LCD monitoring hardware wish list? - Page 4

cvidler · 18th July 2001, 12:49 PM

Firstly, sounds like a good idea, I too have dabbled in electronics (got a Certificate II), but mainly I'm a Windows programmer (mostly VB, but C for the hard stuff).

I'd certainly like one of these, but it must be able to run by itself (with our software so it won't fail with a crash or while booting), and two be able to be controlled/monitored by software (I like how motherboard monitor sits in the tray telling me how things are going).

Why not use the SMBus (I2C bus) as many mobos these days have a SMBus header (ABit ones do I got a BP6 and a VP6 which both have a SMBus header). This provides a very good communications channel for hardware devices needing only low bandwidth comms. Plus it is relatively easy to program for (for firmware and software) as well as being easy in terms of PCB design (requiring only two tracks).

WARNING - OFF TOPIC (SORT OF) - WARNING

I'm currently building a fan bus, although I'm going the minimalist road - consisting of 5 temp controlled fans (5 fans off of two thermistors - meaning two seperate temperature zones - one for the drives up the top of my case, and the other for the mobo/CPU/card area at the bottom). All this is done with two thermistors, two darlington transistors (special high-current transistors with minimal voltage drop of only 0.6 of a volt). I'm using darlingtons because of their high-current low-drop properties, meaning that a full power they can power upto 60W of fans each at the 12v supply minus only 0.6v (11.4v nominal) as opposed to normal transistors with a 1.2v drop (10.8v nominal) meaning quite simply - more power

On the front I have 6 switches controlling the fans (1 being for my neons), giving options of
- Off
- Auto (temp controlled - max of 11.4v)
- Full Power (the full 12v)

providing quite while surfing, and adequate power while doing more, and having the 12v option means unbridled cooling power for LANs

I also have a CrystalFontz LCD (bigger/brighter/better/cheaper than Matrix Orbital) via serial port displaying stats collected by Motherboard Monitor, and the Win2K Performance Monitor libraries.

Robomort · 21st July 2001, 6:08 AM

I've been looking at this sort of thing too.
My conclusions
Serial I/O from the MOBO is the only way to go. Software already exists both for windoze ( even 2k & nt with I/O driver) and Linux.
Take a look over at Maxim-ic 's web page. They have a VERY interesting dissertation on fan control . They even make special ic's for the task with lo RPM warning etc.

Atmel uP are the go pics are too expensive for the many legged variety.

Any one got a link for the gcc compiler for atmell uP's ?

I've bought a few 20x4 LCD's from RT Nollet. Onlt (green led backlight sorry)
His prices are very good for the bare LCD @ $39 each $120 for ass&tested serial version.
Nice bit of gear only problem is the size of the backplane PCB. It's too high for a single 51/4" drive bay, maybe 2 off 16 or 20x2 lcds would be better as these fit height wise into a 5 1/4" bay.
Also hassle Nollet I asked that he look into this type of thing and he seemed receptive to the idea of developing one but that would spoil the fun I guess

Rob

go to www.maxim-ic.com and search for "fan controller" for fancontrol ic's

MWP · 22nd July 2001, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Robomort
I've been looking at this sort of thing too.
My conclusions
Serial I/O from the MOBO is the only way to go. Software already exists both for windoze ( even 2k & nt with I/O driver) and Linux.
Take a look over at Maxim-ic 's web page. They have a VERY interesting dissertation on fan control . They even make special ic's for the task with lo RPM warning etc.

Ive already got a few.
Only problem is that they use SMBUS or I2C and not an easy to use parallel interface. SMBUS is good for mobo control and I2C is ok for some uCs but not for AVRs.

Quote:

Atmel uP are the go pics are too expensive for the many legged variety.

Woohoo, some one else saw the light

Quote:

Any one got a link for the gcc compiler for atmell uP's ?

Depends on if you want a linux or windows version.
For the windows (dos) version, look at www.avrfreaks.com.
For the linux version, get the latest GCC and binutils snapshots (they have the avr target already installed). Then you also need the avr-libc source.

Quote:

I've bought a few 20x4 LCD's from RT Nollet. Onlt (green led backlight sorry)
His prices are very good for the bare LCD @ $39 each $120 for ass&tested serial version.
Nice bit of gear only problem is the size of the backplane PCB. It's too high for a single 51/4" drive bay, maybe 2 off 16 or 20x2 lcds would be better as these fit height wise into a 5 1/4" bay.
Also hassle Nollet I asked that he look into this type of thing and he seemed receptive to the idea of developing one but that would spoil the fun I guess

Pfft, i think a blue backlight would make the LCD harder to read.
Green, orange or yellow is the way to go.

Widowmaker · 22nd July 2001, 11:51 PM

hmm i also order stuff from nollet the other week just a serial lcd and some other components hopefully they come tomorrow or sometime soon ,

serial is nice but pretty expensive

Widowmaker · 22nd July 2001, 11:59 PM

http://www.avrfreaks.net/Devices/dev...ion=1&devid=21

awww these look awsome , how much are they you say ? , but whats this you need a programmer and other stuff how much does it cost all up ?

Robomort · 24th July 2001, 4:45 AM

Thanks for the links MWP I'mm of to take a look now. Not surprisingly the >com sites dont mention this compiler.
Windowmaker- The harware required to program AVR's can be very simple to the very complex.
Checkout www.dontronics.com.au for info on getting started type programmers.
luckily these chips have a common methodology when it comes to getting you stuff into the chip so what works for smaller chips also works for the more complex ones too, plus you can program them in circuit if you design the target board for ICP.

All in all very cool devices

rob

MWP · 25th July 2001, 2:41 AM

BTW.... in case you guys didnt know, DickSmiths (of all places) sell Atmel AVR 8353 uCs for about $20s (its not listed in the catalogue). Mass purchases can be done at around $11s each from wholesalers.

Its a VERY powerful little uC. 32 IO pins (all bidirectional), a UART (for RS232), SPI (also used for programming the chip). Its does kinda lack on timers though, as the rest of the AVR range also do (im used to HC11s).

Getting the chip going is very easy (i built mine on strip board) which is running at 10Mhz (default is 8Mhz). All the parts i needed to get it going i already had in my various junk boxes.

BTW... uC = micro controller which is the proper name for these things, not uP (micro processor).

18th July 2001, 12:49 PM	#46
cvidler Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Canberra Posts: 7,202	Firstly, sounds like a good idea, I too have dabbled in electronics (got a Certificate II), but mainly I'm a Windows programmer (mostly VB, but C for the hard stuff). I'd certainly like one of these, but it must be able to run by itself (with our software so it won't fail with a crash or while booting), and two be able to be controlled/monitored by software (I like how motherboard monitor sits in the tray telling me how things are going). Why not use the SMBus (I2C bus) as many mobos these days have a SMBus header (ABit ones do I got a BP6 and a VP6 which both have a SMBus header). This provides a very good communications channel for hardware devices needing only low bandwidth comms. Plus it is relatively easy to program for (for firmware and software) as well as being easy in terms of PCB design (requiring only two tracks). WARNING - OFF TOPIC (SORT OF) - WARNING I'm currently building a fan bus, although I'm going the minimalist road - consisting of 5 temp controlled fans (5 fans off of two thermistors - meaning two seperate temperature zones - one for the drives up the top of my case, and the other for the mobo/CPU/card area at the bottom). All this is done with two thermistors, two darlington transistors (special high-current transistors with minimal voltage drop of only 0.6 of a volt). I'm using darlingtons because of their high-current low-drop properties, meaning that a full power they can power upto 60W of fans each at the 12v supply minus only 0.6v (11.4v nominal) as opposed to normal transistors with a 1.2v drop (10.8v nominal) meaning quite simply - more power On the front I have 6 switches controlling the fans (1 being for my neons), giving options of - Off - Auto (temp controlled - max of 11.4v) - Full Power (the full 12v) providing quite while surfing, and adequate power while doing more, and having the 12v option means unbridled cooling power for LANs I also have a CrystalFontz LCD (bigger/brighter/better/cheaper than Matrix Orbital) via serial port displaying stats collected by Motherboard Monitor, and the Win2K Performance Monitor libraries. __________________ We might eviscerate your arguments, but we won't hurt you. Honest! - Lucifers Mentor ⠠⠵ [#]

21st July 2001, 6:08 AM	#47
Robomort Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Kalgoorlie / Boulder WA Posts: 241	I've been looking at this sort of thing too. My conclusions Serial I/O from the MOBO is the only way to go. Software already exists both for windoze ( even 2k & nt with I/O driver) and Linux. Take a look over at Maxim-ic 's web page. They have a VERY interesting dissertation on fan control . They even make special ic's for the task with lo RPM warning etc. Atmel uP are the go pics are too expensive for the many legged variety. Any one got a link for the gcc compiler for atmell uP's ? I've bought a few 20x4 LCD's from RT Nollet. Onlt (green led backlight sorry) His prices are very good for the bare LCD @ $39 each $120 for ass&tested serial version. Nice bit of gear only problem is the size of the backplane PCB. It's too high for a single 51/4" drive bay, maybe 2 off 16 or 20x2 lcds would be better as these fit height wise into a 5 1/4" bay. Also hassle Nollet I asked that he look into this type of thing and he seemed receptive to the idea of developing one but that would spoil the fun I guess Rob go to www.maxim-ic.com and search for "fan controller" for fancontrol ic's Last edited by Robomort; 21st July 2001 at 6:25 AM.

24th July 2001, 4:45 AM	#51
Robomort Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Kalgoorlie / Boulder WA Posts: 241	AVR Programmers - Hardware type :) Thanks for the links MWP I'mm of to take a look now. Not surprisingly the >com sites dont mention this compiler. Windowmaker- The harware required to program AVR's can be very simple to the very complex. Checkout www.dontronics.com.au for info on getting started type programmers. luckily these chips have a common methodology when it comes to getting you stuff into the chip so what works for smaller chips also works for the more complex ones too, plus you can program them in circuit if you design the target board for ICP. All in all very cool devices rob Last edited by Robomort; 24th July 2001 at 4:55 AM.

25th July 2001, 2:41 AM	#52
MWP Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Adelaide Posts: 4,636	BTW.... in case you guys didnt know, DickSmiths (of all places) sell Atmel AVR 8353 uCs for about $20s (its not listed in the catalogue). Mass purchases can be done at around $11s each from wholesalers. Its a VERY powerful little uC. 32 IO pins (all bidirectional), a UART (for RS232), SPI (also used for programming the chip). Its does kinda lack on timers though, as the rest of the AVR range also do (im used to HC11s). Getting the chip going is very easy (i built mine on strip board) which is running at 10Mhz (default is 8Mhz). All the parts i needed to get it going i already had in my various junk boxes. BTW... uC = micro controller which is the proper name for these things, not uP (micro processor). __________________ MWP PC Database AdminCrystalfontz CrystalControl2 Author - Offical Forums Motoring Worklog - Toyota V8 RA28 Celica SA Classic Celica Club Member - Website

22nd July 2001, 11:51 PM	#49
Widowmaker Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 2,219	hmm i also order stuff from nollet the other week just a serial lcd and some other components hopefully they come tomorrow or sometime soon , serial is nice but pretty expensive

22nd July 2001, 11:59 PM	#50
Widowmaker Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Posts: 2,219	http://www.avrfreaks.net/Devices/dev...ion=1&devid=21 awww these look awsome , how much are they you say ? , but whats this you need a programmer and other stuff how much does it cost all up ?