Hi people.

Over the past few months I've slowly been building a Barnacle Widget, with a little (and very appreciated) help from Neil.

I've had the old man build a stainless steel bracket and frame for it so it will slot into the driver's side air vent without too much hassle.

Unfortunately, with my suspension spring snapped, I can't get over to my old man to install it. I'll hopefully have this sorted by the weekend and get the Widget installed - I'll then update this thread with the finished pics.
It's pretty much ready to fit into the car.

Just thought you might be interested.........or maybe not.

Oh by the way, I opted for the ice cool blue LCD, rather than the dull, green 'older' type LCD.

Here are some pics of the build and I'll getting some shots of the LCD within the bracket tonight with more to follow...

http://picprojects.org.uk/fiat/

http://picprojects.org.uk/fiat/fiat%20ecu/


Mark.

Nice one Mark - couple of questions?

1) where on earth did you manage to get your hands on the VK5121? I had been led to understand that the last few got destroyed in a warehouse fire!

2) What's the part number for the blue display (and did you have to change any software?

Ta!

Neil

Ahhhh!! How much are you offering for it?!?!

A friend of mine had one stashed away in his work area, we were going to use it, but the blue one looked sooooo much more modern and it kinda goes with the colour of the car.

It's this one http://uk.farnell.com/9449442/optoelectronics/product.us0?sku=everbouquet-mg1203d-sblw
Part #: MG1203D-SBLW

A few minor changes were made, but this was due to the fact that the latest compiler software was being used. In the end an older version was used and it compiled with no major problems.

I can't wait to get it in and see it working properly. I know I'm constantly going to be tinkering with it via my laptop.

Aha, thought it was. You've discovered why the MK3 is no longer made... forty notes for the damn display!

You might want to put a current limiting resistor in the LED line for the display; it *claims* not to need one but an awful lot have died...

Thanks Neil, I'll investigate this.

Here are some more pictures as promised, with final installation pictures to follow - hopefully this weekend...

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f174/robin_banks/PA220215.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f174/robin_banks/PA220216.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f174/robin_banks/PA220217.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f174/robin_banks/PA220218.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f174/robin_banks/PA220220.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f174/robin_banks/PA220221.jpg

without being too thick and untechnical, that screen (apart from colour) looks the same as my widget,

is this screen likely to suffer from 'disco widget' properties also????


i see from just reading the thread that my question has been answered..........

Disco widget?!?!??

I hope not, it sounds baaad!

Owl, Do you have a MK3 (USB, stainless steel)? I've not heard of any blue ones failing but a couple of green ones went disco.

Neil,

On the GLCD we used http://www.farnell.com/datasheets/47122.pdf The power input for the LED backlight is not brought out separately, it's connected on the PCB, so there is no way to add a resistor.

Getting my spring sorted this afternoon, so the Widget will be going in on Sunday.

Ah yes, the singularly unhelpful 'parts of this are in chinese' PDF

You're right; I *knew* there was a reason why I didn't put the resistor in... I think there's something thermal going on as sometimes resoldering the resistors will make it better. One chap replaced them with red LEDs...

You don't speak chinese?

Ah, I see. We'll see how it goes. Whatever happens, happens.

Humm, my Mk3 has been disco for a couple of months, but last week it fixed itself and has been rock solid since

However, if anyone does come up with a disco busting solution, please post it up...

Widget Mk 4

Yes, it's a mk3 Barnacle

mine does the same thing GraemeC, though mines been off on for about a year now!!!!!

Are you still making them neil? i thought you stopped for a while???? i may have to go for one because although my widget works, its annoying me it wont stay lit up. shame really, because ive become quite attched to it!

i actually really like the size of the screen on the mk3 and personally i really like the colour as well, slightly more so than blue even (but that does look good as well, maybe im just a traditionalist?), i think its very clear and easy to read by just flicking eyes down toward the vent, usefull for temps if blasting along, or stuck in traffic - but only when the thing is lit up! (ok, well thats not exactly true, in daylight its fine.....)

Enough ramblings anyway, and back on topic, impressed with what you have done robin, i wouldnt have a clue where to start with a build-it-yourself widget!

Totally agree - my widget has done more to cure coupe paranoia than anything else I've ever done with the car!

I wouldnt want to own a coupe without one now! Good work Neil!

The widget is installed.

As you can see from the pictures below I've taken a slightly different route to the diag port than shown in the how to. I managed to get it in the rubber grommet and out of the middle - there was already a wire that did this so I just followed it's path.

I just need to add an inline fuse for safety.

With not using the flash on most of the pictures, it hasn't done the colour of the LCD justice, but it's pretty much the same colour as the car.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f174/robin_banks/PA260214.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f174/robin_banks/PA260215.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f174/robin_banks/PA260216.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f174/robin_banks/PA260217.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f174/robin_banks/PA260218.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f174/robin_banks/PA260219.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f174/robin_banks/PA260220.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f174/robin_banks/PA260221.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f174/robin_banks/PA260222.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f174/robin_banks/PA260223.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f174/robin_banks/PA260224.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f174/robin_banks/PA260225.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f174/robin_banks/PA260226.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f174/robin_banks/PA260227.jpg

Mark.

As a reminder, folks - Mark built his widget from scratch, from the plans and code available here: http://www.circuitcellar.com/avr2006/winners/DE/AT2625.htm

Well done, Mark!

Nice job Robin, looks really good !
I bet its quite satisfying to build it and see it work as intended, my widget is one of the mkII's(serial port) the screen is still easily readable during day but at night its a bit of an eye strain.
Still, it serves its purpose well

Over the past few days, I've probably been looking at this more than I should be doing while driving!

I've noticed that the water temp constantly fluctuates between approx 75C and 83C.

I assume this is the ECU trying to keep the car around the same temperature.

"Oh, I'm a bit warm, cool it down.....oh, now I'm a bit cold, warm it up....oh bugger, now I'm too warm, cool it down....sh1t, now I'm too cool...warm it up........."

Am I right?

more like a failed thermostat and or temp sensor, change both.

Mine goes to 83 and stays there unless stuck in traffic.

Ah ok, makes sense.

Do you know how much they are? And is it an easy job? I'll have a look in the 'How to's'.

Cheers.

Nice one. Thanks.

So with mine being a later model, the thermostat and temp sensor are included in one part?

Nice job

On a side note, how do you de-mist the drivers window and warm you right hand with no vent

No not the one part, the ECU and Guage sensor just both screw into the thermostat I beleieve. I have the earlier type so never seen the later plus set up in person so to speak

The side windows are de-misted by a vent on the dash and not the vnet that the widget uses.

Cheers.

Ha ha! Well, my driver's side window doesn't steam up and I have a bionic right hand with no feeling whatsoever.


























Not really....I sit on it! Yes, I said sit.....

Yeah, I realised my mistake when I read it again.

I'm going to taking it to Rog - I need a new radiator and oil cooler and pipes anyway. He might as well do the whole lot at the same time.

Cheers.

What he said un'all, innit boss.

Looking good dude.

I have a widget with the green screen and must say it seems rather poop at night, is it simple enough to chnage over screens?? Or is there more to it than just switching the screen??