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Locost DIY Speedo
thepest - 9/1/10 at 11:51 AM

Hey guys, anyone seen this link before?

http://martybugs.net/electronics/speedo.cgi

I was going to try it out myself, but before I do any electronic guru's out there with any advice?
If so any suggestions as to where I could get a sensor coil from?

Cheers.

McLannahan - 9/1/10 at 11:54 AM

Isn't that just a hall effect sensor?

Same thing as sometimes used in ABS systems?

austin man - 9/1/10 at 12:07 PM

Ive built a tacho using a maplins kit and often thought that this could easily be converted to translate speed rather than pulses from the coil. Electronics isnt my fiels so I looked no further I think the complete kit cost me £12.00 and took 3 hours to make. It was very accurate and could be tuned with a trimmer on the board. So itmay be worth you looking at this first

MikeR - 9/1/10 at 03:35 PM

do maplin still do the kit? Just looked and couldn't find it (am looking on mobile so prob missed it)

MikeRJ - 9/1/10 at 05:28 PM

Digital speedometers just suck in every possible way.

However, if you really want one then building a discrete circuit like that is the difficult way of doing things, a small PIC/AVR micro would replace the majority of that circuit.

matt_gsxr - 9/1/10 at 06:07 PM

Hi chaps,

I think IVA requires a speedo approved for use on motor vehicles (or some such text).

Basically this is to prevent the use of bike speedos (which I agree are not much good, as I have one). I nipped in under SVA rules.

I don't think you would pass with a home-made speedo because of this IVA rule.

Incidentally bike speedos can be cheaper than £12 including the sensor and they are waterproof too.


Matt

austin man - 9/1/10 at 08:19 PM

Just looked on Maplin the kit is no longer listed, did a google search for electronics kits and there are a couple of companies who sell them

The kit I built was made a
Velleman K2625

a couple of site who sell similar items
http://www.quasarelectronics.com/smart-kit/1143-digital-rpm-indicator.htm

http://www.bakatronics.com/shop/item.aspx?itemid=589

[Edited on 9/1/10 by austin man]

thepest - 9/1/10 at 09:00 PM

Thanks for the links!!

bigpig - 9/1/10 at 09:26 PM

quote:
Originally posted by matt_gsxr
Hi chaps,

I think IVA requires a speedo approved for use on motor vehicles (or some such text).

Basically this is to prevent the use of bike speedos (which I agree are not much good, as I have one). I nipped in under SVA rules.

I don't think you would pass with a home-made speedo because of this IVA rule.

Incidentally bike speedos can be cheaper than £12 including the sensor and they are waterproof too.


Matt


Just for clarification, thats Bicycle under IVA. I nearly did a small bit of poop when I read that and had to revisit the manual

If its not a regular automotive road use speedometer (i.e. home made) then you have to prove compliance (Sec 17 IVA manual). From the sounds of it, it means hardended for road abuse (water, vibration), must run off main battery, must display speed without having to press buttons to get the speed up, doesn't use GPS e.t.c .

I would have thought a home made one is fine if you make it to a suitable standard (probably with photos of construction methods e..g no hidden internal battery as main power source). The problem may be that a home made one that is suitable could end up costing more than a cheapo one if its locost you want.

Its interesting that there doens't seem to be a need for an odometer.

matt_gsxr - 9/1/10 at 09:57 PM

Sorry bigpig, yes bicycle are difficult, motorbike are fine.

Bike to me means bicycle.
I've never driven a motorcycle, to me they are just nicely packaged donor parts.

Matt

02GF74 - 10/1/10 at 10:26 AM

quote:
Originally posted by matt_gsxr

Bike to me means bicycle.
I've never driven a motorcycle, to me they are just nicely packaged donor parts.



driven, LOL.

you referring to the rider or the bike!?!?

Rod Ends - 10/1/10 at 04:25 PM

GPS Car Computer

Are GPS speedos OK for IVA?

iank - 10/1/10 at 04:34 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Rod Ends
GPS Car Computer

Are GPS speedos OK for IVA?


No, they don't work in tunnels.

MikeR - 10/1/10 at 05:07 PM

This is a uk site and a little cheaper than the others - they also seem to stock a full range of the kits. No idea if they're any good - never used them.

http://www.esr.co.uk/velleman/products/index_kit.htm