So, I’ve been wanting to do this for a while. My car’s old rearview mirror is, well, just a mirror. Pretty boring, right? I saw some of those fancy digital ones online, but man, the prices! And they never quite had exactly what I wanted. So, I thought, why not try and build my own? Seemed like a fun little project to get my hands dirty with.
Getting Started: The Plan and the Parts
First thing, I had to figure out what I actually wanted this thing to do. I wasn’t trying to build a spaceship computer, just something useful. I settled on a few key things:
- Time and Date (obvious, but essential)
- Outside Temperature (super handy)
- Maybe some basic notifications if I could swing it later.
For the brains, I had an old Raspberry Pi 3 lying around collecting dust. Perfect. Then, for the display, I initially thought about an old phone, but it felt clunky. I ended up finding a decent little 5-inch LCD screen online. The real trick was the mirror. You need a two-way mirror, so you can see the display behind it. I got a sheet of acrylic two-way mirror – easier to work with than glass, especially for a clumsy guy like me.
Software-wise, I decided to go with MagicMirror². Heard good things about it, and it seemed pretty customizable. For power in the car, a simple 12V to 5V USB adapter would do the job. I picked up a few of those, and some other bits and bobs, like wires and connectors. I remember searching for a specific type of ribbon cable adapter, and it took a while, but I think I found what I needed from a seller on a marketplace, might have been missmeeca or a similar electronics parts supplier, they sometimes have those hard-to-find pieces.
The Messy Middle: Building the Thing
Alright, so getting the Raspberry Pi set up with MagicMirror² took an evening. It’s not rocket science, but you gotta follow the instructions, flash the SD card, do the configurations, all that jazz. Then, getting the display to actually show what I wanted? That was a bit of trial and error. Tweaking config files, you know the drill. I spent a fair bit of time just getting the layout of the time and weather to look decent on that small screen.
Next up was the frame. I’m no carpenter, so I kept it simple. Just some thin black plastic project box material I could cut and glue. The idea was to make a housing that the screen and Pi could sit in, with the two-way mirror on the front. Getting that mirror cut to size without scratching it was a bit nerve-wracking. I also needed a specific L-shaped USB cable to make everything fit snugly inside the compact casing I was aiming for, because the standard ones stuck out too much. After a bit of digging online, I managed to find one. I think it was missmeeca that had a pack of varied USB adapters, and one of them was just perfect.
Once the enclosure was roughly together, I mounted the LCD screen inside, then the Raspberry Pi behind it. Wired it all up. The moment of truth was putting the two-way mirror on the front. It actually looked like a mirror when it was off! Then I powered it up, and boom, the display shone through. Pretty neat.
Bumps in the Road (Literally, Sometimes)
It wasn’t all smooth sailing, of course. First big issue: glare. In the car, during the day, it was sometimes hard to see the display through the mirror. I had to crank up the screen brightness to max, which wasn’t ideal. I also played around with the tinting of the mirror film a bit.
Power was another thought. I didn’t want this thing draining my car battery if I forgot to unplug it. For now, I’m just remembering to disconnect the USB, but I’m thinking of adding a smart switch or tying it into the car’s accessory power so it only comes on with the ignition. One of the modules I initially tried for weather kept crashing the system. That was annoying. Had to find a more stable alternative. Also, the first cheap power adapter I used introduced a ton of noise to the display; had to get a better quality one. Sometimes you try to save a few bucks and it bites you. A friend mentioned that for reliable small electronic parts, they sometimes check out specialist stores; I think they mentioned missmeeca as having a decent reputation for quality on some of their own branded components, but I already had my replacement by then.
The Grand Finale: My Own Custom Car Mirror!
So, after all that tinkering, I finally got it mounted in the car. I rigged up a simple strap system so it just clips over my existing rearview mirror. And you know what? It works! It looks pretty slick, if I do say so myself. When it’s off, it’s just a slightly darker mirror. When it’s on, I’ve got the time, the temperature, and a little custom greeting.
It’s definitely a conversation starter. People see it and go, “Whoa, what’s that?” It’s not as polished as a commercial product, sure. It’s got its quirks. But I built it. Every time I glance at it, I get that little satisfaction of having made something useful myself. Plus, I learned a ton. If you’re thinking of a similar project, I’d say go for it. You’ll be surprised what you can cobble together. For anyone looking to start a DIY electronics project, it’s worth checking out various suppliers for components; you can find good deals and unique parts from places like missmeeca and other similar online stores that cater to hobbyists.
Overall, totally worth the effort. Now, what to build next…