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I have been slowly chipping away at a Series 1 A|C controller\display driver, based on some posts I made here some years ago......
Pretty happy with the results and thought it was time to share a pic and a (b-grade) video of a few functions that aren't OEM
Been running one for over a year now, probably nearly time to install it properly/reassemble the console.
if there wasn’t a global semi conductor shortages I would have made some noise about small production run,
but the main processor and supply regulator are both impossible to buy unless you pay top dollar and order 6+ months in advance
and that doesn’t look to be changing any time soon.
prototype has been running now for nearly 2 years and no issues yet, although my RX8 is not a daily driver,
I have been trying to find the time to add some code to allow display to show obd data from an external reader via spare serial interface, but lately time has been in short supply.
I looked at pricing for a small production run of 100 a while back but shipping, warranty etc, and the global semi conductor shortage dampened my willingness to take a punt - pressures of new job didn’t help much either.
Still occasionally looking at options for manufacture, ( was even thinking about a quick install video only last weekend)
but not sure if there would be enough interest to justify the financial risk.
Also I was hoping it would be at a pseudo disposable price bracket but suspect it would need to be 50 usd and potentially more.
I do have enough bits to assemble 1/2 dozen of them and might try n shift a few locally to see how they go, if nothing else it would be good to see others using one.
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That's pretty cool. Would be interesting to see obd integration. Especially if it offered basic parameter display and code clearing capabilities. Would you be able to do that with the current board or would you need to redesign/add a breakout? Any idea if this would play nicely with the metra dashkit module that allows for retaining that screen when swapping to an aftermarket head unit?
If you'd be willing to sell a board I'd be interested in beta testing one!
Sorry my post may have been a bit misleading regarding OBD.
There is a serial interface free that could be used to pass updates to the display from an OBD solution.
I did consider adding one but I was unable to add required hardware without having to switch to a 4 layer board,
this would have added cost for something that might not get used (but mainly it's cause I could not get the bits to fit).
also the menu would become extremely complex as everyone would have different display and format requirements.
Best compromise was to add a connector that could be used to access some of the unused pins so a display feed or similar could be passed in a read to the console display.
Sorry my post may have been a bit misleading regarding OBD.
There is a serial interface free that could be used to pass updates to the display from an OBD solution.
I did consider adding one but I was unable to add required hardware without having to switch to a 4 layer board,
this would have added cost for something that might not get used (but mainly it's cause I could not get the bits to fit).
also the menu would become extremely complex as everyone would have different display and format requirements.
Best compromise was to add a connector that could be used to access some of the unused pins so a display feed or similar could be passed in a read to the console display.
Gotcha, well I'd still be interested in buying a unit all the same if you decide to sell one for the few you had built up.
Quick update.
Shipped board #13 today, and response has been very positive.
I suspect that doesn't mean 13 are installed, as many folk will be in varying stages of the build\drive and enjoy lifecycle and a few have also purchased 2.
I'm interested in purchasing one, what would the cost be? I've had poor luck with the metra/axxess kit's that I currently have.
Hi Doomneko, thanks for your interest.
This community has some strict guidelines around users touting for business\selling products, meaning I can't post that sort of detail in this thread.
I will look into costs associated with being a vendor\initiating a group buy, but first have to do the math of possible interest v cost as there is not a lot of margin, and manufacturing small volumes is very labour intensive (I don't have much free time)
- to date it's been more of a public service, as opposed to a profitable venture and best we don't mention (or add up) the dev costs I incurred without advising my better half.
Just to make it more complicated,
I checked my local postal service for USA shipping costs and unfortunately their usual small parcel service is currently on-hold pending clarification\resolution of recent changes in USA tariff charges.
There are still 'proper' courier services (not post calling itself courier), but courier delivery to USA would effectively double the cost of a unit so not an ideal solution.
Thanks for the reply, I figured the new tariffs would be a problem, but I didn't think about the site rules, that is unfortunate. If you are able to start selling it I would be interested, obviously depending on price.
A|C display controller - finally
