SOC-Meter DIY Information

[garygid]

SOC-Meter Original Firmware Version

For information on later (free) firmware versions, see:
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=44&t=5304

F1.07 - The original firmware version displays the LEAF's presumed
"SOC" number, in "raw" form (roughly " 0" to " 281"), or
as a percent of 281 (like " 57.3").

The Black push-button toggles between the two display formats.

Note: The SOC-Meter firmware is also capable of doing
one-bus Logging of CAN messages (when used with my free
companion CAN-Do program, available at:
http://www.wwwsite.com/puzzles/cando/

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Documents to help DIY Projects

DIY Assembly Instructions (pdf),
a Wiring Diagram (pdf),
a Parts List and Test Procedure (pdf), and
a Hole Template (pdf) are available for free at
http://www.wwwsite.com/puzzles/socmeter/

Please look these documents over BEFORE you order parts and build your own SOC-Meter.
Also, you may ask questions if any suggestion is not clear to you.

Several DIY SOC-Meter projects have been completed successfully by various members.

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The SOC-Meter DIY details, though not perfect, have come together well.

I am trying to help get these devices out to you so that you can
better learn, understand, use, and enjoy your LEAF.

Hopefully the SOC-Meter will help you predict your LEAF's behavior
better, especially as you read about the experiences of other users.

 

[mwalsh]

I intend to build mine this coming weekend, so I should be able to provide some feedback and a review. So far I've only poured over the kit and instructions, but it all looks good. One thing I could possibly suggest is the inclusion of one more short piece of wire (black) for the bridge between those two cap switches. Though it could also be that enough is in the other wires included for one to be able to steal a half-inch from someplace.

 

[garygid]

There should be a 3" piece of black wire (exactly for that purpose) included in the kit.

Should be 3 black wires, 2 with crimp-pins on them, and 1 "plain".

Did I goof on the parts in that Kit?

 

[TomT]

I have one of the Mini USB AVR JTAG Programmer Debugger for AVR ATMEGA from Ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250597883758&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT) that I bought for another project. Will that allow me to flash the firmware of the meter as new versions come out?

Thanks for all your work on this!
Tom

 

[garygid]

Yes, I got one that looks like that one, and used it with AVRdude to flash the AVR-CAN board's AT90CAN128 uP successfully.

Note: In the near-last picture on Ebay, it looks like the 3rd wire on the connecting 10-pin cable has been cut, but it is just ink, I believe.

Pin 7 and 4 on the JTAG connector are connected to the AVR-CAN's +5v power.

My USB JTAG does power the AVR-CAN board.

The one jumper is for ... WHAT?
I keep the jumper OFF, and do not supply my +8v power to the AVR-CAN board, because this USB AVR-JTAG seems to provide power, and I cannot stop it from doing so.

 

[TomT]

Any chance you'll be coming up to one of the Northern CA gatherings any time soon? I'd love to pick up a blue kit from you there. (I haven't actually seen any of the different colors but blue just sounds the nicest to me, and in keeping with the Leaf instrument color scheme...)

By the way, how do you dim the display between day and night?

Our SOC-Meter Kit (R1) is now available in limited quantities, currently for
$170.00 ($157.77 + CA 7.75% tax) plus $20 for insured (usually UPS) shipping in USA-48.

Blue: 2 (5 more coming soon)
Red: 1
Yellow (almost Orange): 0
Green (apparently yellow-green, and not desireable): 0

 

[garygid]

1. I have program control of dimming, but do not have any day/night (or bright/dim) indicator (yet identified) that would allow "automatic" dimming.

I might start a manual-control "Command Set" (using the Red and Black push-buttons) to set/toggle the brightness manually.

Suggestions welcome.

2. I will attempt to bring some SOC-Meter Kits to the "North-LA" Gathering the next time it is on a weekend (maybe Sunday) and not conflicting with other (mostly Saturday) Gatherings.

Or, I might be able to send a Kit with Kat, if she will be joining you.

 

[clayj]

So, when I go to the web site referenced here, all I get is a real estate ad.

Anyone have an updated site?

Thanks!

 

[mwalsh]

So, when I go to the web site referenced here, all I get is a real estate ad.

Anyone have an updated site?

Thanks!

Hmm....that was working OK the other day. Looks like Gary's site was either hijacked or maybe is over bandwidth?

 

[garygid]

The domain expired today, so I renewed it (and 2 others).
Is working again now. THANKS, Mike.

 

[jkirkebo]

Any chance of shipping to Europe and payment by PayPal anytime soon ?

 

[garygid]

I would have to check out the shipping costs.
Will sending by UPS get to you?
What country and city?

There might be customs duty or VAT at your end?

I would have to investigate the extra fees for getting money
sent to me via PayPal, and for being a foreign transaction.

-----------------
Maybe somebody can educate me about using international
PayPal and shipping?
Thanks

 

[jkirkebo]

I would have to check out the shipping costs.
Will sending by UPS get to you?
What country and city?

There might be customs duty or VAT at your end?

I would have to investigate the extra fees for getting money
sent to me via PayPal, and for being a foreign transaction.

-----------------
Maybe somebody can educate me about using international
PayPal and shipping?
Thanks

Norway, city shouldn't matter but it is Fredrikstad.
UPS is very expensive compared to USPS for small packets.
Customs and VAT on my end is my problem

 

[garygid]

If we can find suitable shipping, we could try PayPal as well.

I have updated the Paying and Shipping parts of the first post.

 

[garygid]

Our furthest away SOC-Meter (Kit) went to jkirkebo in Norway.
Now, if only the LEAF would arrive!

 

[garygid]

Due to my surgery on 3 Nov, and some recovery time, order taking
and handling will be be disrupted for a while, perhaps 2 weeks.

There are parts for about 8 kits remaining at the moment, but
fully-built SOC-Meters will be "mostly unavailable" for a while.

Sorry for the inconvenience, but ... hopefully things will "come out" OK.

 

[FairwoodRed]

Gary,

I've just decided that a SOC meter might be of use to me. Do you still have kits available?

 

[TomT]

An excellent decision! I love mine and find it to be very useful!

I've just decided that a SOC meter might be of use to me. Do you still have kits available?

 

[ebill3]

Perhaps a bit OT, sorry.

Anyone take their LEAF in for service, battery check, update, or whatever, and leave the SOC meter installed and connected?
Dealer or tech comments?

Bill

 

[garygid]

1. I have a kit left, I will PM you.
Read about it in other threads in the "Leaf CANbus" sub-forum,
or at http://www.wwwsite.com/puzzles/socmeter/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

2. Best to remove the SOC-Meter before servce. At least unplug it from the OBD connector (which the dealer will need to use) and tuck the OBD cable's end safely up out of the way.