[DeTomaso] Fuel Gage Linearizer
Edward A. Nauman
enauman at roadrunner.com
Sun Nov 2 11:46:49 EST 2008
There are several more in the Design News magazine "gadget freak" archives.
My Computer controlled, fully instrumented, oxygen-propane cannon is going
to the University of Mississippi early next year. Their physical acoustics
laboratory wants it for a naval research contract investigating acoustic
wave propagation. For real... www.designnews.com
Cheers,
F.E.
Edward A. Nauman\
C.E.O.
Smart Litez Inc
Palmdale, CA. 93551
(661) 305-7636
> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Taphorn [mailto:jtaphorn at kingwoodcable.com]
> Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2008 7:12 AM
> To: Edward A. Nauman; 'Email Forum Pantera'
> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Fuel Gage Linearizer
>
> Dang it, Ed
>
> I just watched your video on YouTube. I appreciate your commitment to
> optimizing bizarre devices. You are unique!
>
> Very cool
>
> JT
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Edward A. Nauman" <enauman at roadrunner.com>
> To: "'John Taphorn'" <jtaphorn at kingwoodcable.com>; "'Email Forum
> Pantera'"
> <detomaso at realbig.com>
> Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2008 8:05 AM
> Subject: RE: [DeTomaso] Fuel Gage Linearizer
>
>
> > Thanks for the info. I don't want to give the impression that I'm
> trying
> > to
> > market the device. I just wanted to make it available to the guys if
> they
> > were interested. Regarding Thomas' device, it sounds like the same
> > principal only the EEPROM is built into the microcontroller in my
> case.
> > The
> > box I built will work with any combination of sender/gage in the
> > automotive
> > industry. It wouldn't take very much additional programming to make
> user
> > calibration possible. It has an RS232 port built in and the PIC is
> an "in
> > circuit" programmable device. Like everything I design for myself,
> it's
> > over engineered so it would be expensive to market it with the intent
> of
> > making money. Besides I like production manufacturing about as much
> as I
> > like root canals... :) Here is a link to another design that I did
> for
> > fun
> > that would never make it to the merchandise shelves.
> >
> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtlN_9sXn3c
> >
> > Cheers
> >
> > Fast Eddie
> >
> > Edward A. Nauman\
> > C.E.O.
> > Smart Litez Inc
> >
> > Palmdale, CA. 93551
> > (661) 305-7636
> >
> >
> >
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: John Taphorn [mailto:jtaphorn at kingwoodcable.com]
> >> Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2008 5:43 AM
> >> To: Edward A. Nauman; Email Forum Pantera
> >> Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Fuel Gage Linearizer
> >>
> >> Ed
> >>
> >> Several years back, Thomas Tornblom offered his electrical
> engineering
> >> expertise to the group with an alternative solution he called his
> Gauge
> >> Corrector.
> >>
> >> It is an adjustable eeprom to match the sender to any gauge. If I
> >> recall
> >> correctly, the eeprom can store 10 data points. Thus, I was able to
> >> adjust
> >> my fuel gauge to read accurately at 1/8th intervals by filling the
> tank
> >> 2.65
> >> gals at a time and storing the value. Of course, it assumes that
> the
> >> quantity of fuel used between those data points is linear for a
> given
> >> drop
> >> in the float arm. However, accuracy at 1/8th intervals is close
> enough
> >> for
> >> me. Obviously, if you are using a data point for every gallon
> verses
> >> 2.65
> >> gals, your approach will be more accurate between my 1/8th data
> points.
> >>
> >> Although a benefit of Tom's eeprom approach is that I was able to
> >> calibrate
> >> it myself and could easily perform the operation again should I
> change
> >> my
> >> gauges to a set with a different impedance. I.E. I am currently
> using
> >> it on
> >> my Auto Meter, but could have used it on my Veglia initially.
> >>
> >> I don't know if Thomas is still offering the product. It was very
> >> inexpensive and has the JT Seal of Approval.
> >>
> >> I am not trying to discourage your idea or willingness to help,
> simply
> >> illuminating the possibilities and the contributions of others.
> >>
> >> JT
> >>
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "Edward A. Nauman" <enauman at roadrunner.com>
> >> To: "Email Forum Pantera" <detomaso at realbig.com>
> >> Sent: Saturday, November 01, 2008 1:56 PM
> >> Subject: [DeTomaso] Fuel Gage Linearizer
> >>
> >>
> >> > Hi guys,
> >> >
> >> > I have been away from the list for a while and was
> searching
> >> > through
> >> > the archives. I came across a message about a circuit I designed
> a
> >> couple
> >> > of years ago. Being an instrumentation engineer for 3 decades,
> one
> >> of my
> >> > pet peeves developed over the years is the non-linearity of
> >> automotive
> >> > fuel
> >> > gages. The fuel gage in most cars is really a fuel level gage and
> >> not a
> >> > fuel quantity gage. Since the fuel level transducer is usually a
> >> > wire-wound
> >> > potentiometer actuated by a float at the end of an arm, the
> >> potentiometer
> >> > output is proportional to the angle of the float arm which is a
> >> sinusoidal
> >> > function. Most of the automotive fuel level pots I have examined
> >> have a
> >> > linear output with respect to rotation angle of the shaft. So,
> the
> >> fuel
> >> > level with respect to the output of the potentiometer becomes a
> >> function
> >> > of
> >> > the length of the float arm and the sin of it's angle. In other
> >> words the
> >> > measurement, if uncorrected, is non-linear. This is sometimes
> >> corrected
> >> > for
> >> > by manufacturing a non-linear pot that linearizes the sinusoidal
> >> output in
> >> > the range of interest. Remember, that is for fuel LEVEL. When
> you
> >> > translate level into quantity. The shape of the fuel tank becomes
> the
> >> next
> >> > source of non-linearity. Obviously if you had a cone shaped tank,
> >> one
> >> > inch
> >> > of fuel level near the top is a lot more than quantity 1 inch at
> the
> >> > bottom.
> >> > Depending on the irregularity of the cross-sectional area of the
> tank
> >> as
> >> > the
> >> > fuel level rises, the equation for quantity Vs. level can get
> quite
> >> > complicated. The simplest way to correct the situation and still
> be
> >> > adaptable to different tank shapes and sizes is to use a micro-
> >> controller
> >> > and a calibrated look up table to translate the level into actual
> >> > quantity.
> >> > The design I came up with for my car uses a PIC microcontroller
> that
> >> has
> >> > on
> >> > board an EEPROM to store the look-up table. Operationally, the
> fuel
> >> level
> >> > potentiometer is connected to my circuit which reads the
> resistance
> >> and
> >> > "looks up" the correct corresponding fuel quantity. It then drives
> >> the
> >> > gage
> >> > with the correct voltage to indicate the actual quantity. The
> setup
> >> > requires calibrating the tank at 1 gallon intervals which means
> >> draining
> >> > the
> >> > tank and filling it one gallon at a time. Since I was only
> building
> >> one
> >> > of
> >> > these circuits for myself, I did not write any code to have the
> micro
> >> > perform the calibration automatically, meaning, that I recorded
> ADC
> >> output
> >> > on my computer, generated the lookup table with Excel and manually
> >> entered
> >> > the lookup table into the micro. I did the same thing for the one
> I
> >> built
> >> > for Chuck Buthala. But that meant he had to perform the
> calibration,
> >> > email
> >> > me the data, and I programmed his look up table and sent the box
> to
> >> him.
> >> >
> >> > If you guys are interested in something like this, I can do
> 1
> >> of 2
> >> > things. I can put together a kit consisting of a PCB and a parts
> >> list
> >> > with
> >> > a schematic and a wiring diagram. Or, I can build you one and
> send
> >> it to
> >> > you with installation instructions. But unless you are familiar
> with
> >> PIC
> >> > microcontrollers and own a programmer, you would have to send me
> the
> >> data
> >> > and I would have to program it and send it back to you. In order
> for
> >> me
> >> > to
> >> > write the code for an auto calibration routine, I would have to
> have
> >> > enough
> >> > commitments to justify the time spent. Bear in mind, I'm not
> trying
> >> to
> >> > make
> >> > money here, just offering this to my Pantera brothers if they are
> >> > interested. If there is enough interest, I will figure out a
> price
> >> based
> >> > on
> >> > the responses I get.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Cheers,
> >> >
> >> > Fast Eddie (#2100)
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > P.S. If my explanation is either too complicated or too simple,
> >> please
> >> > let
> >> > me know and I will clarify any questions you may have.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Edward A. Nauman\
> >> >
> >> > C.E.O.
> >> >
> >> > Smart Litez Inc
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Palmdale, CA. 93551
> >> >
> >> > (661) 305-7636
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >>The circuit was designed by Ed Nauman. He built one for me and it
> >> works
> >> > great. The gizmo works with a chip which uses the sending unit
> >> > resistance,
> >> > compares it to a look up table in the memory and >sends the
> correct
> >> signal
> >> > to the gage. You have to go though a calibration cycle to set it
> up.
> >> > There
> >> > is an article in the POCA news about two years ago on the circuit.
> >> Ed if
> >> > your listening I hope my >description is correct.
> >> >
> >> >>"www.ProvaMo.com" <pantera007 at sbcglobal.net
> >> > <http://list.realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso> > wrote: It
> was
> >> not
> >> > "Me" Chuck that Ohm'ed, but I did test one gallon at a time, the
> >> >>ohming was, I think, someone in the Nordic region perhaps.
> >> >
> >> >>Chuck
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > -----Original Message-----
> >> > From: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com
> >> > <http://list.realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso>
> >> > [mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com
> >> > <http://list.realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso> ]On
> >> > Behalf Of Mark McWhinney
> >> > Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 10:41 AM
> >> > To: 'Garth Rodericks'; detomaso at realbig.com
> >> > <http://list.realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso>
> >> > Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Incorrect gas gauge
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Some of the fancier aftermarket gauges allow for multiple
> calibration
> >> > points. I think little Larry has that. If he is lurking, may he
> can
> >> fill
> >> > us in.
> >> >
> >> > As I recall, Chuck did the one-gallon at a time work to record the
> >> ohm
> >> > readings.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > -----Original Message-----
> >> > From: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com
> >> > <http://list.realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso>
> >> > [mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com
> >> > <http://list.realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso> ] On
> >> > Behalf Of Garth Rodericks
> >> > Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 10:33 AM
> >> > To: detomaso at realbig.com
> >> > <http://list.realbig.com/mailman/listinfo/detomaso>
> >> > Subject: [DeTomaso] Incorrect gas gauge
> >> >
> >> > Just another reference point for the non-calibrated nature of our
> gas
> >> > gauges.
> >> >
> >> > When mine is full it registers Full.
> >> > 40 miles after fill up it registers at the 3/4 mark, or slightly
> >> below.
> >> > But I can drive for quite a long time between 1/2 tank and Empty.
> >> > And, at Empty the warning light comes on.
> >> >
> >> > I have not tested how far I can go after the warning light comes
> on,
> >> > however the most I've
> >> > been able to add at a fill up was 19.5 gallons.
> >> >
> >> > Now, I recall a year or two back that someone posted that they
> made a
> >> > simple electronic
> >> > converter to calibrate the fuel gauge. I think they took ohm
> readings
> >> from
> >> > the sender as they
> >> > filled the tank 1 gallon at a time, then created a mapping table
> to
> >> send
> >> > an accurate reading
> >> > to the gauge. Does anyone remember who that was? I recall they
> were
> >> > planning to make it
> >> > available for sale, but I never saw anything more on it. Does
> anyone
> >> have
> >> > more info? I'd like
> >> > one.
> >> >
> >> > Cheers!
> >> > Garth
> >> > #4033
> >> >
> >> > YMMV,
> >> > Garth
> >> > #4033
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > ---------------------------------
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> Travel.
> >> > _______________________________________________
> >> >
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> >> > No virus found in this incoming message.
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> >> 7/24/2007
> >> > 1:50 PM
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> >> >
> >> >
> >> > ---------------------------------
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> >> >
> >> > * Previous message: [DeTomaso]
> >> > <http://www.realbig.com/pipermail/detomaso/2007-July/086859.html>
> >> > Incorrect
> >> > gas gauge
> >> > * Next message: [DeTomaso]
> >> > <http://www.realbig.com/pipermail/detomaso/2007-July/086861.html>
> >> > Incorrect
> >> > gas gauge
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> >> > thread ] [
> >> > <http://www.realbig.com/pipermail/detomaso/2007-
> >> July/subject.html#86863>
> >> > subject ] [
> >> > <http://www.realbig.com/pipermail/detomaso/2007-
> >> July/author.html#86863>
> >> > author ]
> >> >
> >> >
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> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
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