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Thread: Analog Volmeters

  1. #1
    HEXUS webmaster Steve's Avatar
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    Analog Volmeters

    Hi guys,

    I'm going a bit retro with this particular mod. I wanna stick a couple of small analog voltmeters in a 5.25" bezel, one monitoring 12V and the other 5V.

    Small rectangular ones would be preferred, but small circular ones would also suffice, providing of course that they will fit. That's the problem - finding small enough voltmeters. I've found some (or rather Howard found me some) that would just about do, but a minimum order of 10 was required, and I don't fancy spending £170 on voltmeters!

    Your help is much appreciated,
    Kez.
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    Senior Member SilentDeath's Avatar
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    these might help..

    However I think a digital one with 7seg leds would look better

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    HEXUS webmaster Steve's Avatar
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    Cheers mate I'll have a look around.

    I still want analog though, I need retro, but 7-seg is just too 70's
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    Hmm I was surveying lots of analog voltmeters and ammeters the other day.

    Thing is they were massive bronze jobs from a 1912 switch board in a small hydro station . Nice though.


    Did you think of small analog multimeter dials? (See the one on Maplin - search for "analog" comes up first on list - for £9.99 or Farnell have some). They dont usually look good but could be modded. Otherwise battery testers for car batteries etc might do.

    RS components have these



    and others like it but I think these are the smallest at 48x48mm. Unfortunatly still a little bigger than the height of a standard bay. Problem is they are around £30 a piece .

    The other option is to make them . It isnt actually that difficult. I remember making one in school for an engineering project. Quite accurate too once you calibrate it with a multimeter .
    Last edited by turkster; 12-09-2004 at 06:00 PM.

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    HEXUS webmaster Steve's Avatar
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    Found these:



    They are 44.45mm high, but that doesn't matter as that's the whole unit, not just the display, which is 22.86mm high.

    They do one with a 8/16V DC scale. I'm trying to get a price...
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    Banned Shogun's Avatar
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    Also kez you can stick in a different resistor and print out a new backing to it. That way you can have a 5v one and a 12v one

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    HEXUS webmaster Steve's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Shogun
    Also kez you can stick in a different resistor and print out a new backing to it. That way you can have a 5v one and a 12v one
    I could, but the way I see it that scale is perfect for overvoltage etc.
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    Spodes Henchman unrealrocks's Avatar
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    How bout going down the tip or looking on eBay for some old equipment that has them in, and rip them out

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    HEXUS webmaster Steve's Avatar
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    I am contemplating that, hehe.
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    Drop it like it's hot Howard's Avatar
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    I have a few old amps with wattage VU meters but I guess they're pretty useless
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    HEXUS webmaster Steve's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Howard
    I have a few old amps with wattage VU meters but I guess they're pretty useless
    They can be modded into voltmeters without too much hassle.
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    I was just thinking that a potential problem with modding them is that they might not be very accurate.

    The actual voltage range you need to be able to measure is only +-10 of 5 volts and +-20% of 12 volts (isnt that the maximum variation alowable in the rails?). So if you want them to be any practical use in measuring your voltages they need to be fairly accurate.

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    HEXUS webmaster Steve's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by turkster
    I was just thinking that a potential problem with modding them is that they might not be very accurate.

    The actual voltage range you need to be able to measure is only +-10 of 5 volts and +-20% of 12 volts (isnt that the maximum variation alowable in the rails?). So if you want them to be any practical use in measuring your voltages they need to be fairly accurate.
    5% tolerance on 5V, 10% on 12V.

    They're mainly for coolness and a general idea of the voltage. MBM5 (or an alternative now that's discontinued) will be used for something more accurate if need be.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Kez
    5% tolerance on 5V, 10% on 12V.
    me runs to get new PSU

    I think those RS components ones that I posted are rated for 3% accuracy. So they would actually be some use.

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