Analog gauges on an ebike

[billyjones454]

I love the idea of having some vintage looking analog dials on an ebike, giving information like Speed, Temp, Voltage, (battery capacity?)etc...


I don't really know how to do that, however I did find this cool youtube video of someone taking an analog voltmeter and converting it to a temperature sensor with the help of an arduino.

Has anyone tried this before? What about using stepper motors for a 360 degree sweep?

[youtube]5OQXyVQmN08[/youtube]

 

[amberwolf]

There's a number of threads (and posts) about various analog gauges for various things, like these; some of them have detailed info and some just mention them:
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=22675&hilit=analog+gauge%2A
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=56430&hilit=analog+gauge%2A
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=98614&hilit=analog+gauge%2A
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=100856&hilit=analog+gauge%2A

More buried in here:
https://endless-sphere.com/forums/search.php?st=0&sk=t&sd=d&sr=topics&keywords=analog+gauge%2A&start=50
and others that don't come up in that search.


There's also info on how to drive analog gauges for various types of info out there, if you want to build your own instrument cluster from scratch:
https://www.google.com/search?&q=driving+analog+gauges&oq=driving+analog+gauges
https://www.google.com/search?&q=driving+needle+gauges&oq=driving+needle+gauges
https://www.google.com/search?&q=build+an+analog+dashboard&oq=build+an+analog+dashboard
https://www.google.com/search?&q=build+an+instrument+cluster&oq=build+an+instrument+cluster


YOu can use discrete elecronics, or dedicated chips, or even an write a program for an MCU like arduino,etc that reads all the sensors to get the data, then outputs taht as analog voltages to control needle gauges, or sends it to a digital display as a gauge-style UI. Each of those is more complex than the last. But if you don't really know electorncs but do know programming, the more complex way could be easier.

 

[billyjones454]

Dude, you are so helpful. Thank you! I did a search on here but didn't get the links you posted.

Cheers!

 

[Drunkskunk]

One of those post was my failed attempt at making an analog micro sized volt meter. it failed because I got too complicated trying to lower the power needed to run it, but I learned a lot from it.


Most analog gauges are actually volt meters. An analog tachometer, for example, is just taking a high AC pulse from an engine, converting it to low voltage DC, and showing you the voltage of the output. Change the face of the meter to say 8000 RPM where 4.3 volts used to be, and you're done.
Fuel meters are the same thing. Full 12 volts from the potentiate in the gas tank moves the volt meter all the way to the left. replace 12v with "F", and replace 1v with "E" and you have thew workings of an analog gas gauge.
An amp meter is also the same thing. a tiny voltage is induced in a coil, and displayed on a very sensitive volt meter. Cross out the 0.1v with 50A, and it's an amp meter.

Its when you want to make a non-linear gauge that you need to get complicated. That's where the Arduino comes in. In my case, I wanted 50v to = 10 on my gauge, and 40v to = 0. The Arduino can only take an output of 5 volts. For that, I just needed a 10:1 voltage divider with some high ohm resistors. 470k and 47k worked. that gave me an output of 5 volts when the battery was at 50V, and 4 volts when the battery was drained to 40v. it was just simple programming then to make the 5 volt input = full output, and the 4 volt input = 0 output. In my case, it was a digital signal driving a servo to move the needle, but it could have been programed to give an analog output of any thing I wanted. The only thing I would need to know is how much voltage was needed to move the needle, and that is rarely what is on the faceplate.

 

[dogman dan]

You can get analog amp meters. intended for 12v, but it worked on my 48v bike. I think at the time the CA was very new, and I did not know about the cheap blue watt meters.

 

[spinningmagnets]

If you keep an eye on antique and vintage shops, you can sometimes find a 48V analog dial meter. Possibly pre-WWII, but...I dont know what they would be used for

Cars were 6V until the 1950's?

 

[wineboyrider]

Vintage golf carts come to mind.

 

[2WheelsMovesTheSoul]

Here's an Analog looking speedo that uses GPS.

https://fariabeede.com/2-pages/aftermarket.php

 

[The Speaker Guy]

I had sketched up a dash which used an Arduino for control, and micro servos to control the needles. Picture is below. Servo type was HS40, Dimensions‎: ‎0.79" x 0.34"x 0.67" (20 x 8.6 x 17mm).

This is an untried idea, your mileage may vary.

John

 

[Balmorhea]

 

[psychson]

Really interested in this topic for sure.
Will pursue a similar idea.

Also, I image searched this and it's coming up as an image that was used in several other places online.
You weren't claiming it as your own right?

 

[Balmorhea]

Really interested in this topic for sure.
Will pursue a similar idea.

Also, I image searched this and it's coming up as an image that was used in several other places online.
You weren't claiming it as your own right?

No, it's only an example of the stuff that's out there, sometimes cheap, if you look for it. I once got a beautiful plus/minus aviation ammeter that was dated 1960, new in the box. It was nicer looking than the one in the photo. I paid less than ten bucks for it.

 

[psychson]

Really interested in this topic for sure.
Will pursue a similar idea.

Also, I image searched this and it's coming up as an image that was used in several other places online.
You weren't claiming it as your own right?

No, it's only an example of the stuff that's out there, sometimes cheap, if you look for it. I once got a beautiful plus/minus aviation ammeter that was dated 1960, new in the box. It was nicer looking than the one in the photo. I paid less than ten bucks for it.

1960-70s had the best bike designs in my eyes.
Currently building one out inspired by the Schwinn Stingray as part of a long running desire to do so.