Electronics wiring an analogue VU meter

Discussion in 'Modding' started by sicone, 25 Oct 2004.

  1. sicone

    sicone What's a Dremel?

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    I want to wire the HDD activity to an analogue VU Meter. I have a couple of questions.

    1. Can I wire a 12v/5v line to the +ve and the HDD activity wire to the -ve?
    2. Will I need ny resistors?
    3. What are the other 2 pins for (labelled L and R). Do I need to wire anything to them or can I leave them empty?

    All I know about the meter is that it came from an old Pioneer CT-F7070 tape deck.
     
    sicone, 25 Oct 2004
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  2. theshadow27

    theshadow27 What's a Dremel?

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    not going to work... hdd activity is binary, I.E. on or off. a VU meter mesures an alalouge signal. so there would be no point. the VE is voltage refrence, and the L and R are left and right inputs.
     
    theshadow27, 26 Oct 2004
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  3. sicone

    sicone What's a Dremel?

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    :( thanks for the response.
     
    sicone, 26 Oct 2004
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  4. hmekk

    hmekk What's a Dremel?

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    yes it is going to work .. i have done that .....
    and it really works ....

    [​IMG]

    just use this schematic and it WORKS !!

    :thumb: :hip:
     
    hmekk, 26 Oct 2004
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  5. theshadow27

    theshadow27 What's a Dremel?

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    that will make the meter go all the way on and all the way off. unless thats what you want...
     
    theshadow27, 26 Oct 2004
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  6. hmekk

    hmekk What's a Dremel?

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    no it doesent
    :eyebrow:
     
    hmekk, 26 Oct 2004
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  7. sicone

    sicone What's a Dremel?

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    Thanks Hmekk.

    As long as the needle moves when there is HD activity and goes back to 0 when there isn't I'm happy :) .

    Being a bit of a n00b with electronics (I can cope with "solder the red wire to pin 1") I have to ask a question or 2 about the schematic.

    R1 and R2 are variable resistors, C1 is an Electrolytic Capacitor (rated at 100uF?). What is M1 and +3?
     
    sicone, 26 Oct 2004
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  8. dead_man

    dead_man Confucious say: WTF???

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    just solder some wire from ur VU meter to the HDD led cable this is how me mate set his up no resistors or nething, it goes from off to all the way up like u want. its nothing special
     
    dead_man, 26 Oct 2004
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  9. hmekk

    hmekk What's a Dremel?

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    that rounded thin is ur vu meter
     
    hmekk, 26 Oct 2004
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  10. cpemma

    cpemma Ecky thump

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    He was lucky. A different meter could have ended up with the needle wrapped round its shaft. :nono:

    hmekk's capacitor will smooth out the HDD activity pulses giving a more gradual rise & fall. I'd have thought it needed connecting in parallel with the existing activity led, don't understand the 3V and ground connections. :confused:
     
    cpemma, 26 Oct 2004
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