Building a Digital Speedo
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MartyBugs Building a Digital Speedo
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This page describes the digital speedometer I built in 1995 for
electronics my Datsun 1200.
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Background Info
electronics info The analog speedo in my 1971 Datsun 1200 was notoriously
unreliable, and the hotter the ambient temperature, the
digital speedo higher it would read!
keyboard status
After scouring the web for digital speedo schematics, I found
LEDs
one, and set about constructing it. After sorting out some
temperature teething issues with the electronics, and redesigning parts of
sensors the circuit, I built a prototype, and installed it in my Datsun.
It functioned perfectly in my Datsun for about 5 years, and
was removed when I sold the Datsun.
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Schematic
The circuit is loosely based on one I found on the web a
number of years ago, although I have made a number of
significant changes to it.
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The schematic for the speedo is shown below.
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Martybugs.net
digital speedo schematic
(click for larger version)
The schematic was originally drawn Circad for DOS. I've since
used the evaluation version of Circad'98 for Windows to
generate a PDF version of it.
The schematic is available for download in the following
formats:
● speedo.sch - Circad 4.0 schematic format (52KB)
● speedo.pdf - PDF format (47KB)
● speedo.png - PNG image format (27KB)
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Building a Digital Speedo
Circuit Description
IC1 (7808 voltage regulator) and associated capacitors and
diodes provides a regulated +8v power rail required by the
rest of the circuit.
Q1 and a resistor network, along with IC4b (one of the hex
schmitt trigger invertors), function as the input circuitry,
driven by the sensor coil. This circuitry and toggles the CLK
input on IC5 (4553 CMOS 3-digit BCD counter).
IC2, a 555 timer configured as an astable multivibrator, and
IC3 (4017 CMOS decade counter) provide the timebase
circuitry to control IC5, the 4553 CMOS 3-digit BCD counter.
VR1 and VR2 allow the frequency of the timebase circuit to be
adjusted, thus allowing the entire circuit to be calibrated.
The outputs of IC3 provide the reset, latch and gating signals
for IC5, the 4553 CMOS 3-digit BCD counter. The first 8
outputs of IC3 (Q0 - Q7) gate the 4553 counter (IC5) for the
first eight clock cycles.
The input circuitry clocks the 4553 counter (IC5), and IC3's
ninth clock pulse (output Q8) stops IC5 from counting by
triggering the latch enable input of IC5, and also transfers the
counter value to the outputs of IC5.
The tenth clock pulse (output Q9) resets IC5, thus starting a
new count sequence.
The 4553 CMOS 3-digit BCD counter (IC5) drives all three 7-
segment displays using a single 4511 seven-segment decoder/
driver (IC6), by multiplexing them (ie, toggling each display
individually via its cathode at a fast rate, so the multiplexing
is not visible to the human eye).
IC5 has three internal BCD counters, and it cycles through
each of these counters, using outputs DS1-3 to turn on each
display, while at the same time, the appropriate digit is
displayed on the corresponding 7-segment display.
D15-19 and IC4f dim the leading digit if it is zero by pulling
the cathode high.
IC4d (one of the hex schmitt trigger invertors) and a few
resistors and diodes provide dimming of the output displays
when the car headlights are turned on. This is achieved by
using an oscillator to drive the blanking input of IC5 with a
lower duty cycle when the headlights are on. This ensures the
speedo display is visible during the day, and isn't too bright at
night.
Component List
Resistors
(all 1/4W 5% unless otherwise specified)
R1 10ohm 1W
R2 5.6kohm
R3 1kohm
R4 56kohm
R5 10kohm
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Building a Digital Speedo
R6 100kohm
R7 47kohm
R8 56kohm
R9 10kohm
R10-11 100kohm
R12 4.7kohm
R13-19 68ohm
R20-22 2.2kohm
VR1 100Kohm variable trimpot
VR2 25Kohm variable trimpot
Capacitors
C1 100uF 25v electrolytic
C2 1000uF 16V
C3 10uF 25v electrolytic
C4-5 0.1uF ceramic
C5 1nF ceramic
C6 10nF ceramic
C7 1uF low leakage RBLL electrolytic
C8-9 10nF ceramic
C10 1nF ceramic
Semiconductors
D1 1N4001 1A diode
D2-D19 1N914 signal diode
ZD1 15V 1W zenor diode
Q1 BC549 NPN transistor
Q2-4 BC559 PNP transistor
IC1 MC7808T 8 volt regulator
IC2 555 timer
IC3 4017 CMOS decade counter
IC4 74C14 hex schmitt trigger invertor
IC5 4553 CMOS 3-digit BCD counter
IC6 4511 seven-segment decoder/driver
Other
3-digit 7-segment display (common cathode)
2 magnets
sensor coil
Construction Details
I constructed a PCB for the power regulation and input
circuitry, and used some lengths of multi-core data cable to
connect to the output display.
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Building a Digital Speedo
the PCB containing input and power circuitry
I never got around to making a PCB for the output circuitry,
so it stayed on a breadboard for 5 years in my car.
The PCB and breadboard are connected via a 7-core data
cable.
the complete circuit, with output circuitry on the breadboard
The bundle of wires exiting the top left of the breadboard go
to the display unit, and the wires exiting the top right of the
PCB provide power and sensor input into the circuit.
The PCB and breadboard were installed under the centre
console in my Datsun, with the output display located in my
line-of-sight, on top of the dash.
Output Display
The output display was constructed using a 4-digit 7-segment
display salvaged from an electronic alarm clock, with 16mm
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Building a Digital Speedo
high digits. Note that any 7-segment displays can be used,
but I chose to use the alarm clock display, as it provided a
single integrated unit for the output display, and I had it in
my junk box already.
speedo display
A small shade visor was constructed out of thin card, and the
inside was painted black. This kept the direct sun off the
display, ensuring the display was legible even in bright
sunlight.
installed on top of the dash
The speedo display is visible in the top right of the above
photo, shown installed on top of the dash in my Datsun 1200.
Sensor
I attached two strong magnets to the tailshaft, just behind
the gearbox. Having the magnet and sensor closer to the rear
of the car could have resulted in an erratic signal pickup, as
there is more up/down movement of the tailshaft relative to
the chassis towards the rear of the car, as a result of the rear
suspension movement.
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Building a Digital Speedo
mounting and location of the sensor coil relative to the
tailshaft
Using just a single magnet would have resulted in an
unbalanced tailshaft, so two magnets were used, located on
oposite sites of the tailshaft.
A coil, sourced from a solenoid from some electro-mechanical
device (I can't recall, but possibly from an electronic
typewriter) was used to create the sensor.
The coil was screwed to a section of aluminium plate, to
provide an easy method for mounting it underneath the car,
and coated with silicone, to provide some protection from
harsh environment underneath a car.
the sensor coil
The aluminium plate was then screwed to the underbody of
my car, with the coil being mounted about 10-15mm away
from the magnets on the tailshaft. If using weaker magnets,
or a smaller coil, you'll need to locate the coil closer to the
tailshaft.
Due to the rotational speed of the tailshaft, the centrifical
forces on the magnets are quite high.
Several methods for attaching the magnets to the tailshaft
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Building a Digital Speedo
were attempted, with most resulting in one or both magnets
coming lose, and being hurled violently against the underside
of the tailshaft tunnel, typically when driving at a reasonable
speed.
Some magnets were gluded to the tailshaft using liquid nails,
but had to be chiselled off, as they weren't powerful enough
to trigger the sensor.
Eventually, I glued some powerful magnets to the tailshaft
using super-strength araldite. I used a metal hose clamp to
hold the magnets in place for a few days while the glue dried.
The hose clamp was then replaced with a few cable ties, as
the metal hose clamp would have affected the operation of
the sensor.
Calibration
The circuit was calibrated by feeding a low voltage 50Hz AC
signal into the sensor input, and then adjusting VR1 and VR2
until the speedo reading was correct.
calibration circuit
To determine the correct speedo reading with an input signal
of 50Hz, you'll need to measure the diameter of one of the
rear wheels, and also determine the diff ratioe.
As two magnets are normally used to provide the input
pulses, resulting in two pulses per rotation, a 50Hz input
signal is equivalent to a 25Hz tailshaft rotation. The desired
output reading can then be calculated, using the rear wheel
diameter, and the diff ratio.
The desired speedo display can be calculated in km/h using as
follows:
(wheel diameter in km) x (tailshaft
speed in km/h =
rotations per hour)
diff ratio
The rolling diameter of the rear tyres on my Datsun 1200
(205/60R14 tyres) was measured as being 1827mm, and the
diff ratio is 3.9.
This results in:
(1827x10-6) x (25Hz x
speed in km/h = = 42.16 km/
3600)
h
3.9
so VR1 and VR2 were adjusted until the speedo output was
42 km/h.
Note that this method assumes the local AC is very close to
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Building a Digital Speedo
50Hz, but small variations from this shouldn't affect the
accuracy of the speedo much at all.
References
● Martin's Datsun 1200
● 4553 3-Digit BCD Counter
● 4511 BCD-to-7 Segment Latch/Decoder
● 4017 Decade Counter
last updated 14 Mar 2006
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