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Post by rodney on Jan 16, 2020 5:42:02 GMT
I found these little meters online. Mounted vertically, they would fit in a single space module.
I'm thinking about a module with an analog meter and a digital voltage readout but might go crazy with spectrum and waveform display, DC graph etc.
However, I like the simplicity of a basic meter. I remember referring to the meter a lot when messing with the VCS3 at school (it was old, even in 1981). 
I think this and other analog panel meters will be a bit too deep for the AE rack case though.
Has anyone else found other 0-5v voltmeters less than 50mm across?
I like this round one that may fit a bit better, depthwise ...
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Post by robertlanger on Jan 16, 2020 8:13:49 GMT
I did some research a while ago and found them all too deep :-(
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Post by rodney on Jan 17, 2020 8:33:38 GMT
I did some research a while ago and found them all too deep :-(
Yes, I think that will be the case. There are constraints to how small you can make these and they require physical weight etc. to move properly.
I ordered one of the round ones with the hope that I can modify it enough to fit in the AE case.
 From the diagram, I may get it to fit if I cut off the terminal pins and pad the panel face a little. |
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Post by rodney on Jan 30, 2020 4:41:50 GMT
Just rec'd the round one and, with some assiduous use of a hacksaw, looks like it will fit.
Should I add anything else to this circuit to guard against hum and other evils?
R.
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Post by rodney on Apr 9, 2020 8:40:18 GMT
So, the isolation madness is setting in. I am determined to spend less time tinkering with the modules and more time actually making music with it, but I just can't stop myself...
I decided to make a 2-unit module with both analog and digital volt meters.
The round volt meter earlier in this thread proved to fit with a hair's breadth to spare, after I cut off the terminal screws and sealed the wound with a blob of solder. I found a small digital meter to mount above it.
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Post by rodney on Apr 10, 2020 3:03:01 GMT
One problem was that, for the digital one, I'd misread the specs online. Although it is able to measure 0-30ish volts, it actually has 3 wires: Gnd, VCC and Signal. It needs at least 7 volts to run. That is why couldn't use the 5v from the AE bus. Instead, I sent out a long wire to grab +12v from the Eurorack bus on the AE master module (I had no idea it was there until I took the module out, thinking I'd have to solder to the 9v power connector).
Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo of the back of the Master module before putting it back in. It took me soooo long to fit the Master module back in that there is no way I'm taking it out just for a photo. Sorry peeps! 
I realised after soldering that I had not ground off enough of the terminal posts to fit nicely in the AE case so I built up the meter with some cut-out black felt just to raise it a few mm.
There are a few visible mistakes in my woodworking but I think I can hide them by drawing around the edges with a fine black permanent marker.
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Post by NightMachines on Apr 10, 2020 21:38:15 GMT
One problem was that, for the digital one, I'd misread the specs online. Although it is able to measure 0-30ish volts, it actually has 3 wires: Gnd, VCC and Signal. It needs at least 7 volts to run. That is why couldn't use the 5v from the AE bus. Instead, I sent out a long wire to grab +12v from the Eurorack bus on the AE master module (I had no idea it was there until I took the module out, thinking I'd have to solder to the 9v power connector). Incredible!!! Such a cool project What voltage do you get from the +12V pin on the MASTER I/O module though? I assume it’s 9V straight from the power supply, right? |
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Lugia
Wiki Editors
Ridiculously busy...ish.
Posts: 556 
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Post by Lugia on Apr 11, 2020 1:43:46 GMT
Once again, I win all the Interwebz! Vide: www.alliedelec.com/product/shurite/3104/70136645/ If I read the specs correctly, the total depth on this is 2.25 cm, which includes the above-panel part. And yes, Shurite can do vertical scales on bulk orders. Time for an AE "Batmeter", methinks... |
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Post by young Protoboard on Apr 11, 2020 17:45:57 GMT
Once again, I win all the Interwebz! Vide: www.alliedelec.com/product/shurite/3104/70136645/ If I read the specs correctly, the total depth on this is 2.25 cm, which includes the above-panel part. And yes, Shurite can do vertical scales on bulk orders. Time for an AE "Batmeter", methinks... At $25 apiece, I'm very excited to see somebody else's meter module as I hold onto my intact wallet. |
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Lugia
Wiki Editors
Ridiculously busy...ish.
Posts: 556
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Post by Lugia on Apr 11, 2020 23:33:58 GMT
$25 ain't a thing, really. I was seeing veritable buttloads of Simpson et al meters that were running $75-150 a pop. The problem is that meters have rather twiddly watch-like mechanics inside, with jeweled movements (if they're any good), and they require precision assembly. And the smaller you make something that requires precision assembly, the pricier it gets. Also, there aren't anywhere as many companies making them as there were in the days prior to digital displays. So $25 each actually isn't that bad a price for something that can fit into an AE cab.
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Post by young Protoboard on Apr 12, 2020 1:48:30 GMT
$25 ain't a thing, really. I'm glad $25 ain't a thing for YOU. That's why I'm excited to see YOU make it. My current material cost maximum for any given DIY module is $5, and I've kept my costs pretty successfully down to under $3. I started DIY because Tangible Waves modules are too expensive for me to purchase with any consistency. (That's not meant to be a complaint about AEM prices. If it were not for Robert, I would not be able to afford to make electronic music at all.) Now, if Robert gets these into production using his benefits of bulk ordering and economy of scale, I'll definitely save up for six months and drop the $60 or so he would ask for one. Why? Because I can afford to slip with my soldering iron and melt a 10-cent RV09 pot with no worries. But I absolutely can't afford to slip with my soldering iron and melt a $25 component. If you'd like to drop a few grand and bulk-order some vertical scale voltmeters, please do share the final result. |
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Post by rodney on Apr 19, 2020 2:41:44 GMT
The panel meter I used was just under$9USD including postage to Australia.
I think the digital one was about that too.
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Post by rodney on Apr 19, 2020 2:50:33 GMT
One problem was that, for the digital one, I'd misread the specs online. Although it is able to measure 0-30ish volts, it actually has 3 wires: Gnd, VCC and Signal. It needs at least 7 volts to run. That is why couldn't use the 5v from the AE bus. Instead, I sent out a long wire to grab +12v from the Eurorack bus on the AE master module (I had no idea it was there until I took the module out, thinking I'd have to solder to the 9v power connector). Incredible!!! Such a cool project What voltage do you get from the +12V pin on the MASTER I/O module though? I assume it’s 9V straight from the power supply, right? Hi Felix The voltage is +12v and -12v so Robert must have boosted it for compatibility. Oh, maybe not, because I was powering it from 12v when I measured it and was not worried about the exact voltage, as long as it was over 7v. Took me so long to get the module back in the track that I will not check until I absolutely have to take it out again. |
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Post by NightMachines on Apr 19, 2020 6:30:53 GMT
The Eurorack connector on the back of the I/O module is an input as far as I understand, not an output. So it’s meant to receive 12V from a Eurorack bus to power the AE System through a 5V regulator. So when you use it as an output to power your meter, I assume that the 12V pin is simply connected to the 9V socket (because one wouldn’t use both a Eurorack bus and wall wart to power the system at the same time) and you’re getting that voltage then straight from the wall wart.
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Post by rodney on Apr 23, 2020 10:03:02 GMT
The Eurorack connector on the back of the I/O module is an input as far as I understand, not an output. So it’s meant to receive 12V from a Eurorack bus to power the AE System through a 5V regulator. So when you use it as an output to power your meter, I assume that the 12V pin is simply connected to the 9V socket (because one wouldn’t use both a Eurorack bus and wall wart to power the system at the same time) and you’re getting that voltage then straight from the wall wart. That makes sense. |
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