Any Volt-Watch Plans?

[Dennis157]

Ive seen a diagram for a RX voltage
monitor using a LM3914 IC. But
when I need it I cant find it.
Anybody gotta link? Surely
would be grateful! thanks

[Daniel7866]

Ive seen a diagram for a RX voltage
monitor using a LM3914 IC. But
when I need it I cant find it.
Anybody gotta link? Surely
would be grateful! thanks

It's a old IC. Over 20 years??
You can yet buy them from www.farnell.com (and certainly from other places) but quite expensive now for the job.

Daniel

[JimDrew]

Digikey:

http://www.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?Ref=27279&Row=467948&Site=US

Jameco:

http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=24230


Mouser:

http://www.mouser.com/search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=NTE1508virtualkey52600000

[Chippie]

Brent's Hotchecker is the one you want..........

http://www.cliftech.com/

I've built many for clubmates.

[beefcake]

Isn't it hard to build this with the hobbico voltwatch selling for $10?

does anyone have the PCBs available in quantity for cheap? I would like to build a few if total cost can be $5 or less.


Thanks
-CaKe

[Dennis157]

I like to tinker around. I would like to
make a few with only 3 leds, red , yel,
& grn. Id think they could be built for $5
or so. The chip is less than $3. I dont need
a foil PCB, Ill hard wire it. Isnt voltwatch
more like $13-14?

[Soarmax]

Here's the best price I've found on the LM3914

http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/item/LM3914/search/BARGRAPH_DISPLAY_DRIVER_.html

[Dennis157]

Yes, best price I've seen . Thanks!!

[beefcake]

I like to tinker around. I would like to
make a few with only 3 leds, red , yel,
& grn. Id think they could be built for $5
or so. The chip is less than $3. I dont need
a foil PCB, Ill hard wire it. Isnt voltwatch
more like $13-14?
No, I paid 9.95 at the LHS for 1, Lookin on epays, you can get 3 for 24 shipped. http://cgi.ebay.com/3-PACK-Volt-Watch-Battery-Monitor-FUTABA-JR-HITEC-GWS_W0QQitemZ270026045459QQihZ017QQcategoryZ48618Q QrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

item 270026045459 just in case the link no worky.

[Dennis157]

e-bay looks like the place,
Thanks for the link!!

[kit]

http://www.uoguelph.ca/~antoon/gadgets/gadgets.htm

http://www.uoguelph.ca/~antoon/gadgets/rx-volt.htm

[Dennis157]

great , thanks kit

[zagisrule!]

This could all be done with an LM324 if all you need is 3 or 4 LED's.

Cheaper than that chip at only $.10



-Matt

[Wayne V]

I used to have something like this in my car that used some zener diodes and 3 leds ( green,yellow,red) to tell me how long i could crank my stereo before killing the battery. I really can't remember the circuit but i think the zener diodes allowed the leds to come on at the "V" value for them.

[Wayne V]

Here's a link i found to something similar as i mentioned above
http://www.ef-uk.net/data/monitor.htm

[Dennis157]

Wayne V, I like your version the best so far.
Low componet count!!

[Wayne V]

Hey i'm not going to take credit for that version, like i said i remember in college building a 3 led volt meter for my car with zener diodes and hey a little surfing on the web and i found that one that looked like the one i built 20 years ago. I haven't built that one myself, i spent the $10.99 and bought the Voltwatch2 from Hobbico.

[kfong]

I built one, even made a bunch of boards. I don't need the extra boards from the run so I can sell the blank boards for $2 if you send a self addressed stamped envelope to:

Kin Fong
2517 Cobden Dr.
Sterling Heights, Mi. 48310

Add a $1 more if you want me to do the shipping. Make checks out to Kin Fong.
my paypal account. kinf@embeddedtronics.com

Note: the leds are SMT so they are very small. You should be comfortable soldering something this small before you attempt builiding it.