Sinclair C5duino LED Grid Display
This is a fun little screen that I decided to build whilst testing my other screens. It uses an 8x8 grid of RGB LED's running from an Arduino Uno and makes use of iteadstudio.com LED shield.
The display can show the following information:
- Battery Voltage Level (Top row)
- Left & Right Indicator status
- Motor Temperature (3rd Vertical column)
- Ambient Temperature (4th Vertical column)
- Motor Current (5th Vertical column)
- Speed (6th Vertical column)
This project requires the C5 to be running from the Arduino based Sinclair C5 Control Box (C5duino).
Component List
To build it you must expose VIN, GND, TX, RX on the Arduino Uno to allow a connection to be made to the C5duino box at the back of the Sinclair C5.
- Arduino Uno (x1)
- Arduino RGB LED Matrix driver shield (x1)
- 8 x 8 RGB Full Colour 5mm LED Matrix (x1)
- Suitably sized Project Box 130mm x 70mm x 45mm (x1)
The Arduino Uno
The wiring of the connector must match the connector on the C5duino circuit board, except TX & RX must be reversed. So TX on the Arduino Uno must be connected to RX on the C5duino board and RX (On Arduino Uno) must be connected to TX on the C5duino.
More C5 Links
Latest from C5owners.com
Lotus C5 prototype by John Dunne
It's a common misconception that Lotus only involvement in the C5 develop was the Y frame chassis, however as detailed in the Lotus World Magazine March 1985 & also in both of Barrie Will books who was the Managing Director of Sinclair Vehicle, Lotus developed, designed & build the C5 prototypes.
posted on: 24/05/2020
Simplified Relay Controls
This article by John Wilson shows how to re-wire a C5 with the original 12V motor.
posted on: 27/04/2016
Control Clerk Training Notes
Here are some rare C5 training notes from Hoover desgned for call centre staff and engineers.
posted on: 22/03/2016
Offroad Prototypes by Brian McCool
For years there had been rumors about the Off Road C5's. Has anybody seen one?
posted on: 10/03/2016