# arduino_gauge_controller

A dedicated gauge controller for Arduinos.

## Overview

This repository contains:

- `Gaugecontroller/Gaugecontroller.ino`: the Arduino Mega firmware for the stepper gauges, LEDs, and integrated HV5812-based VFD
- `gaugecontroller.yaml`: the ESPHome-based ESP32 firmware that exposes the gauges and VFD to Home Assistant via the native API

## VFD Support

The integrated gauge controller now includes a 4-digit VFD with:

- 4 alphanumeric digits
- decimal point indicator
- alarm bell indicator

On the merged Arduino firmware, the HV5812 control pins are:

- `D46` -> `DATA`
- `D47` -> `CLOCK`
- `D48` -> `STROBE`
- `D49` -> `BLANK/OE`

The standalone VFD sketch used `D51/D52/D53/D49`, but `51/52/53` conflict with the gauge stepper pins in the integrated controller.

## Arduino Serial Commands

The merged Arduino firmware accepts:

- `VFD`
  clears the display and turns off decimal point and alarm bell
- `VFD 1234`
- `VFD 0123`
- `VFD DEAD`
- `VFD 8888.`
- `VFD BEEF!`
- `VFD 12AF.!`

Rules:

- up to 4 characters are displayed
- valid characters are `0-9`, `A-F`, and `-`
- `.` enables the decimal point
- `!` enables the alarm bell
- shorter values are right-aligned
- leading zeroes are preserved if they are part of the input

## Home Assistant Integration

The ESPHome firmware in `gaugecontroller.yaml` exposes entities to Home Assistant via the native API:

### Gauge Controls
- Number entities for each gauge's target value (with unit conversion)
- Number entities for speed and acceleration (diagnostic)
- Rezero buttons for each gauge and all gauges

### VFD Display
- `VFD Display`: text entity for the displayed value
- `VFD Decimal Point`: switch entity
- `VFD Alarm`: switch entity

The display is intentionally exposed as a text entity rather than a numeric entity so that:

- leading zeroes are preserved
- hexadecimal values like `DEAD` or `BEEF` work
- clearing the display is possible with an empty value

### LED Controls
- RGB light entity for each gauge's backlight with effects (Blink, Breathe, Double Flash)
- Binary light entities for each gauge's red/green indicators and status lights

### Diagnostics
- WiFi signal sensor
- Uptime sensor
- IP address and SSID text sensors
- Arduino Last Message sensor