EarthForce EF-5 enhancements

MChalkley · Jan 18, 2002

Re: Lights

Harv - I took a look at your daylight shots just now and dang, them babies is bright I was a bit surprised myself, given the conditions. I knew the sun shining directly into them wouldn't completely wash them out, but I didn't think they'd be so bright that they would still make you squint to look at them. I'm very pleased with them. Plus, they draw so little current that you don't really have to make an extra provision for them. So, I'd definitely recommend them to anyone who spends much time on or around roads.

MChalkley · Jan 18, 2002

Re: Lights

AndyR - Would you be thinking of an edge reading type of indicator to tell you what angle your bucket is at? That's exactly what I'm looking for. Mine wouldn't have to be wireless, either. I would mount it to the back of the QA plate. For my purposes, though, it would need to have the ability to be "zeroed" from the seat. Then, depending on which implement I had on the front, I could level it by eye when I first attach it, push a button to set the level indicator, then it would be right for that implement. I would most prefer an indicator with the ability to display more that just "tilted down", "level", and "tilted back", though. So, I'm not sure at all what my options are at this point. Rick at R&B is looking into it, too.

Bob_Trevithick · Jan 18, 2002

Re: Lights

 I would most prefer an indicator with the ability to display more that just "tilted down", "level", and "tilted back", though. So, I'm not sure at all what my options are at this point. Rick at R&B is looking into it, too.

I wonder if some of those indicators they have in airplanes might work. You know, it's like a compass which shows all three dimensions? Might want to check with some of the pilots here...

MChalkley · Jan 18, 2002

Re: tilt indicators

Bob - That's an excellent idea. That might be a place to look.

Might want to check with some of the pilots here... Maybe a new thread with a subject like "Determining axis of the greasy side with respect to terra firma" would get their attention. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

mikim · Jan 18, 2002

Re: Lights

there used to be a standby attitude indicator that's self contained --- but took 28VDC to run .. but that wuz in the old days when I worked 'em as an instrument/autopilot tech ...
mike

Bob_Trevithick · Jan 18, 2002

Re: tilt indicators

Might try boat people too.. they have some tiltmeters for sailboats, I think. The problem will be the reset function you want. I imagine most of these are set once and left alone.

I did a search, but I didn't find anything yet...

AndyR · Jan 18, 2002

Re: Lights

OK - I'm curious. Did a quick search and found a neat gauge site - with angle gauges to boot! <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.egauges.com/vdo_marI.asp?Type=Angle_Indicator&Series=12V_Vanguard>http://www.egauges.com/vdo_marI.asp?Type=Angle_Indicator&Series=12V_Vanguard</A> Some nice combo gauges there as well that look like they may fit your wish list.

You will have to get schematics for the circuit and then we could work out a "zero adjust" control so you could dial in what you wanted.

cedarranch · Jan 18, 2002

Re: tilt indicators

Now how do you get any seat time with all that fiddlin'? /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif
I thought the purpose of owning was to use! /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif
Mark, ya seem to spend more time tinker'n than driving! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

MChalkley · Jan 18, 2002

Re: Lights

AndyR - That kind of gauge would be ideal for a bucket tilt indicator, in my opinion. There's got to be a way to calibrate the dial to begin with, so there certainly should be a way to make this flexible for use with various implements. Great idea! /w3tcompact/icons/cool.gif

MChalkley · Jan 18, 2002

Re: tilt indicators

cedarranch - I definitely spend more time tinker'n than driving! At least, if you count research and fishing for ideas. But, I think the time is more than made up for in time saved, satisfaction in the quality of the job done, and safety. I can't think of a single modification I've ever made that wasn't 1) to get work done more quickly, 2) to do a better job than could be done before, 3) to do something that I couldn't do at all before, 4) to do a job more safely than before, or 5) some combination of the 1-4. If it meets any of those criteria, I'm interested in, at the very least, a "feasibility study". /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

ronjhall · Jan 18, 2002

Re: tilt indicators

Bob
 they have some tiltmeters for sailboats
Sailboters call these things a Clinometer. They have them at <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/commerce/command/ProductDisplay?prmenbr=201&prrfnbr=1174&outlet=>West Marine</A>. Putting one of them on my tractor. Would be a worse offense, than putting one on my powerboat. /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

RBManufacturing · Jan 19, 2002

Re: tilt indicators

Hi Mark,
Have you looked at my model #2001? It is digital, lcd readout.
A remote sensor is mounted on an implement, and readout
on dash shows what angle the implement is at. It is VERY
sensitive, and reads from 0 to 90 degrees tilt. It will read
90-0-90. It also shows tenths of a degree. Not a good choice
if you want to see degrees on a moving machine. Too sensitive. Numbers will jump around alot. But if bucket is set
when sitting still, it can do the job. I am still working on other
options. Rick

MChalkley · Jan 19, 2002

Re: tilt indicators

Hi Rick - Have you looked at my model #2001?

I think when we last talked you said that one wouldn't work for me, for some reason. Not sure why, though. Perhaps because you can't adjust the zero point. Other than that, it sure looks like it would do the job. Having it damped a little better would be nice.

Another thing I thought of: It might be more useful, in this application, to have the meter read level with respect to the plane of the machine, instead of level with respect to gravity. For example, if I'm on a 5 degree slope, but I want to smooth the surface, not dig, I would need the bucket set at 5 degrees with respect to gravity, but 0 degrees with respect to the plane of the machine. With a gravity-type sensor, I'd either have to re-zero it every time I changed slopes, not practical, or always adjust it with one eye on the regular TiltMeter, mentally adding or subtracting that number from the implement tilt gauge reading, a bit tedious and error prone. Also, I think I'm getting a bit obsessive here... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

So, for this sort of application, a rheostat that measured the angle of the bucket linkage with respect to the loader arm, and includes an adjustable zero point, might be a lot simpler a lot more useful. What do you think? If so, a needle-type gauge of the sort used for marine trim gauges might be the easiest to use, but a sending unit that could measure the loader's attachment link angle would have to be fabricated. And, considering its location, it would have to be pretty durable. Do you have, or have access to, anything like that? Or am I missing something important, as usual?

Bob_Trevithick · Jan 19, 2002

Re: tilt indicators

Mark,

This is probably too disgustingly low-tech a solution /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif but have you thought of just adding those little flexible plastic poles that snow plow guys hook to the edge of their plows? It would give you a visual indication of the implements orientation, and wouldn't require a lot of special circuitry. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Bob

MChalkley · Jan 19, 2002

Re: tilt indicators

Bob - I know your type. You're one of those guys who likes to uncomplicate things. And are a great source of irritation to people like me, who like to make things as complicated as possible. No, I am not interested in such a simple solution! For one thing, it would require no maintenance. For another, anybody who knows me and saw it on my rig would immediately start asking all sorts of questions about why I'd gone "low-tech", if I was changing my whole philosophy on life, if other stuff I'd done was having major "technology" problems, etc., wasting all kinds of time and ruining my productivity. No, it's much better to leave things as they are. I want the most complicated solution possible. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

RBManufacturing · Jan 20, 2002

Re: tilt indicators

Hi Mark,
Sounds like a good idea. I need to do some checking on the
design. It would need to be made so it is adaptable to most
machines. Also, it would need to fit other applications. Forklifts
for one. Needs to be a versatile device. Maybe my upcoming trip to Louisville Farm Show will allow viewing of other equipment it would work on. Wonder if there are any electronic whizs out there willing to help???

BTW, the electronic surplus catalog I mentioned is called;
ALL ELECTRONICS CORP. 1-800-826-5432. Call for a free
catalog. Lots of surplus goodies and gadgets. Might want to
call them. Rick

MChalkley · Jan 26, 2002

Re: tilt indicators

I finally finished wiring up all the lights today. Here's a picture of the EF-5 with just the "road lights" on: the two rear LEDs and all the side and front amber LEDs are on in "low brightness" mode. (The two rear amber LEDs are off.)

MChalkley · Jan 26, 2002

Re: Lights

Here's another picture of the lights. In this one, for some reason, the lights messed up the exposure... /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Still, you can see that the left side turn signal is on, because the amber LED on the rear right is off. Also, you can see the difference between the red LED's low brightness "marker light" mode, and the amber LED's high brightness "turn/hazard signal" mode. You can also see that the LEDs are a little directional. The front side left one is dimmest because it's the most off axis from the camera. The rear side left one is more in line and brighter, as is the back left side one, though a bit less so. The amber incandescent on the bottom of the rear lights appears very bright, too, but if you look at both of them straight on, the LED looks a lot brighter than the incandescent. I tried taking a picture of the amber LED straight on, but it didn't look any brighter - everything else just turned black, and it was too cold to fool with manual exposures. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

The rear red LEDs' high brightness mode are connected to the brake lights, but aren't on in this picture.

MChalkley · Jan 26, 2002

Re: Lights

And one more picture, this time straight on from the rear, with the four worklights also on. The amber LEDs are off, but the red LEDs and incandescents on the rear are on in "marker light" mode.

GlueGuy · Jan 26, 2002

Re: Lights

Nice lights Mark.

Out of curiousity, how much work do you do at night (percentage-wise)? I know I do a "bit" of work at night. Well, not exactly night, but at least in the dark. And furthermore, that tends to be limited by the puny lights on my tractor. I wonder how much more I would be "in the dark", so to speak, if I lit up the world around me?