Help Custom skinning job

Engine managment system/virtual dashboard

from WinCustomize Forums

Hi Guys

It’s been such along time since I was into skinning it has been about 8 years now from when I was in high school.

Anyway, to cut to the chase, I think I am going to have to build a piece of software from scratch to act as a virtual dashboard for my racing bike. I remember using an application called SysMetrix... something like that would make a good platform maybe? This is where I need some guidance.

 Basically I am in a tough position because every piece of aftermarket hardware doesn't support the revs I do (25,000 rpm) and doesn’t look good at all. I was going for a digi-dash kind of feel with inspiration coming from the old school sci-fi animes.

Currently I have these 3 pieces of hardware for monitoring A/F ratio, knock and ignition map. I also wanted to connect things like temperature and pressure sensors too amongst other things.

SPARKER TCIP4 for my ignition control

I have been able to connect my hardware up to this piece of software called WINLOG but it’s far from elegant. Do you think it might be possible to skin on top of this existing software or do you guys think I might be better off starting from scratch?

I am stuck with running 3 separate hardware units as not much hardware supports up to 25,000 rpm. So there is no one size fits all with this

I have done a little research into other software such as link engine management however I think this might be a dead end. I also have this software that i can use to change my ignition map on the fly (while the engine is running) so if i could keep that function some how, it would be awesome

As for hardware, I am thinking about using a mini laptop and separate the screen from the unit and have it permanently mounted to the bike. Waterproofing I think will be an issue. To reduce weight I’m thinking about loading a light version of windows98 onto an SD card going through an SD-SATA adapter, with no battery hardwired to the ignition switch. I would then adjust the bios settings to boot on power on from ignition and have my logging/dashboard software load up first into a full screen mode.

*GASP for air*

This project is one heck of a mouthful to explain, and English was never my strong point, so I'm glad you made it this far.

I'm really looking forward to any helpful information that someone might be able to give me.

Cheers

Brendan

gadgets
5,991 views 11 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Links to downloadable executables, etc. removed as they are 'spam' in nature.

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top

dont you think people might have trouble knowing what software im talking about if i dont have a link?

 

Im not trying to spam

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Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Just describe it in words....such as the name of the program or it's manufacturer. Do not provide a link to an executable. Simple enough... ;)

Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

the software I am currently able to use is TCIP4. Google it, its the first listing.

Print screen

With conjunction with my logging/virtual dashboard software by the name of winlog, also first result on google (not Ad)

screen shot

I have found another program called PC Link G4 from Link Engine management... Again not hard to find on google. This program, I am unsure if I can configure with my devices or not but its front end certainly looks alot better.

Screenshot

Screen shot

 

Basically I just want to meter these things... I can get drivers from the manufactures (some I already have) and the communicate through the COM ports... so it doesn't seem like rocket science but I don't have any programming background.

If someone might be able to give me some guidance, I would be interested as it would be great to try to do this myself, however if this is out of reach, I don't mind outsourcing work to someone on this forum for a buck.

Cheers

Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I made a quick list of the things I might want to monitor.

 

RPM

Speed

Radiator temp.

Thermostat temp.

Water Pressure

Oil temp.

Oil Pressure

Air/Fuel Ratio (from lambda sensor + instrument)

Knock (from knock sensor + instrument)

Ignition Advance

Throttle Position

Induction Vacuum

Exhaust temp.

Fuel level

Oil Level

Water Level

System Voltage

Lean Angle

Clock

And ofcourse warning lights for things like sidestand, headlights, highbeam, indicators, brake lights

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top

back to software tech; I can only use winlog as far as I know... it would seem to be the best platform to start on.

IIRC, the owner of the software was able to give me the build code but he made it in some sort of strange C++ program thats free... would it be possible to add to it? What program is used to make the gadgets? I want be able to anti-ailise and be completly skinnable... stuff like that.

also could the mods move this thread to somewhere more applicable? im not sure im targetting the kind of audience/traffic levels im aiming for.

Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

"also could the mods move this thread to somewhere more applicable? im not sure im targetting the kind of audience/traffic levels im aiming for."

I am not sure moving it to a different place within this site will help. Perhaps I am wrong but it appears that what you want done is no small feat. Most of what is dealt with here has to do with desktop customization. If I could help you I would and even do it for free but this is way out of my league.

Good luck to you.

 

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top

would you happen to know any programming forums or any guys I could send a PM who might be able to help me? I'm thinking people who have a sound knowledge about building programs for skinning...

im scraping the bottom of the barrel as it is :(

Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top

This may be a stupid question but do not motorcyle dyno's monitor everything you want to be able to do? I am just wondering if it is possible to use a good dyno software and sensors on a smaller scale using that laptop you are talking about? Would be a lot easier then building something from scratch.

Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top

not really, dyno software is very basic, and normaly they have supliment hardware for measuring other parameters which are totaly seperate from the dyno software. plus i'd need a dyno for the woftware to work... it would be set up to measure power output but its impossible without the dynometer.

 

I think what i will have to do is talk to the authers of the program and get the core dll files from them and try to recompile the exe file in the free microsoft visual basic... but i know nothing about programming so its going to be done on the fly, probably to be redone for a v2, v3, v4 until im happy with it.

 

what i'd need is to find a group of peeps who know Visual Basic back to front or someone who can advise me on a better programming language to use.

 

Also I need to program this with skinnability in mind, so thats where you guys come in... so i need to talk to someone who knows about building skinnable platforms.

 

Best Regards

 

Brendan