I have a Grayhill rotary knob encoder with a touch screen it uses can bus as the interface i would like to be able to use this to control real dash change screens and audio maybe other windows apps I’m using two can bus analyzers one for the ECU and one for the encoder and a windows pc with a 12” touch screen as the controller
Maybe setup canbus keyboard or hotkeys ??
is this possible thanks
Sure, its possible. With quick glance I did not find their CAN specification though.
here’s a little more info
I want to give a very sincere THANK YOU for posting this. It gives me a way to add some modern tech yet keeping my dash free of switches or buttons. Helps me design a very clean dashboard. I am doing a similar setup using a Windows MiniPC with the Waveshare 12.3 hdmi touchscreen. I will have to spend some time going thru the data in the last link you posted, so I decide what part # I want to order. Also very $$$ efficient even compared against Keypads.
ive been wanting something like this for sometime i know i wanted a PC for the brains and tried a few ideas like mouse pads custom keyboards nothing fills right also i could not find any interface software i liked until i found Real Dash a few months ago now it starting to fill right and with this rotary it is nice but there software sucks but i am starting to understand it
FYI just get the encoder dont get there Kit or cables or interface just get a 5 pin M12 plug and a Peak Can system usb can bus interface ebay $50
i was going with a PLC and a HMI Maple Systems more of center console setup then a Dash cluster. i wanted to play music and Can bus a plc don’t do this very well plus a pc can use cheap touch screens monitors with high res to play movies, run engine tuning software and more
Their CAN protocol seems somewhat complicated, we do need to order one of these devices to make a support for it.
i have an extra one i can send you for testing ??
if that helps
thanks
They are already on their way, but thank you for offering.
It will be interesting to see what capabilities comes out of this. It could prove to be a very useful HMI CAN Bus device.
Already thinking of what uses I can use this for. I think it will end up in both of my projects.
Most recent idea. 79 Bronco with On Board Air. I want to use a central system to air up and down the tires. Basically have to connect air hose to each tire. Rpi pressure controller with one pressure sensor and two valves one for pressure one for exhaust. Similiar to turbo boost controller.
Was thinking of doing tire pressure set point in the dash, but with this knob I can do it and dial the pressure I want then activate. Dash has the TPMS sensors because for highway use.
The knob becomes the man in the middle device between dash and other can bus devices.
If you wanted to carry it a lot further you could eliminate the touch screen on the dash and use the Knob as mouse and cursor control.
Think of a clock dial arrangement for what function you want to use the knob as and select it.
Mouse and Cursor
Tire Pressure Control
Ride Height Control
?Winch Control?
Media Control
Ok enough of my rambling.
We actually have this on our feature/todo list. Hopefully this touch encoder will expedite this non-touch interface.
I also have air ride at first I was going to use a plc with maple HMI to control the air ride I have a height and a pressure sensor on each wheel and tank pressure sensor then use a HMI to adjust/set setting for road conditions self leveling the more I’ve been playing the Holley dominator it’s a plc with engine management so I got the Holley expansion canbus I/o this gave me 8 input and 8 outputs . The inputs can be setup as digital or analog I have them as 4 pressure 4 height and the 8 outputs 4 up 4 down this working out very well. what’s also cool you can have the Holley do the math or Realdash do the math. I have not figured out how input into the Holley with canbus yet but If rotary and Realdash works I like I think it will it’s opens up endless possibilities as a interface I’m very excited
That is similar to the way I want to set up my air ride too. 4 ride height sensors you can let Realdash do the math for you. You can do 4 corner height control. The pressure sensors just gives you more data. You would need to do an initial calibration for the units of measurement you want to do for ride height. Use the knob for selecting which corner or end you want to adjust. Once selected use the knob to make the adjustment up or down. On RealDash since you are doing the math on a different screen page configure a gauge the mimics the knob display.
@realdashdev Can we use Can Bus to issue screen page commands to Real Dash. Like using the knob to select what page we want displayed?
What are using for a I/o device ?
I haven’t made a decision on an I/O device yet. I would like to do it with Mux Devices. I am going to separate chassis electrical from engine and transmission. Using OBR ECU for the engine and U.S.Shift for transmission. I have begged U.S.Shift to offer some form of CAN bus signals as I/O but they always refuse. Other than dumping lots of cash into Motec they are the only choice for a 6R80 trans. I have looked at Dashbox but I need more I/O than it offers. I am going to try the Wican Pro because it has a USB Host connection for LTE connection (think Tracker) and probably the MeatPi USB Dual.
There is a CAN I/O device I want to get and test it on the bench. It is made by a company in the U.K. called Blink-Stop.It is called CANActive. It offers 8 low side inputs 8 low side outputs and 4 0-5 analog inputs. Very cost effective at $280 USD.
OK I have rambled enough. I need to remember to lay off the coffee at night.
I will say bench test everything before mounting and wiring anything in the vehicle. It saves on headaches and having to go back and remount or undo a nice harness job. Makes it nice a neat.
Grayhill Touch Encoder support is now in pre-release:
RealDash version 2.5.1 PRE-RELEASE - General / Announcements and updates - RealDash Forum
This is awesome, I was looking at ESP32 rotary encoders to use like the AMG drive unit. Found alot of ali express, but to have direct interaction with real dash is great. Thanks for posting, and also thanks Real Dash for implementing it. Now im trying to find how much they are so i can order one too. I wanted a clean way to change the screen too.
sorry i have not had chance to try this yet work got me tied up i just wanted to say thanks for your awesome and quick support on all of this you do cant wait until i have some time 
You are welcome, thank you for the tip of this device. I’m already installing it to DEATHFISH 2.