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DIY LED Tachomter (RPM gauge)

by abo_hosni on August 28, 2010 Table of Contents DIY LED Tachomter (RPM gauge) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Intro: DIY LED Tachomter (RPM gauge) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 1: Building the circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 2: Testing The Circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 3: Mounting to the instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Step 4: Final assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 4 5 7 7 8

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-LED-Tachomter-RPM-gauge/

Intro: DIY LED Tachomter (RPM gauge)

This is my LED project. An LED tachometer for my 1977 PEUGEOT 504.

Image Notes 1. yellow windows cut 2. where I put my project

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-LED-Tachomter-RPM-gauge/

Step 1: Building the circuit

This is the circuit I used in my project. A simple one which costs me about 35 Egyptian Pounds for components (<6 US Dollars) :::::::::::::::::::: List of components: :::::::::::::::::::::::: Integrated Circuits: 1 x LM2917 This is the frequency to voltage converter you need to convert the signal from the car's ignition coil into voltage 2 x LM3914 This is LED display driver. Each one can drive 10LEDs in either bar mode like this project or dot mode. Switching between both modes can be done, more instructions in datasheet. 1 x 7809 Volt regulator (outputs +9 Volts) LEDs: 21 LEDs of any color you want. I used bright white ones. You can use some green, some yellow & some red for the red zone. You MUST use bright ones if you are planning to put paper covers over the LEDs or they are going to be simply invisible The first LED is continously lit as long as the +12V source is connected. The remaining 20 will be lit one by one as you increase the engine speed Diodes: 1 x 1N4007 1 x 1N4148 1 x Zener diode 12 Volts Resistors: 1 x 220 Kohm Trimpot variable resistor (for calibration) 2 x 1 Kohm 3 x 10 Kohm 1 x 22 Kohm 1 x 2.2 Kohm 1 x 470 ohm (I forgot I have one :) So, I connected two 1Kohm in parallel, see photos) Electrolytic Capacitors: 1 x 470 Farad 25 Volts ( = micro) 1 x 2.2 F 16 Volts Polypropylene Capacitors: 3 x 100 nF (nano) 1 x 47 nF 1 x 1 F (Instead,I used 8 x 100nF in parallel = 0.8 F :$ & it works) :::::::::::::::::: List of other things you need: :::::::::::::::::::::::: Soldering equipment Digital multimeter Circuit board Wires Aluminium heatsink A lot of patience

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-LED-Tachomter-RPM-gauge/

Step 2: Testing The Circuit

This is the circuit I've built. Tested on my car Connections as follows: 1- Power: red wire to car battery +12 volts. Later on, I connected it to the 12V accessory line in the fuse box. This line functions only when you turn the car key on. 2- Ground: blue wire to car chassis (any metallic part of the car body) 3- Signal: white wire to -ve terminal of the Ignition coil . Refer to your car manual in case you cannot identify the ignition coil, it may vary in shape from car to another. Be careful not to manipulate connections related to ignition coil especially when the engine is running. The function of this coil is to generate high voltage (30-50 Kilo Volts) & you are not supposed to recieve such sparks by mistake. It's better to wear gloves & remove the key from the car to be safe while making your connections. This video is before calibration. I've made a visit to a friend of mine whose car with RPM gauge where I made my calibration Calibration was made later on my friends car with RPM gauge. I made the calibration through the 220kohm trimpot resistor so that every 3 LEDs = 1000 RPM

Image Notes 1. 8x100nF pol. capacitors in parallel (I didn't buy 1micro farad cap.) 2. Trimpot variable resistance for calibration

Image Notes 1. Aluminium heat sink I'm going to cut & attach to the 7805 volt regulator

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-LED-Tachomter-RPM-gauge/

Image Notes 1. The backside of the circuit board

Step 3: Mounting to the instrument cluster

First I needed to provide a place to put my project in. The best one was the old -& non working- clock of my car. I simply removed it to find plenty of room for my circuit. I cut my board to fit well, making a secondary circuit board for the 20 LEDs. I modified a simple RPM gauge design to print on a photo paper. I made 2 prints above each other, so that not so much backlight will pass through. I used a scalpel to cut the yellow "windows" in front of my LEDs from the first paper only, keeping the second one intact.

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-LED-Tachomter-RPM-gauge/

Image Notes 1. yellow windows cut 2. where I put my project

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-LED-Tachomter-RPM-gauge/

Step 4: Final assembly

Related Instructables

DIY LED Tachometer (video) by abo_hosni

Digital speedometer, tachometer & engine temperature display (video) by abo_hosni

DIY LED RPM gauge (video) by abo_hosni

Arduino-Based Optical Tachometer by CMPalmer

Digital multimeter for your car by abo_hosni

Using renewable energy to assist vehicle engine by ajparag

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-LED-Tachomter-RPM-gauge/

Comments
50 comments Add Comment view all 53 comments
Feb 25, 2011. 7:04 AM REPLY

roninak says:
Hello great project! I wanted to know if the trimpot have to be 220k or a 200k trimpot is good to?

jjmaia says:
Hello; Do you think this will work between 0 and 10000 pm? Thank you.

Feb 22, 2011. 7:50 AM REPLY

joshiers8605 says:
I would buy one of these if i could, lol, not sure if I have what it takes to build that circuit

Feb 13, 2011. 4:12 AM REPLY

georulz says:
Hi! Does it work on an engine with 3 cylinders ? What are the steps of calibration if my car doesn't have any tachometer? Thank you.

Feb 5, 2011. 3:45 AM REPLY

abo_hosni says:
Yes it works. You can simulate ignition coil signal using this circuit http://img585.imageshack.us/img585/7074/schematic211.jpg

Feb 5, 2011. 12:50 PM REPLY

dikhan says:

Feb 4, 2011. 10:15 AM REPLY Dear what is the name of this font used in picture and size of the circle. can u send this file at my email theawanguy@hotmail.com?

abo_hosni says:
This is the font with original images I first got http://ifile.it/3baz9sd font file name: "NIAMEY__.TTF"

Feb 5, 2011. 12:49 PM REPLY

matejj says:

Nov 18, 2010. 6:54 AM REPLY Hi ah2002, I have a question about the capacitors. It seems the circuit contains some capacitors of very very high value. for example the 470mF, 2.2mF & 1mF. I have never seen capacitors of such high value. Can you confirm this is not an error please? Or did you rather mean 470nF or 470uF?

abo_hosni says:
Sorry for the picture. 470mF = 470 Micro Farad the same goes for the 2.2mF & 1mF Everything is clear in the parts list, though

Nov 18, 2010. 9:05 AM REPLY

SandLizard says:
You can get the symbol by holding Alt and typing 230 (Alt+230). Just in case anybody wants to know.

Jan 21, 2011. 5:32 PM REPLY

matejj says:
thanks. that makes more sense. :D here in canada we represent micro with u. m is for mili.

Nov 18, 2010. 10:36 AM REPLY

matejj says:
The display part of the schematic works great, here's a video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmYzKgwNOxk

Nov 18, 2010. 12:45 PM REPLY

However I'm testing the LM2917 part of the circuit with a waveform generator and can not get it to produce a different output voltage depending on the input frequency. Do you know what kind of signal your car ignition produces? After looking at the datasheet, I have been trying with a input signal of 200mV and 100mHz to 1kHz with no results.

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-LED-Tachomter-RPM-gauge/

abo_hosni says:
You can use this simple circuit as a pulse generator, similar to that of ignition coil http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/6330/testub.jpg get the signal from pin No.3 ============ or use variable reluctance magnetic pick up sensor (those of automotive ABS)

Nov 19, 2010. 5:04 AM REPLY

ahonda55 says:
Great, but the Arabic letters does not appear as you see !!

Nov 18, 2010. 12:06 PM REPLY

abo_hosni says:
No problem. I'm currently finishing a seven segment multimeter project. I'll add more details about the photo paper

Nov 19, 2010. 4:58 AM REPLY

ahonda55 says:
Very good, but what about the black plastic printings, details please.

Nov 14, 2010. 4:45 PM REPLY

abo_hosni says:
No plastic printings. These are regular photo prints (two over each other).

Nov 18, 2010. 9:08 AM REPLY

????????? ?????? ?? ??????? ????? ???? ???? ???? ??? ??? ???????? ??? ? ?????? ???? ?????? ??????? ?? ??? ???? ??? ????? ??? ??? ??? ???????? Arabic typing for the Egyptian ahonda55 :)

thebanano says:
nice work!!!! great!! i want to know, if it can be apply to a motorcycle speedometer? sorry for my english...

Nov 7, 2010. 9:39 AM REPLY

SandLizard says:

Nov 7, 2010. 6:04 PM REPLY You should be able to use this for a motorcycle. I plan on making a speedometer/tachometer for my motorcycle. Money for parts is my problem so I don't know how long it will be. I am going to use this instructable to do it. If I must make any modifications I will make an instructable on it, referencing this one. If someone else doesn't do it first since it may be a while until I can do it.

SandLizard says:

Oct 13, 2010. 11:10 PM REPLY How did you determine the value of the components? I would like to make a tachometer, speedometer like this. But do not know how to determine the values of the components for a speedometer. Great instructable.

abo_hosni says:

Oct 30, 2010. 1:02 AM REPLY Values are written on most components. But resistor have their own system where colors indicate the value. Google for "resistor color codes" I'm making a LED speedometer right now. It has 30 LEDs ;)

SandLizard says:

Nov 1, 2010. 7:50 PM REPLY Sorry, I meant to ask how you determined which value components to use. I am assuming the speedo signal from the sensor is a slower frequency than the tach so would require different value components?

abo_hosni says:

Nov 4, 2010. 10:53 AM REPLY I've just finished the speedometer :D First, I used the same schematic/components for speedometer. It works when using a stepper motor as a sensor. I found some difficulties with calibration, either the LM2917 can't get (or the sensor can't produce) good signal at high speed But, I found that the sensor (stepper motor) I used produces linear increase in voltage as I increase the car speed. So, no need for LM2917 (frequency to voltage converter). Then, I connected the signal direcly to the LM3914s. Assuming it's a LED voltmeter I'll post the instructable for the speedometer soon

SandLizard says:
Thank you.

Nov 7, 2010. 5:58 PM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-LED-Tachomter-RPM-gauge/

vtec-nology says:
AWESOME build guy, tell me, my cars revs to 9000rpm, is there a bigger integrated circuit?

Oct 8, 2010. 7:43 AM REPLY

abo_hosni says:
you can extend the scale using a third LM3914 to have 30 LEDs

Oct 8, 2010. 3:32 PM REPLY

jjmaia says:
Hi there. First things first, i want to give my compliments to you, excellent work!

Nov 2, 2010. 6:06 PM REPLY

Now, i need your help. I want to add a 3rd LM3914 (arround 10k rpm), but i don't know if the connections are the same. Because, on the 1st one, the n 2,4,8 are connected to the ground, but on the 2nd only n 2 is connected to the ground, the 4,8 are connected to a Resistor then to the ground. Thank you.

abo_hosni says:
For the 3rd LM3914 2 ------> ground 4,8 ----> 6,7 of the 2nd LM3914 6,7 -----> 4.4Kohm resistor (I used 2x 2.2 in series) ---->ground 3,9 -----> 9 Volts (with 3,9 of other LM3914s) 5 -----> signal (with 5 of other LM3914s)

Nov 4, 2010. 11:00 AM REPLY

jjmaia says:
Thanks for your help, but i've got another question. How about the LED voltage? Will it be safe? i want to use green, yellow and Red LED's.

Nov 6, 2010. 4:51 PM REPLY

One more question, the "1 x 220 Kohm Trimpot variable resistor (for calibration)", is this it? http://cgi.ebay.com/6-pcs-220k-ohm-Trimmer-Pot-top-adjust-4B7-/360295889369?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53e34ef9d9 And how do i connect it, only 2 or 3 connections? Thank you.

abo_hosni says:
LM3914 adjust LED current automatically, don't worry. Yes, this is the 220K potentiometer, use 2 connections only (the right one + one of the left ones in picture)

Nov 6, 2010. 6:27 PM REPLY

jjmaia says:
Thank you for your help.

Nov 7, 2010. 4:59 AM REPLY

mellink says:

Oct 27, 2010. 9:13 AM REPLY Hi, can i get the electrical plan in a higher quality im trying to read it and struggling. Really want to do this mod! What is the XXX7809? Thanks :-) message me or maybe you could post up a link ?

abo_hosni says:
Sure! Click on the " i " box above the image then download the original file. 7809 is a volt regulator whose output is +9 Volts

Oct 30, 2010. 1:00 AM REPLY

mellink says:
Thanks! Never seen that before :-)

Oct 30, 2010. 9:31 AM REPLY

tsuwah says:
can you wire this up to the speedo, water temp or fuel gauge? i imagined a Vader style gauge

Oct 7, 2010. 6:49 AM REPLY

abo_hosni says:
knight raider style :) , I'm planning to make one for the speedo when I have time. Other gauges would be easier for sure

Oct 8, 2010. 3:33 PM REPLY

keiou says:
nice! good job. :)

Sep 26, 2010. 10:03 AM REPLY

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-LED-Tachomter-RPM-gauge/

agis68 says:
brilliant project...5/5

Sep 19, 2010. 7:23 AM REPLY

nickstewartroc says:
Would the circuit diagram and circuit change if used for an inline 6?

Sep 12, 2010. 7:45 PM REPLY

abo_hosni says:
No, only calibration (adjusting the trimpot variable resistance) will differ

Sep 13, 2010. 7:19 AM REPLY

nickstewartroc says:
Ahh ok i see now, thanks!

Sep 13, 2010. 6:00 PM REPLY

verdastel says:
Outstanding instructables. You can get money from this project.

Sep 8, 2010. 3:13 AM REPLY

abo_hosni says:

Sep 6, 2010. 7:42 PM REPLY I want to make a LED bar speedometer, too. I wonder what type of sensors to be used, magnetic or optical one? I will attatch the sensor to the speed wire I have Then I need a schematic for 30 LEDs. can any one help? Aug 28, 2010. 7:36 PM REPLY . Great project. . Nice pictures. Thanks for knowing how to focus ;) . I would like the ability to dim the LEDs added to the circuit. A rheostat in the top line of your schematic might be all it takes. . I suppose anyone who could build this project can figure out where -ve is and that an ignition coil can kill you, but some generic hints would look nice in your instructions along with a warning about the HV side. . Keep up the good work. Do you have any plans for making iBles for other gauges?

NachoMahma says:

frollard says:

Aug 29, 2010. 8:29 AM REPLY How and where exactly to hook the zenzer to the ignition can be tough to figure out -- I thought it'd be good to make a magnetic/vampiric tap that just wraps around the ignition line and then boosts the EM signal so you don't have to actually touch the hv lines. The 3914 datasheet shows 'Output current programmable from 2 mA to 30 mA' **exerpt** "CURRENT PROGRAMMING A feature not completely illustrated by the block diagram is the LED brightness control. The current drawn out of the reference voltage pin (pin 7) determines LED current. Approximately 10 times this current will be drawn through each lighted LED, and this current will be relatively constant despite supply voltage and temperature changes. Current drawn by the internal 10resistor divider, as well as by the external current and voltage-setting divider should be included in calculating LED drive current. The ability to modulate LED brightness with time, or in proportion to input voltage and other signals can lead to a number of novel displays or ways of indicating input overvoltages, alarms, etc."

frollard says:
To be specific -- whatever resistor you put on pin 7 will act as a virtual resistor on the led pins.

Aug 29, 2010. 8:53 AM REPLY

frollard says:

Aug 28, 2010. 3:17 PM REPLY That is a really cool project! I could look it up -- but perhaps a description of how the circuit functions would be helpful -- My guess is the 3914's are cascaded vu analog meters, and the 2917 is a frequency counter?

abo_hosni says:

Aug 28, 2010. 3:29 PM REPLY 2917 is a frequency to voltage converter. 3914's are LED dot/bar display drivers. But you can't expect a more sophisticated description of the circuit from me, in fact I'm a surgeon with special interest in DIY projects, electronics etc... :)

kelseymh says:

Aug 28, 2010. 3:49 PM REPLY Definitely, please put that information (maybe a little bit more) into your Step 1. It will really help people who are not familiar with this stuff to learn something. This is an outstanding little project, and deserves good exposure and use! P.S. So when are we going to get an I'ble on DIY resection? ;->

abo_hosni says:
Done, is that enough to help? (about the DIY resection, I may make one instructable for it :D )

Aug 28, 2010. 5:01 PM REPLY

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http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-LED-Tachomter-RPM-gauge/