EarthForce EF-5 enhancements

[ronjhall]

Re: tilt indicators

Bob
<font color=blue> they have some tiltmeters for sailboats</font color=blue>
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]

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]

Re: tilt indicators

Hi Rick - <font color=blue>Have you looked at my model #2001?</font color=blue>

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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?