches? Let me know and I'll see if I can come up with anything.
BTW, if it's possible, I'll see if I can use wonderware software to control computer outputs. It's pretty easy to learn if you want and even though it's normally about $1500 for a license, I'm sure I could come up with one for free. I'll try to look into it in my free time at work next week.
Jcavi wrote:ok heres the deal I have about thirty switches in my car and its starting to get ridculus. I have an old mother board with a custom box and seprate fans for each componet. but I lack the code language nesscary to write a decent program to do it all. Im wondering if there is anyone out there who can help me write a decent program that can let me interface with a swticher box. all while having something to look at . for example I click on the neons on the car on the screen and the neons in My car come on. is there any way to get this done.
You have 30 switches?
For what?
I have 6 switches, running 2 sets of 200 LEDS, 1 for fog lights, 1 Switch pad running all the interior and exterior lights, and 1 master switch running the heated massaging seats.
“Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that’s even remotely true."
ok I dont have thity swothces I have two for neons and and a engine start and putting in my nitrous arming and what not.
I would realy appricate the help laobotomi. Ok there just basic switches just 12v to 12v nothing special. The thing that has been stumpinig was how to interface the computer with the switches. How does wonderware work also what will it let me do. I would apprciate any help I plan on putting as much work into this as I have to. thanks.
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boobs now with Riboflabin"
can you say.... that would be EXTREMELY ill?!?!? if you had a touch screen system for our cars that would give engine info, temperatures, obd2 data, gps nav, ignition and air/fuel map programming, boost control, and let you control every stock and aftermarket vehicle system... and you glassed it into the dash... id pay like 5 grand for it. just my fantasy.
not too hard to do actually. u can buy a computer controlled relay board. i think its pci, or may jack in through serial. but theres alot of relays that can be switched by the computer by this bored. i saw a guy on mp3car.com that could call a computer/cell phone that was in his truck, and start the engine or turn things on and off by pushing different keys after the computer answered the call...... from anywhere.
im interested in a build it yourself like this....where can i get teh board?
digital input/output like your switches would be easy to control with a relay board. You just might have to use higher current relays depending on the load since most relay boards are limited to about half a milliamp.
The analog signals like temperature would be more difficult because the scaling of the sender and reciever would have to be matched (meaning that the output of the sending unit would have to be in the range recognized by the input card).
controlling other devices is also difficult because of the different languages that the other devices use. Most of the time a special driver must be installed for each protocol interface that we have to use (such as ethernet, profibus, modbus, data highway+, controlnet, devicenet...the list goes on). I've never heard of any aftermarket auto equipment maker releasing the information required to interface with their producs and I don't have the ability to reverse engineer communication protocols, but I'm sure some of the computer experts on here probably could.
I'm sure it can be done, I just don't have the time or interest to do it.
I'll look into how to control a PCI relay board next week.
Wonderware is just the GUI that I'm most familar with. There's also RS View (Allen Bradley), ProSoft (Siemens) and others.
yeah but where can i get one of those board?
ok so the board would let controll the functions of the switch but now how would you go about accesing the boardcould I make it graphic is there away to right a program with flash or c++ anything to get it so I can get a decent GUI going I can take it from there.
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boobs now with Riboflabin"
Jcavi wrote:ok so the board would let controll the functions of the switch but now how would you go about accesing the boardcould I make it graphic is there away to right a program with flash or c++ anything to get it so I can get a decent GUI going I can take it from there.
I'm sure you could, I just don't know how right now. I'll try to look into it next week.
$269!!!!!!....thats a lot of cash for a relay board....maybe this doesnt look as interesting
i'll wait for some software first(im a hardware guy...not software)
Machzel08 wrote:
i'll wait for some software first(im a hardware guy...not software)
What do you mean. You're not going to be able to do this without some kind of hardware interface.
Anyway, I found an 8 relay output interface box serial or parallel (I'd recommend serial because the boxes because you can get addressable boxes, meaning you could use more of them if needed by giving each box a unique address). they are $109 for a single box ($129 if addressable)
I may get one just to test out. If I could program a snazzy interface for it, I'm sure someone would want it.
here's the link
http://www.oceancontrols.com.au/controllers/serial_daq_k108.htm
And use google image to look for wonderware or intouch to see examples of screen design. I've done many different types, from pure text displays to graphical representations of power distribution systems and piping systems (valve positions, tank levels, pump on/off conditions). This is acually fun software to use. You can design screens for just about any application you want.
ok so let me peice some of this together. you buy the board and that hooks up through serial. then using wonderware I imganeing you can right the interface.
so I have three questions
1. how excatly does the program interface with the board.
2. Im guessing there will be somekind of software to support whatever your trying to connect with it. yes no
3. where do I sign up and can I help with asetetic qualites and art?
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boobs now with Riboflabin"
also we could use the image manip guys to do some of the art work if I cant be of asstiance. shoot me an email.
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boobs now with Riboflabin"
rob wrote:can you say.... that would be EXTREMELY ill?!?!? if you had a touch screen system for our cars that would give engine info, temperatures, obd2 data, gps nav, ignition and air/fuel map programming, boost control, and let you control every stock and aftermarket vehicle system... and you glassed it into the dash... id pay like 5 grand for it. just my fantasy.
Its already in the works, I'm replacing my gauges with 2 8" touchscreen LCD monitors and a mini-computer that has the ability to control a bank of relays.
I have the plans for it, I just haven't started writing the software yet... well, most of it. I'm currently writing the software to look at all the engine data. I know how to interface to a relay board, thats easy.
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Jcavi
1) the program interfaces with the board by a series of 1's and 0's
2) they are talking about writing the software that will allow certain connections to be monitored... in order for it to interface with ANYTHING you would want to connect with it... I doubt that it is a feasible project to expect that. Not that it is impossible, but that is a really high expectation...
4) (since I don't have an answer to 3)... the words you are trying so fervently to spell are imagining and write... just a little FYI
gieldamj wrote:Jcavi
1) the program interfaces with the board by a series of 1's and 0's
2) they are talking about writing the software that will allow certain connections to be monitored... in order for it to interface with ANYTHING you would want to connect with it... I doubt that it is a feasible project to expect that. Not that it is impossible, but that is a really high expectation...
4) (since I don't have an answer to 3)... the words you are trying so fervently to spell are imagining and write... just a little FYI
1. I wish it were that simple, its not.
2. You're making it out to be a lot harder than it actually is. Its a very feasible project, just takes some time and skill (I have skill, but the time I'm short on).
4cyltuner.com - Information Source For 4 Cylinder Tuners
Buy stuff from CarCustoms Ebay! Won't be disappointed!
the answer to #1 was meant to be sarcastic but on the most basic of levels it is correct... but beyond that I know it is feasible, but he did say whatever he is trying to connect it with... for all we know it could be his timex watch... I know this doesn't make any logical sense, but I am just answering the question at face value... I'd be willing to help out just for some fun, however I am an ME, not an EE ,CO, or CS (for those not literate in collegiate major-speak... ME = Mechanical Engineer, EE = Electrical Engineer, CO = Computer Engineer, adn CS = Computer Science aka Code Monkeys (no offense to any CS's out there)) so I don't see how I could be of much use on this one... but if you think of a way I can, frop me a line...
Shifted wrote:Labotomi-
Those are actually $90 ($120 AU), but run on 240v ac, which we don't use in the US.
You're right about the price, but it runs on 12vdc. The 240V is referring to the "Plug Pack" which is just a transformer you plug into the wall like the ones that run laptop computers. You can run it off off an american plug pack also (you'd just have to find the right connectors).
What type of hardware are you using for your project? What software are you using? How are you acessing the engine parameters? Do you have some hardware interface or are you tapping into the diagnostic port? Do you have the details on the communication protocol? I'd like to get this info from you to see what I could come up with.
