We have released a line of larger format displays compatible with either the ES1 or ES1R serial interfaces from PakTrakr. No need to stare at the tiny display until the information you want rolls around. Check out the "in-cab" model here:
or the weather-tight model that is intended for use on electric scooters, motorcycles, or anywhere else that you might run a PakTrakr out in the weather:
All our displays require a DC source between 6.5V and 30V capable of supplying 135 MA of current. They work great off accessory (12V) power.
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Norm
http://www.wacparts.com
Is that a Basic Stamp I see?
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It could be a BASIC Stamp.. it would make sense, since it's accepting a data stream through the serial port. FWIW I have one of these units but due to snafu's haven't had a chance to put it together. Maybe if my new paktrakr display arrives by this weekend I'll be able to do it on Sunday.
All I can say about the large format display right now is that it's extremely well built, the box is very sturdy, it appears to be very water-tight, with a very tight fitting lid, and the cables going through a rubber grommet. The holes to mount the box to a vehicle are in a separated compartment from where the display is, so that water could not enter that way and still get into the display. The display lid is made from a plastic that feels very impact resistant and is very clear.
- David Herron, The Long Tail Pipe, davidherron.com, 7gen.com, What is Reiki
Actually it is not a Basic Stamp. I have used Basic-X (a Netmedia product (IMHO) similar to but more powerful than the Basic Stamp) in the past, but I have found them limited in their ability to multi-task. It seems like every time you want it to multitask one of the tasks is incompatible with multitasking, so I gave up on them. The PakTrakr displays are sort of still in beta, so I am using a module from evbplus.com based on a Freescale MC9S12C32 processor. The module starts out as a 40 pin device, but I use a high speed Dremel cutter to chop it down to 24 pins. The six pin connector is the programming port which uses a standard Freescale BDM. I already have the next generation display circuit board drawn and ready for production, and after the current lot of circuit boards are gone the next generation will have the processor (based on an MC9S12C128) and its related components right on the display board rather than a module. It will also have two way communication with the ES1R so it can send instructions to the ES1R to begin sending data. As it is, when the PakTrakr has been reset there is a two minute delay before it begins sending data while it waits for an instruction. This only happens with the ES1R (not the ES1) and only when the PakTrakr unit has been reset by being disconnected and reconnected to its power, but it is still annoying. The next generation display will tell the PakTrakr ES1R to start sending immediately. The reason the current generation is not two way is because it was originally designed to work with the PakTrakr ES1, not the ES1R.
I am also working on a touch screen model for in-cab versions of the display that don't have to be watertight. Having a touchscreen will allow the device to show pages of information so it can be used with up to 48 batteries at a time. It could also have some logging and graphing functions. I am also thinking about perhaps having a USB data port on board the display so you can dump the data to your computer through my display. That would allow you to completely enclose the ES1R - and even put the PakTrakr out of sight - and do all communications through my display. We'll have to see how it works out (and whether there is even enough interest to produce something like this)...
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Norm