The Rev-lite sequential shift light is looking really nice to me. but i know its just a couple leds and a microchip, really hard to justify $99 pricetag. so any electrical engineers happen to know which microchip might work for similar results to the rev-lite kit?

 

I've been thinking about making something like this with radio shack parts whenever i get a camera mount in the car. The way i envisioned it was you'd have 4-5 green lights for throttle (say, 50%-100%) based on TPS voltage, and one light that displays brake. Mount it on the dash for camera review (so i can hear the heckling of "you ***** you lifted!")

 

Its a shift lite, not a throttle position indicator.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by phat-S &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Its a shift lite, not a throttle position indicator.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Wouldnt a multi-light shift light do the same thing?

 

I saw this setup that was designed by an electrical engineer from Georgia in a late eighties model 911 at a PCA event last July. He had a sequence of lights on his dash that displayed throttle position and braking. Afterwards he would just review his video and look at the LEDs. Pretty cool idea IMO and not that hard to make.

 

Throttle position and rpm are independent. You can go up turn 1 at RA at WOT and the rpms stay the same. Assuming for a CRX @ redline of 7200, If the shift lights engage 1000 rpm before redline, you wouldn't get a single light (at least I wouldn't). I'd also suspect that going around the banking at LMS at WOT, your revs would drop (there are probably a lot more examples as such). There is already software for what you are talking about by FLX racing which ties directly into a camcorder (you might also hit up Scott J. here - sjasmund - as I'd think he has something similar). I'd go that direction since I, as the driver, wouldn't care in real-time what the lights say about my brakes and gas.

 

I think what RJ was saying is that the design would be the same for a TPS position led array(not to be comfused with a TPS Report ) and a RPM dependent led array. They both take a voltage going into the ECU that varied over some given range and segregates that voltage in several bands, which are assigned to a particular LED.

 

I am not sure what that alone would tell you.

 

I have that shift light... it's really a good design. I would love to have one similar to the S2000 Tach that goes across the gauge cluster.

I've opened up this unit, it's not too complex. If I had a good quality scanner or camera, I can possible scan the board for you guys so it can be emulated. Let me know!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by NB &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">(not to be comfused with a TPS Report ) </TD></TR></TABLE>

didn't u get that memo?

 

We use the OMEX seq. shift light in our Civic race car. Can be purchased at: http://www.primmracing.com

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by .RJ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've been thinking about making something like this with radio shack parts whenever i get a camera mount in the car. The way i envisioned it was you'd have 4-5 green lights for throttle (say, 50%-100%) based on TPS voltage, and one light that displays brake. Mount it on the dash for camera review (so i can hear the heckling of "you ***** you lifted!")</TD></TR></TABLE>


http://www.venom-performance.c...l.htm

 

OK, I gotta step in now...I am the US importer for the Rev-Lite Sequential shift light. My partner and I got into this because we too looked for affordable sequential shift lights. Adam (Phat-S) is right that the system does not need a TPS at all. The electronics in this device are not expensive, nor would it be that difficult to reverse engineer. In addition to the electronics there is the housing. The housings on these units are just injection molded plastic, but are designed specifically for this application. The details like the small hood over the lights, or the depth they are recessed have all been considered and tested.

The features RJ is talking about are IMO a semi-logical step into displayed data acquisition. This feature is available on another model called the DKS (which is more then $99). This type of information is normally collected through a data aq. system which can cost thousands.

As far as straight sequential shift lights, is mine high at $99? The SPA sequential shift lights are $225. The OMX is $110. The DKS is $125 plus add-ons

My point is that this thread is racer mentality to the extreme (which I too have been guilty of )..."wow cool product, I'm sure I could make it cheaper." And guess what, if you spend enough time you probably can! That said these units are commercially developed, readily available, backed by a reputable supplier, and priced accordingly. You get what you pay for...as usual.

If $99 is really stretching your budget call me and I'll give you a H-T discount...

 

I think the people talking about the progressive throttle or brake metter realize that it's useless in real time. But it would a great addition to in-car video footage. I've allways wondered about a similar rigged setup when watching in-car video of myself or others. Without the ability to tell throttle level or brake force level, in-car videos are only usefull for reviewing the line and the fun factor but not much else...

 

without an additional reference point (rpm, lateral g's), its pretty useless on tape as well. You can tell alot from tape irrespective of where your feet are, a stop watch and track reference markers are pretty decent for segment times. Its not perfect but its useful. If you are inconsistent exiting turn x, turn x+1's WOTness is pretty much not going to tell you much in a vacuum. That's just my opinion.

The rev lite above would be useful in real-time or on tape however if you don't want to use an oversized tach in the middle of your dash. Would think the lights would be much more distinct on tape than a tach. I've tried getting rpms at certain points on track and w/ glare and such on the tach, its not always possible.

 

Hey is your shop located in Boca Raton? Glad to see an HT member from Boca Raton. I was thinking about getting that rev-lite, but decided im gonna go with an Si/EX cluster with a Tach.

 

yea, we're near Glades and BR Blvd...I've got the SPA tachs too w/ the shift lights built-in...give me a call sometime

 

aaron i appreciate the response. i considered all that you mentioned before i posted this question and at least we both agree that its a fairly inexpensive in parts, but the product in whole is what you buy. but i still cant help feeling theres some off the shelf microchips in there that could be setup and even further customized to a car. anyway, worth a shot in asking, hey, at least this thread gave the product some more exposure!

the reason i like this shift light indicator is that its much more useful than a bigass light cannon that autometer piggy backs. and as long as my electronics are square, my stock tach may not be accurate, but at least its consistent. so all i really do need is a sequential shift light.

RJ, ive been thinking what youve already had in mind for a whole now in terms of playback video data acq, i just havent put it practice. i didnt think about using the TPS, but for brake at least you just easily rig up a pot to the pedal (thought of an electric inline brake pressure sensor, but thats just an exta failure mode...) actually ive gone a step further than video acq, but ill keep it my little secret...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">RJ, ive been thinking what youve already had in mind for a whole now in terms of playback video data acq, i just havent put it practice. i didnt think about using the TPS, but for brake at least you just easily rig up a pot to the pedal (thought of an electric inline brake pressure sensor, but thats just an exta failure mode...) actually ive gone a step further than video acq, but ill keep it my little secret... </TD></TR></TABLE>

Use whatever is triggering the brake lights. KISS.

 

nah, i want to know how deep the brakes are pushed, not just whether the brake lights are on. with trailbraking and lfb, itll be too much guess work what someone is doing.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by amweiss &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">yea, we're near Glades and BR Blvd...I've got the SPA tachs too w/ the shift lights built-in...give me a call sometime</TD></TR></TABLE>

I wouldnt mind stopping by and seeing the trackcar thats on your site. Is that Boca Raton Blvd? I'm two seconds from Glades and Federal.

 

this is a decent looking shift light. does anyone have the install instructions? and what are the other parts of this thing? like is there a big sender box or something other than what is pictured?

 

http://www.defi-shop.com/produ...p.htm




Defi VSD-II unit.

 

JohnX,
Check your IM for more info, but for the forum's sake, no all electronics are contained in the dash unit....

As for the defi pictured above, I've got one. It is very cool as a HUD for MPH but as a tach it is not quick enough, part. during decel....

 

Well, I'm not very good at electronics, but I'm really into it all anyways.

Here's my take on it:

a simple throttle position meter would be easy enough; you would simply run the voltage through a LED-bar driver IC and run it to some LED's. Exact same way an a/f gauge works.

The tachometer gets its signal from the coil, which is a series of pulses which must be read. In order to translate this out to a readable signal, you must either find some sort of decoder/counter chip, or possibly do somethin like run the wire to a capacitor w/ an inline resistor, and draw the voltage comin off the cap. Since the pulses will be getting faster w/ the revs, the voltage SHOULD rise on the cap, which you can use the resistor to tune the voltage to what you need.

Just throwin some ideas out there....