zx16v

Hello all.

I'm new here and my understanding in electronics/programming is zero!.(also sorry about my English)

I need help with building a gear indicator to be install in my car with a seven segment display that show the 1-5 /R gears.

The idea is when I shift a gear I will see the number of the gear that im using on the seven segment display until I will shift to another gear.

for example: im driving in second gear...I see the number 2 on the display until I will shift the gear to third gear and than I will see the number 3 on the display.

Because my understanding is very poor in electronics I was thinking about a simple board with six microswitches,1-5 gears and "R" for the reveres gear.each switch will show a number when I press it...but..the number will remain until another microswitch is press.

Any help with this idea will be great!!!

Thank you very much!

Guy.

Nigel Goodwin

A simple way is to use a PIC, which is a small programmable 'computer' on a chip - you could program it to do what you want, and it would be a one-chip solution.

__________________
PIC programmer software, and PIC Tutorials at:
http://www.winpicprog.co.uk

zx16v

Thanks for your replay,

Because of my ZERO understanding in electronics i guess that even the simple way to make it for me it will be too complicate to make this chip or any other circuit,do u know if there are kits like that to buy?

Thanks
Guy.

zx16v

If someone can make for me this circuit it will be GREAT!

Thanks
Guy.

Roff

If you don't know how to program a PIC, here is a modification of a circuit I designed for a guy who wanted 0-6. As shown below, it will indicate 0-5. You can change 0 (reverse) to some other character very simply.
You will have to come up with a switch closure for each gear. If you can't do it mechanically (microswitches), it could possibly be done with magnetic sensing (Hall effect devices).

Attached Images

7 segment gear indicator sch.PNG (28.7 KB, 115 views)

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Ron

zx16v

Thank you sir for the schema.

Guy.

tunedwolf

an old analog joystick pot control to do the sensing might be easier to mechanically couple to the gear shift lever, just a thought...

RODALCO

Don't forget that reed switches may be an option too.

__________________
There are more ways to get to Rome.

Electricity, Electric clocks, Meters and Trains are great.

zx16v

Hi guys...thanks for your replays..the problem is that i can't do anything with this info because i dont know anything in electronics,
im looking for someone with time and good weal to build for me this circuit.(if its not expensive..i will pay for it)

Thank you very much!!

Guy.

Roff

As I pointed out in my PM, you really need some local help. How about asking for help from a college engineering student?

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Ron

zx16v

Thank you sir for your B I G help with my first circuit,its working GREAT

Roff

In response to some requests by PM from zx16v, and another PM from yassirau, I am posting another version of the gear indicator. It is far from being a minimum-hardware design, so don't rag on me about the large number of diodes! It avoids the need to learn to program a PIC, and, for those who may not have easy access to components, uses a minimum of different component types.
This design uses a common-cathode display, and has indications for 0 (reverse?) through 5, and uses "-" to indicate neutral. The "0" can be changed to some other symbol by changing the connections of a few diodes.

Attached Images

7_seg_gear_ind_comm_cath.GIF (21.4 KB, 62 views)

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Ron

Nigel Goodwin

No problem Ron, it's simply a hardwired ROM, which is what a PIC solution would be simulating.

__________________
PIC programmer software, and PIC Tutorials at:
http://www.winpicprog.co.uk

zx16v

Great, i will give it a try and let u know.

Thank you sir!