Hey guys,

I wanted to share my recent DIY project with you. I originally saw someone on Instagram selling gauge setups that connect to a PSP, and it got me thinking—I bet I could build something like that myself from scratch.

Turns out, you absolutely can. The hardware side consists of a custom PCB I soldered together around an ESP32 microcontroller, which interfaces with all the automotive sensors. But the biggest challenge was the software: I had to write a custom Nintendo DS "Homebrew Game" from scratch. The DS connects to the ESP32 via Wi-Fi, receives the telemetry data, and processes it in real-time. It took hours upon hours of coding and troubleshooting to figure out how to make both worlds talk to each other.

Choosing the right console was another major decision. The original DS felt a bit too small, the DSi XL turned out way too big for the interior, and the 3DS didn't have that classic retro vibe I wanted. As you can see in the pictures, I tested a few options, but I finally settled on the DS Lite as the perfect middle ground.

Currently, the main functions are split between the two screens. The top screen displays the critical engine vitals: Oil Pressure, Oil Temperature, and Coolant Temperature. The bottom screen features a menu with various utilities, including a GPS speedometer (with an RPM gauge coming sooner or later), a compass, GPS coordinates, outside temperature, a gyroscope, a trip counter, and historical data graphs for the oil stats. I've also integrated some data-logging capabilities.

I'm always looking to improve this setup, so if you guys have any feedback, UI suggestions, or ideas, please let me know!