AltairDusk
New Member
Hello all, let me start off by saying that I'm a computer science major which means my knowledge of the actual hardware is limited when it comes to small electronics.
I've had the idea for awhile to use a small LCD or VFD display coupled with a microcontroller and a few push button switches to display some rudimentary information such as system voltage and a clock and also allow me to control fog lights, interior LED lighting, etc... in my truck. The programming side of things I'm pretty confident I can handle but when it comes to figuring out what hardware I need I think I'm in over my head.
I know that I will need a way to output enough current to control a relay and I will need at least 4 outputs with this capability (preferably more for expandability). I would like to have 3 or four push buttons and a rotary dial as inputs for control (though I may drop the rotary controller idea if that proves too expensive). I'm not sure if I would need any special input to measure the voltage my vehicle's system is currently running at or if I would need any special setup to regulate power to the microcontroller (since I know voltage can vary in a vehicle).
My goal is to set this up where I will mount the screen somewhere in the dash with the push buttons below and a rotary dial next to it which I can then use as my input controls for the software. I hope to implement a menu that will let me cycle through what I want to display as well as control the devices I have hooked up to the relays the system is controlling. My hope is that this will give me a clean looking all-in-one expandable system rather than having to install a voltage gauge, a clock (due to the stereo I am using I have no clock), and loads of extra switches to control lights etc... I also think it would be a pretty unique addition and hopefully teach me a lot in the process. I'm hoping I can do this within the $100-$150 range, as I've been looking at prices I realize I have no idea what I should be looking for.
Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.
I've had the idea for awhile to use a small LCD or VFD display coupled with a microcontroller and a few push button switches to display some rudimentary information such as system voltage and a clock and also allow me to control fog lights, interior LED lighting, etc... in my truck. The programming side of things I'm pretty confident I can handle but when it comes to figuring out what hardware I need I think I'm in over my head.
I know that I will need a way to output enough current to control a relay and I will need at least 4 outputs with this capability (preferably more for expandability). I would like to have 3 or four push buttons and a rotary dial as inputs for control (though I may drop the rotary controller idea if that proves too expensive). I'm not sure if I would need any special input to measure the voltage my vehicle's system is currently running at or if I would need any special setup to regulate power to the microcontroller (since I know voltage can vary in a vehicle).
My goal is to set this up where I will mount the screen somewhere in the dash with the push buttons below and a rotary dial next to it which I can then use as my input controls for the software. I hope to implement a menu that will let me cycle through what I want to display as well as control the devices I have hooked up to the relays the system is controlling. My hope is that this will give me a clean looking all-in-one expandable system rather than having to install a voltage gauge, a clock (due to the stereo I am using I have no clock), and loads of extra switches to control lights etc... I also think it would be a pretty unique addition and hopefully teach me a lot in the process. I'm hoping I can do this within the $100-$150 range, as I've been looking at prices I realize I have no idea what I should be looking for.
Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.