Heads up RPM display

Wraith · Post by **Wraith** » Fri Jun 24, 2005 11:51 pm

Hi All.. have just taken out my instrument cluster to upgrade the lights to Neon's and it got me thinking.. there is just a current going to the dials... is there someway that we can harness that current and convert it to create a form of (lets say) 3 lights that light up as you get closer to redline. I'm thinking F1 style rev lights. I'm assuming that the current increases in proportion to rpm to drive the needle.. surley it's just a matter of taking the current line from the RPM guage and then getting the voltage right for the approach to redline? Voltmeter the current flowing through the lines then when it gets to the right amount will light up a series of led lights on top of the instrument cluster glare shield?
it wouldn't be hard to grab the power lines off the rpm gauge and piggy back them to something else?
Has anyone thought about this before or tried anything similiar?
Would be cool to have 2 orange lights (say at 6 & 7000rpm and then a red one as you hit 8000rpm.) without going one of those horrible orange lights with the commondoor rpm gauges.
Anyway... just thinking outloud.

I'll ask about a full on heads up display next time

cheers and drive carfully

alku83 · Post by **alku83** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 12:04 pm

I've thought about this idea before...but don't have the knowledge to do it. I first saw the idea on the show Top Gear.

scarecrow · Post by **scarecrow** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 12:15 pm

It can be done but unless you have a very sound knowledge of electronics you'll probably find yourself in to deep.

Here you can buy a DIY kit for $35, you only need to know how to solder. You can easily replace the lamps with LED's of your chosen colour.
http://www1.jaycar.com.au/productView.a ... &SUBCATID=

This guy made his own, and I must say it looks awesome, cost about $20 but it isn't the simplest thing. You need to register to see this forum, it does have a very knowledgable motoring forum though.
http://forums.overclockers.com.au/showt ... hift+light

This guy is selling something very similar to the above, albiet for $172-$188 including shipping.
http://www.cr-x.org/cbr250/forum/topic. ... C_ID=19738

Dr_Jones · Post by **Dr_Jones** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 1:05 pm

I saw a steering wheel about a year ago that had a shift light array just like the F1, lit up it stages horizontally. Not sure what brand but could be something to look for.

Slither · Post by **Slither** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 5:53 pm

I'm pretty sure Isotta make them, check their website.

Post by **Supplanter** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 12:44 pm

Defi make a head up display that shows RPM as a gauge at the top, it also has 2 LEDs (green and red) that can be used as shift lights... it even beeps at you to tell you to change gears

http://perfectrun.com.au/real_size_imag ... oncept.htm

Wraith · Post by **Wraith** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 1:31 am

The guy that's selling them for $170 would be the sort of thing I"m after...
although not at that price. lol and reading the overclockers sight it all looks too complicated for my meagre knowledge of electronics.
Theres' also no instructions other than the circuit board...
The Heads up display is AWSOME!!!! but at $800 I think I'll leave it for later.
Oh well back to the drawing board...

Might look at buying the expensive one at a later date unless someone can make one here?

kid_dynamite · Post by **kid_dynamite** » Tue Jun 28, 2005 11:45 pm

You can buy a Pivot 3 stage sequential shift light for about $200 or so. Just plugs into your ciggie lighter (or RPM wire if you want) and you can set each light to come on individually.