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Digital LED hack/usage

I have a digital LED display from a PC (you know the ones that displayed the Mhz right next to the power & reset buttons), but this one is 3 digits and looks like it is serial??? it is connected to a small board via a ribbon cable. On the small board are 3 sets of dip switches (1-8).

On to the point of all this...

I would like to create a small program in which I can use the 3 digit LED to display the CPU temperature. And since it looks to be serially controlled I was wondering if anyone had any pinouts/links/advice.

If I need to increase points I will.

Thanks in Advance,

ne0

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

jhance

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ne0

ASKER

jhance -

Thanks for your reply, I guess the revised question would be...

Is there a way to display the cpu temp on the LED or will I need to purchase the LCD/sensor display that everyone sells?

ne0

ne0

ASKER

I do know I will need the sensor in either event but I just dont know if the LED will do for the display...

ne0

jhance

I'm not saying it's impossible. But unless you're just looking for a technical challenge and have some time on your hands, I'd suggest one of the CPU temp monitoring kits that has a digital readout included.

I suppose you could fix the thing you have up to display a specific number by controlling the state of the dip switches with an electronic circuit but it may be easier to just start from scratch and build your own unit. It would be a fairly simple matter to couple a digital readout with a temp sensor and drive the whole mess with a PIC micro controller or a BASIC Stamp device.

SOLUTION

RoadWarrior

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ne0

ASKER

Thank you both for the comments/advice.

Although the temp kits were on my list, the Serial LCD Drivebays were the second choice. Not that I don't like the temp kits mind you, but I do enjoy tweaking some things from time to time. I have found a serial LCD for about $35 USD (http://www.crystalfontz.com/cgi-bin/pricing.pl?product=632) and there are already some OCX/DLL controllers for them. In my opinion, it would be best to go ahead a spend a bit more for this but gain much more functionality. Would the both of you agree? Not that there is a right or wrong answer here but I would like to have others opinion.

Thanks,

ne0

Glen A.

Hello Experts / Questioner:

No comment has been added lately, so it's time to clean up this TA.
I will leave a recommendation in the Cleanup topic area that this question is:

Paq'd and points split between jhance and roadwarrior (as they did answer the original and revised question)

Please leave any comments here within the next seven days.

PLEASE DO NOT ACCEPT THIS COMMENT AS AN ANSWER!

AlbertaBeef
EE Cleanup Volunteer