New User - I2C on Arduino to PC?

[Wally.Tee]

Hi everyone, brand new user who is really in the VERY early stages of my journey with openplotter.  Due to the expense of Rasberry Pi where I am, I have opted to go with a low powered PC; and secured a micro pc for about a third the price of a Pi.

I was initially just thinking of using OpenCPN, but now see that OpenPlotter can make life alot easier - but note that I2C is not supported in the PC version.

I would like to use some sensors  - Temp / Humidity / Battery Voltage, and believe that I can use an Arduino to connect them. 

Am I correct in that assumption that I can essentially achieve the same functionality in doing this?  I'm more than happy to play and figure this out as I go along, and indeed am somewhat excited by the challenges this may pose - but I'd prefer not to start if it is going to be impossible.

[PaddyB]

It's possible yes, signalk is the way to go. And using an esp32 means you can send data over WiFi as well, this might be of interest-
https://github.com/boatybits/boatymonpy
If you are on windows.. https://github.com/SignalK/signalk-server-windows
Opencpn has a plugin to view signalk data so you can see it all on one page.

[Wally.Tee]

It's possible yes, signalk is the way to go. And using an esp32 means you can send data over WiFi as well, this might be of interest-
https://github.com/boatybits/boatymonpy
If you are on windows.. https://github.com/SignalK/signalk-server-windows
Opencpn has a plugin to view signalk data so you can see it all on one page.

Thanks Paddy.  That circuit looks very complicated for me - but I think I can definitely give a go with something simple.  I'm waiting for delivery of my box so doing as much research as I can in the meantime.  I've got the GPS stick, and RTL SDR, so installing the basics will be first and after that I will have a go at more advanced stuff like this. 

I actually started to do an electronics course way back 20 years ago.  It was almost entirely math.  These days I think these kits and microcontrollers make things alot more accessible.

[jim321]

theirs several ways to get the data
Arduino Firmata,johnny5 with node-red, usb connection.
as shown with esp 32.
vga connection has i2c."the hard way"
things like this https://www.amazon.com/usb-i2c-adapter/s...2c+adapter
probably other ways too.

[PaddyB]

Thanks Paddy.  That circuit looks very complicated for me - but I think I can definitely give a go with something simple.  I'm waiting for delivery of my box so doing as much research as I can in the meantime.  I've got the GPS stick, and RTL SDR, so installing the basics will be first and after that I will have a go at more advanced stuff like this. 

I actually started to do an electronics course way back 20 years ago.  It was almost entirely math.  These days I think these kits and microcontrollers make things alot more accessible.

The circuit is actually a lot simpler than it looks for most of the sensors, there's an online company which make them cheaply and solder it all for you. As you say, it's pretty easy now, all digital so connect the sensors to the micro and it's software after that. Check out https://signalk.org/SensESP/, most of the programming done already.
SignalK is the powerhouse behind it all, definitely worth getting to grips with from the start. Might seem a bit daunting to begin with but quite straightforward really. There's a basic demo online.. https://signalk.org

[Techstyle]

I was initially just thinking of using OpenCPN, but now see that OpenPlotter can make life alot easier - but note that I2C is not supported in the PC version.

I would like to use some sensors  - Temp / Humidity / Battery Voltage, and believe that I can use an Arduino to connect them. 

Check out these videos of my battery Monitor construction:
https://youtu.be/kgqq8Rd5wb4?si=PmGuQT211WZHrqxp

Install:
https://youtu.be/oSSnZQ0bgjU?si=xpFEgfw9cTsS8PsD

these include battery voltage sensing and temperature using 1-wire.  my engine monitor senses I2C based Temp and Humidity:
https://youtu.be/Zay2ALtgxzc?si=jok7mPiOct_rr13y

the code is published on my Github page:
https://github.com/Techstyleuk