Custom ESP32-Based Display

[brongle]

I've been wanting to build this since before starting on Svag, but it made more sense to get a better understanding of the BLE interface and build something more widely usable first. Right now this is a very early prototype which just integrates a 20x04 LCD and a small ESP32-C3 powered via a USB battery bank. Previously I have tested powering via a small lithium battery and charging it via the Qi dock, and also some more modern/"pretty" displays (but tbh I quite like this, and the other displays I've found so far tend to have poor visibility in sunlight). I still need to design and 3d print a proper enclosure that would allow that all to work nicely and mount up to the stock phone mount. Not sure when I'll get around to polishing this off more, especially with the cold season in full-force its hard to find an excuse to get out and burn enough battery to actually require monitoring SOC.

For now the firmware source code is on GitHub, and a few terrible photos of it in testing.

 

[Beagle]

It's amazing what you MacGyvers can do!

@Stark71 also worked on some minimal display

Small display for the Stark Varg MX

Hi all, I saw in multiple threads a discussion about an alternative for the mobile. I like to share my solution for this as I am also not a big fan on the MX for this. Also CEO said in an interview that they do not plan to develop any small display. I connected my display between the VCU and...

electricdirtriders.com

 

[brongle]

Ah yes that was some of the inspiration for sure! I think their approach is probably better in many ways as tapping into the CAN interface lets you still connect the phone, and probably access some more data as well. I've been meaning to poke into the EX connection hub to see if there is an easy CAN port to tap into, just need to find a place to source some of the higo connectors.

 

[GizmoDuck]

That's nuts... im working on something similar... I went with the esp32-s3 and slightly different display for the modes and features I am focusing on. I got this as email alert and nearly spit my coffee... thought someone had found mine, it appears all 3 of us are going at it slightly differently. When they say, you think of it and 2 other people across rhe globe just had the same thought...they was serious...

 

[brongle]

That's nuts... im working on something similar... I went with the esp32-s3 and slightly different display for the modes and features I am focusing on. I got this as email alert and nearly spit my coffee... thought someone had found mine, it appears all 3 of us are going at it slightly differently. When they say, you think of it and 2 other people across rhe globe just had the same thought...they was serious...

Ah! I think Alta was on to something with the simplicity and usability of their interface, its a shame Stark wants to be so fancy at the cost of any functionality... Are you pulling data from CAN or BLE?

 

[GizmoDuck]

I am going at it via CAN. I dont own a stark, but mine is can as well. I thought about BLE, but think it would be laggy, also I am using mine as a throttle controller with csv maps ive scanned from 100 motorcycles and also added different traction modes. I dont own a stark, so cant speak to the features...but wanted more useful ones for mine and focused on those.

 

[Bodo]

Ah yes that was some of the inspiration for sure! I think their approach is probably better in many ways as tapping into the CAN interface lets you still connect the phone, and probably access some more data as well. I've been meaning to poke into the EX connection hub to see if there is an easy CAN port to tap into, just need to find a place to source some of the higo connectors.

There's the OBD adapter that comes with EU Vargs VCU to OBD pigtail

Not cheap, but the red connector is fairly common. Or snap it off and solder the ends to the CAN interface

 

[GizmoDuck]

2.1" Ultimate Gauge Board (Wave 2 Pre-order for Nov 2025) — Garage Tinkering Online Store

This is a PRE-ORDER for the second wave of the Ultimate Gauge Board. This round is likely to be posted around November 2025. Final board specification will to be similar to the first wave, with any small improvements made as deemed necessary based on feedback of version 1. The board that driv

www.garagetinkering.com

This might work out better for your needs, likely what my V2 version will be based on. My display is canbus arduino chaojie display currently and my throttle controller/secondary is built on python. I like your projects, but needed my lvgl libraries for buttons/sliders and touch display.