At the moment, I’m laid up with a knackered back.
This means two things
1. I’m bored, very very bored
2. I only have a tv and a laptop for entertainment.
So I was searching eBay for things I could do to the Punto once my back recovers.
Knowing my Punto is already prewired for parking sensors I was looking up to see how much genuine parking sensors are, which as it turns out is a lot, and getting the genuine looms and the correct module could prove tricky.
I don’t like the aftermarket kits because of the horrible LED monitor that you have to attach somewhere on the dash.
The parking sensors in my Golf appear on the radio and give you an indication of distance, I wondered if there was an aftermarket kit that did something similar, turns out there is, but not wanting to replace the radio, I would need a separate screen.
Turns out automotive colour LCD screens are very cheap and if I’m going down that route I might as well throw in a reversing camera.
So from eBay I bought a reversing camera costing £7
Also a screen costing just £13
I have also order but it’s not arrived yet, a set of 4 parking sensors with a video input and output to allow it to overlay the parking sensor info on the screen.
All easy and straight forward, suction cup the screen to the window, piggy back fuse for power and drill some holes in the bumper....
Naaaaah, that’s not what I want.
I got a 3D printer for Christmas and the whole purpose was for projects like this so I have set about designing a roof mounted binnacle for mounting the screen.
This is a project in its infancy and my 3D design skills are pretty poor at best, however here is Version 1.0 with the screen mounted. Fast low quality print, to prove the concept. Watch this space for future updates. At the moment all I can do is work on the binnacle, but once my back is better I can do the full install.
Back to the drawing board, I need to add vent holes to let heat away from the back of the monitor and give it a little more space behind for components as it’s a bit tight.
I need to also make the front enclose the screen better, as at the moment you can see the galvanised frame of the monitor. I may move the monitor back and include some space in front of it for some buttons or switches, and many new cars have some small LEDs that shine down on the gear stick area which is also a possible addition.
What would you add to something like this? Let me know below if you have any ideas.
This means two things
1. I’m bored, very very bored
2. I only have a tv and a laptop for entertainment.
So I was searching eBay for things I could do to the Punto once my back recovers.
Knowing my Punto is already prewired for parking sensors I was looking up to see how much genuine parking sensors are, which as it turns out is a lot, and getting the genuine looms and the correct module could prove tricky.
I don’t like the aftermarket kits because of the horrible LED monitor that you have to attach somewhere on the dash.
The parking sensors in my Golf appear on the radio and give you an indication of distance, I wondered if there was an aftermarket kit that did something similar, turns out there is, but not wanting to replace the radio, I would need a separate screen.
Turns out automotive colour LCD screens are very cheap and if I’m going down that route I might as well throw in a reversing camera.
So from eBay I bought a reversing camera costing £7
Also a screen costing just £13
I have also order but it’s not arrived yet, a set of 4 parking sensors with a video input and output to allow it to overlay the parking sensor info on the screen.
All easy and straight forward, suction cup the screen to the window, piggy back fuse for power and drill some holes in the bumper....
Naaaaah, that’s not what I want.
I got a 3D printer for Christmas and the whole purpose was for projects like this so I have set about designing a roof mounted binnacle for mounting the screen.
This is a project in its infancy and my 3D design skills are pretty poor at best, however here is Version 1.0 with the screen mounted. Fast low quality print, to prove the concept. Watch this space for future updates. At the moment all I can do is work on the binnacle, but once my back is better I can do the full install.
Back to the drawing board, I need to add vent holes to let heat away from the back of the monitor and give it a little more space behind for components as it’s a bit tight.
I need to also make the front enclose the screen better, as at the moment you can see the galvanised frame of the monitor. I may move the monitor back and include some space in front of it for some buttons or switches, and many new cars have some small LEDs that shine down on the gear stick area which is also a possible addition.
What would you add to something like this? Let me know below if you have any ideas.
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