Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Rudder Indicator using 3 Reed Relays

["Jens Laland" <laland@artematrix.org>]

Frank & Co

** wondering what all the other devices located on the PC board are

Basically, most of the components are standard 5 volt logic gate chips
(TTL) used to decode the 5 legal values, which you so elegantly presents
by using only 3 LEDs.

Then I just added two extra ICs to handle the logic needed for the error
handling (and the extra cost for this was about $3.00).

I have used 3 optocouplers to 'separate' the 12 volt over the reed relays
from the 5 volt used in the remainder of the circuit. There is also a
voltage regulator that gives us the 5 volt from the "main" 12 volt power.

Besides, the circuit will most likely survive an accidental use of
reversed polarity.

The circuit is a result of an experiment that I wanted to share with you
guys, and not necessarily something that is better or clever than any
other way to monitor the angle of a rudder (dive plane, valve, water level
in a tank, and what not).

If I should draw any conclusion from this, it would be something like this:

My exaggerated use of digital components from the past (in this circuit)
does not necessarily complicate the solution used (although nowadays we
would use a microprocessor and implement the decoding in software), but it
certainly serves as a good (visual) example on what is actually required
to convert a 'KISS' solution into something digital.

It also reveals a tendency we all too often have, i.e. to prefer something
digital when we are presented a simple solution,

or vice verse:

to prefer something simple when we are presented a digital solution.

Best regards,
Jens Laland




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