Dashboard suggestions

[Upwinger]

Hello Everyone,
I've finally officially joined the forum after a few years of occasional searches. In 2018
I am upgrading my electric dirtbike that I built with a ME1003/AXE7245 combo to a
a ME1616/Sevcon gen4sz6 combo.


I want to start a thread on dashboards, because this is where I need the most help . This will be such a huge and expensive upgrade, I want the dashboard to be as advanced as I can make it, within my abilities.
Right now, the dash consists of a Cycle Analyst, a key switch, an amber led turn indicator, and an aux fan switch.
Simple and basic, gets the job done.

I want to redo the entire dash assembly. I will probably keep the CycleAnalyst, but I would like to ditch the key switch and incorporate a small waterproof rugged tablet like this:https://www.walmart.com/ip/WinBridge-S9 ... 3=&veh=sem
My thought was that the tablet could be the secure interface with the SevCon controller, as well as gps and/or other basic dash info like speedometer/odometer (although CycleAnalyst already does that). I hope somebody here on this forum can help me with ideas, experience, and how to's to get this configured and functional.
Thank you in advance!

[amberwolf]

There are projects for android here on ES that display CA info on the android device. Ebike Analyzer has a thread of that title; there's others if you look around for "android" in the first posts of threads.


I don't know if there's anything android to deal with Sevcon--you can look thru Methods' threads to see if he's done anything like that (has a lot of Sevcon threads).


There's also threads about electronic keyswitches; I think Agniusm has a project at the completed stage. Jeremy Harris had an RFID keyswitch thread.

[John in CR]

Unless you're going to have advanced BMS info displayed I like the original...nice and simple, especially for a dirtbike. Why introduce lots more points of failure with no real benefit?

[macribs]

I like the idea of dashbord, it is up to your imagination what can be displayed onto the dashboard.
If you tap into the can bus of the controller all sorts of fun facts can be displayed. Add that to various sensors, battery pack health, all down to each single cell.

Sure adding a dashboard introduces new potential sources of errors. But as long as you don't rely on the dashboard for basic operations of vehicle I see no problems. If you dash fails, all that would mean is that for the duration of your ride you won't know how fast you are going, battery health, motor temp, battery tempt etc.

Critical info like lvc should be at least on a buzzer as well as the dash, so you hear when you need to stop draining battery. The same for motor heat. One buzzer that goes off as an early warning, and a second one that tells you "heat is on". One thing I would find really useful was to display various graphical presentation of various riding stat from log files filled from your can bus.

[Upwinger]

The original idea of using a tablet for a dash was for security. The key switch can easily be hot wired by any thief with 1/2 a brain.
I have learned of this company and password protected bluetooth relay controllers: https://www.tinyosshop.com/tinysine-blu ... ooth-relay which need a 12-24v to 5v converter to operate, which the company also offers: https://www.tinyosshop.com/index.php?ro ... uct_id=710
This is a nice solution as it will allow me to charge my cell phone and tablet off of my bike's battery pack. No more keys!

[macribs]

If you are after security may I recommend RFID? The secure ones uses a number generated code with each contact so to avoid breach in security. You could even inject the RFID chip under your skin, just brush the RFID reader slightly with your forearm to turn on e-bike. And for that you don't even need a dashboard.

But to be honest, any thief worth their salt won't care about how hard or easy it is to hot wire your bike. If they first got their eyes on the price and have decided to have a "renewing of ownership" no matter what you do and how you bolt it down they will find a way. Use U-lock. They use HD disk grinder. Use wires covered with anti cut and stab sleeve and they will find the right tool to first get away with the anti cut sleeve then snap the wire. If you by chance or luck should find a lock they can't pick, crack or smack and bolt your e-bike to a heavy slab of concrete they will use a fork lift and steal away the block of concrete and your bike at the same time.

Best thing to do is to build something that is not too unik, something you can replace fairly easy. Then go see a man about insurance. Get good coverage and if that day comes and you lost your e-bike, build yourself a new one and don't waste time worrying.

But for fun and cool information displayed to suit your needs a dashboard is the way to go. Using a tablet with decent screen resolution will allow for making a GUI that is easily read in all weather conditions, sun or rain. You could even have a night ride mode that uses red colors to avoid messing up your natural night vision. Like you see on some ships, in some Audi sport cars, etc. Notice they illuminate with red color.

[amberwolf]

I have learned of this company and password protected bluetooth relay controllers:

Unless the relay is embedded in the wiring where a thief couldn't find or access it or the wiring that goes to and from it (so they could just wire around it), it's still possible to hotwire it, if they knew enough electrical stuff to know what to look for. (though it would take a little time to find the right wires).

which need a 12-24v to 5v converter to operate, which the company also offers:
This is a nice solution as it will allow me to charge my cell phone and tablet off of my bike's battery pack.

If it helps, you can probably use most 115VAC-powered 5V chargers or power supplies to do this, wiring the AC prongs to your traction battery pack. Most of the modern ones (just about anything supplied with tablets or phones, laptops, etc) will start at an input voltage over about 50-60VDC.

[Upwinger]

If it helps, you can probably use most 115VAC-powered 5V chargers or power supplies to do this, wiring the AC prongs to your traction battery pack. Most of the modern ones (just about anything supplied with tablets or phones, laptops, etc) will start at an input voltage over about 50-60VDC.

I wasn't aware of that, I could give it a try ... I have a few around in a box somewhere. You may have saved me 10 bucks. Thanks!

I am redesigning my battery enclosure so I can put all the security stuff inside. It wont be easy to get to. The batt pack will have to be removed from the bike to get to it. Ya I agree if a thief really wanted it, just throw it in the back of a truck and go. But I don't like giving free easy joyrides with my bikes. They have to work a little for it, I did!

[Bernel]

You can always go down the multi functional display route and custom fit it to the bike just like the Mission Motorcycles and Energica's. I had a 7 inch tablet with a wireless connection to a micro processor but wanted something permanent so I designed the system below.

Multi Function Display.pdf

Multi function Display schematic

(169.8 KiB) Downloaded 17 times

My project currently looks like this

Display not powered

IMG_1468.PNG (86.15 KiB) Viewed 324 times

Display powered

IMG_1470.PNG (89.86 KiB) Viewed 324 times

With an Android App to monitor the charging.

Android App

IMG_1416.JPG (80.31 KiB) Viewed 324 times

You will notice that the BMS is not associated with this set up so the bike will run regardless of a failure.

Bernel

[jonescg]

Here's my dash:

Voltron dash.JPG (56.53 KiB) Viewed 311 times

Volts, amps, and two LEDs showing BMS happy/sad. No real need to over-complicate what should be a hassle-free experience, in my opinion.