Get rid of DECC?

[blindside]

I am ready for this upgrade when it's ready to sell Cyclone!

[jebbrecht]

Looks like I may be looking for an alternative as well for my switches, so let me know when this is ready.

[Capt Rick]

This kit is ready if you want to go back to simple switch's

MGA0011908   Send PANEL W/O KEY SWITCH + DECC and 2 button wth orange wire Rick Cohn 10200 Newington drive Orlando, Fl 32836   10    3    $575.00    $30.00 frt 3 day back to you

Capt Rick

[otgixxer]

This kit is ready if you want to go back to simple switch's

MGA0011908   Send PANEL W/O KEY SWITCH + DECC and 2 button wth orange wire Rick Cohn 10200 Newington drive Orlando, Fl 32836   10    3    $575.00    $30.00 frt 3 day back to you

Capt Rick

So does this kit just keep your original switches, but replaces the decc with simple switches and relays?
Do you have any pictures?

[otgixxer]

Yes, the majority of wakeboard boats made during the early 2000's used some technology that is failing and obsolete. So, there is a market out there for conversion kits. THere's a plug and play gauge package out now, someone posted a link recently here to a vendor.

Our boats had these button panels which fail in weird ways, under any load they blink and don't work properly. So, I am in the process of putting together the replacement touch screen panel with built in computer, and a relay switchbox to replace the existing ones.

The code is done, the switch panel buttons work and are programmed, ready to wire up and test, but I can't get to my boat right now as the lake I live on is flooded, have to go waist deep to get to the dock. I should be able to continue working on it in a couple of weeks when they drop the lake level. IF it stops raining;)

Any updates?

[cyclone]

UPDATE: determined we had a hardware and interface issue with the supplier we intended to use. Found a different supplier of same display and better case and PC for less money:) The code is written for basic switches for the Epics, and we have a relay interface board and IP 65 sealed box to replace the original relay box. So, for less money than original parts, you will be able to replace the entire system of the 6X4 button panels and connect original orange accessory wiring. The buttons will be replaced by a 7" touch panel PC that will have many capabilities including displaying HD media directly off usb or music via USB or bluetooth, HD audio out to amps, driving other displays, USB charge ports, Tower or bow camera with recording and HD display, wireless, blah blah blah. Power anchor (lol)

It will be set up with an app that runs automatically when the boat is powered, with a hibernate mode. The app will be open source so that you will be able to change the fonts or button labels, or the wallpaper in the default Epic app. The app will run in the background so that you can access the switchpanel functions while using the full function tablet PC for other stuff. No more blinky blinky no workee nav lights!! It's really open to your imagination what you can do with a Raspberry PI.

If anyone out there in Epicland has any experience with the graphic design type programming for a Raspi linux environment, let me know and I will send you a working proto to test out. I specifically want someone that can make the wallpaper and buttons look just like the Epic dash, carbon fiber background and oblong buttons with similar labels. My son is great at the software and hardware execution part but we need to make the display look like it belongs there in terms of graphics.

Other things we've talked about, it would be easy to include a hardware override switch on the relay box for certain critical circuits, nav lights, bilge pump, dacquiri machine, booty shaker, etc. Right now, our boats can be partially disabled if the button panel fails and you have to use a jump wire to make your nav lights work in a pinch.

Please let me know if there are any other functions that we could include at the software design phase. It's essentially a little multimedia PC so anything goes in that realm. We could probably do accurate ballast tank levels...........

[cyclone]

OH, and OBD2 connection to engine functions.

[brad]

Awesome!!!

Can't wait to install this on my boat when it's ready.

[cyclone]

Getting ready to install the panel and switchbox. It is a pain on my SX because there's so much crap under the dash. THe box is roughly the same footprint as the original but it is very tight, MDC is on top of the mounting screws for it so I will have to pull it as well. It would likely be considerably easier on a D drive as the box is mounted under the dash instead of on the back wall of the footwell.

I'm making it so that the original white connector pigtails with the orange wires will connect directly to the box (screw terminals) as they do now. One big issue is the fact that there are so many accessories wired to the relay box power connectors. I think this is likely why we all have issues with this hardware, it's noted in the documentation that you should NOT wire accessories to these terminals. I think the extra power connections "brown out" this box under heavy load, and cause communication problems with the serial link that connects the button panels to the relay box.

The new box has no microprocessor so I can put large lugs on there so that accessories can be wired to the box in addition to those powered by the pushbuttons.

There are two different 7" touch screens I am considering. There will be some cutting of the dash but we are working for the best looking and easiest solution. I will take some pics today.

In addition to this project, I am fixing my heater and building a new sub box. I will start a separate thread and post pix of that too. It is very tight under my dash. I have the heater box mounted to the side of the sub enclosure;)

[cyclone]

So, newer, faster better. We just figured out a way to reduce complexity of the interface by about 60% So, more and better coming, for less cash

[Badbuell]

 Very interesting. Keep the pics coming along. Also would purchase when plug and play.

[cyclone]

this project is coming along. I have built the relay box, it connects to the touch panel via an ethernet cable, activates relays, works fine but the graphics are ugly. I am trying to get my son to finish the graphics. The box has the same type screw terminals as original, and large power connection terminals. The original orange wire pigtail will connect directly to the term strips in same order as orig. The box is similar footprint but taller (3" vs 1.5") than original.

If anyone out there in Epicland can write an html or other webpage that has 16 buttons that toggle when you press them, and simply activate a hyperlink for on and off states, let me know;) I will hook you up.

[jebbrecht]

Can't wait to see this in action and to get my hands on this.  I am tired of the blinky, blinky as well and power degradation when I have my bilge and blower running at the same time.

[cyclone]

[cyclone]

this is the Gui display, it's going on a 7" touchscreen display, 800 x 480. I just have a little more code to work out then finish the relay box. I am trying to make it as easy as possible to deal with but there are many differences between the different models of boats.