GPS help - Page 2 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

wyatt · 11-14-2010, 04:55 PM

an 86 VW is not going to have OBDII, so UG and SG are out. The new Garmins that have OBDII capabilities won't work either.
You can keep your eye out on Craigslist for a GPS. You should be able to get one cheap enough. You may never use the added capabilities, but they are handy.
The bike speedometer is a good choice too. You say it had one in it until last week, so you must be all wired up and ready to go... that would be the cheapest option, and you may be able to find one on Craigslist even cheaper than in a store.

euromodder · 11-15-2010, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SentraSE-R

I'm not up on the technology, but I'm guessing the cheaper bike speedometers use a magnetic sensor on the forks or frame, and a magnet on the spokes. Ergo they'd be a PITA to install on a car.

They've been used on motorcycles, so there's no real reason why they wouldn't work on a car.

A bigger magnet can be used if the distance between magnet and sensor gets too large.

Some don't go beyond 99 mph or kph though.

Varn · 11-16-2010, 10:42 AM

I appreciate everyones thoughts. I had a bike speedometer that lasted about 7000 miles before the reed switch disintegrated.

I have a plan now. I got a Garmin foretrex. It is powered by two AAA batteries. I am going to build a powersupply so that I can power it from my car.

Weather Spotter · 11-16-2010, 08:10 PM

I have a 2 yr old garmen. It is the cheapest unit made but it works. euromodder's pic is of a better model but the display is the same numbers.

Mine is powered from a 12 volt outlet.

They run about $89 new and a used one should be cheep. Also look for a black Friday deal.

Weather Spotter · 11-16-2010, 08:13 PM

I have a 2 yr old garmen. It is the cheapest unit made but it works. euromodder's pic is of a better model but the display is the same numbers.

Mine is powered from a 12 volt outlet.

They run about $89 new and a used one should be cheep. Also look for a black Friday deal.

Varn · 11-23-2010, 01:54 PM

I got my KA317, the solid state voltage regulator in the mail today, bought 10 of them on fleabay for 3 dollars including shipping. I built up and tested my circuit. Success, a solid 2.7 volts from car voltage (12-14 volts). Here is the circuit.

I used some resistors I had laying around r1=150 ohm and r2 a fixed 180 ohm. I am going to pot it in a small plastic box. I have a wooden dowel that I am going to use to make spacers for the battery simulator. Will get a picture of it.

Edit: changed Resistor values

SentraSE-R · 11-23-2010, 04:18 PM

Cool!

Varn · 11-23-2010, 11:31 PM

Here is my voltage regulator hooked up to my Garmin. I used a couple of dowel rods to replace the AAA cells. I have tested it with 7 to 14 volts and the Garmin shows 3 bars.

I ran it for 15 minutes with the light on and noticed that that chip got hot so I added a rather large heat sink before I potted it. I need to connect it a switched circuit of the electrical system. Also mount the GPS to the dashboard.