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Author: Subject: Tri colour LEDs and switchable maps?
lsdweb

posted on 16/11/07 at 10:31 PM Reply With Quote
Tri colour LEDs and switchable maps?

Hi All

I'm using the K3 version of the Emerald ECU and three switchable maps. The switching for this is as shown below. I'd like to have a tri colour LED to indcate which map is currently enabled.

Anybody got any ideas on how to do this simply? This should be simple but I must be missing something!

Regards

Wyn Rescued attachment switchable.jpg
Rescued attachment switchable.jpg







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MikeRJ

posted on 16/11/07 at 10:48 PM Reply With Quote
There is not way to do it passively, i.e. just the LED and a few resistors, because the amount of current required to light an LED would significantly load the 1k pullup in the ECU (which could cause it to think the wrong map is selected).

However it's certainly doable with relative simplicity and at low cost, using comparators. I'll post a circuit if you would like to have a go.

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lsdweb

posted on 16/11/07 at 10:53 PM Reply With Quote
Hi Mike

If the circuit is relatively simple, I'd have a go - I can solder and there's a local Maplins!

Thanks

Wyn






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MikeRJ

posted on 17/11/07 at 01:05 AM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by robocog
..unless the 3 way switch you use can be stacked (like wafer jobbies) or has another set of contacts?


Very good point, 10/10 for lateral thinking

You can get small toggle switches with a center off position and two poles quite easily.

[Edited on 17/11/07 by MikeRJ]

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ghuncha

posted on 17/11/07 at 06:10 AM Reply With Quote
i think this will work, please if there is some problems do let me know, i am still on the noob stage.....




the negative to the comparators is output from the switch and goign to the ecu

[Edited on 17/11/07 by ghuncha]

[Edited on 17/11/07 by ghuncha]

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lsdweb

posted on 17/11/07 at 09:21 AM Reply With Quote
Thanks Guys

The two way, double pole, cenrtre off switch sounds like the option!

ghuncha - I wouldn't have a clue if your circuit worked! Thanks for the efforts though!

Regards

Wyn






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lsdweb

posted on 17/11/07 at 09:37 AM Reply With Quote
Although how do I get a two position switch to operate a three colour LED?






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MikeRJ

posted on 17/11/07 at 06:22 PM Reply With Quote
When you say a three colour LED, what I had in mind was a "bicolour" LED that physically contains two LED chips. By driving either one, or both chips together you can get three colours. This makes the wiring very simple indeed.




I made a very simmilar circuit to ghuncha's but using a bicolour LED (only two comparators/one chip) if you still want it.

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MikeRJ

posted on 17/11/07 at 06:46 PM Reply With Quote
This is how you would drive a true Tricolour LED from a two position (center off) switch. This relies on the differing forward voltages (Vf) of the LEDs. Putting an LED with a lower Vf voltage in parallel with one with a higher Vf will turn off the one with the higher Vf.

Typical the Vf's of a tricolour package are:
Blue 3.3v
Green 3.3v
Red 2.0v

As you can see the green and blue LEDs in tricolour packages have very similar foward voltages which would make this scheme fail. To work around this problem we use an extra diode (1N4148 or 1N4001 etc will be fine) to increase the Vf of one LED by around 0.6 volts.


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lsdweb

posted on 25/11/07 at 11:04 PM Reply With Quote
MikeRJ

I used your simple option on a bicolour LED - works a treat! Photos of the dash/wiring to follow soon.

Thanks!!!!






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MikeRJ

posted on 27/11/07 at 01:49 PM Reply With Quote
Glad it worked ok for you!
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lsdweb

posted on 27/11/07 at 08:56 PM Reply With Quote
And here it is!






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