tapping RPM signal wire in gauge cluster...
Thread Starter
Registered!!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 579
Likes: 0
Rep Power: 0 
tapping RPM signal wire in gauge cluster...
first off let me explain myself...
i first saw this in the NSX-R. there are two small LED's inside the RPM gauge in the NSX-R, a green one lighting up when max power is reached in the RPM range, and a red one that lights up and flashes when redline is reached.
now obviously being so immature and having lots of lights and stuff in my car, i thought this would be fun to do and just take out later when i get tired of it, so dont go calling me dumb or anything, i just like doin stuff that takes up time
anyways, i need to clear up some questions on how these kinds of lights work...
so these kinds of "shiftlights" or shiftlights in general, do they activate once a certain voltage level (?) is reached and is this set in the circuitry somewhere? or is it a lot more complicated than that? and are these kinds of thingies found at radioshack?
haha i know i sound really stupid for asking this but i was really curious and have always wondered how shiftlights really work...
THANKS!!!
i first saw this in the NSX-R. there are two small LED's inside the RPM gauge in the NSX-R, a green one lighting up when max power is reached in the RPM range, and a red one that lights up and flashes when redline is reached.
now obviously being so immature and having lots of lights and stuff in my car, i thought this would be fun to do and just take out later when i get tired of it, so dont go calling me dumb or anything, i just like doin stuff that takes up time
anyways, i need to clear up some questions on how these kinds of lights work...
so these kinds of "shiftlights" or shiftlights in general, do they activate once a certain voltage level (?) is reached and is this set in the circuitry somewhere? or is it a lot more complicated than that? and are these kinds of thingies found at radioshack?
haha i know i sound really stupid for asking this but i was really curious and have always wondered how shiftlights really work...
THANKS!!!
I have this video of an sti racing an srt-4 and when they show the cabin of the sti in the cluster it has on single little led that is a shift light. is this built in? a/w I've always thought something like this would be cool (not really useful though)
Banned
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Rep Power: 0 
They work completely controlled by a base unit.
The tachometer needs a lead to the RPM signal of the engine's management computer (Your ECU)
The tachometer is programmed via the user w/ set .ohm values that the computer shoots to the tach.'s base unit.
Usually getting the initial signal from the CPS sensor, or distributor rotor signal.
There are warning lights, then shift lights.
Oh and BTW... don't waste your money, you'll never see the RPM's move that fast.
The tachometer needs a lead to the RPM signal of the engine's management computer (Your ECU)
The tachometer is programmed via the user w/ set .ohm values that the computer shoots to the tach.'s base unit.
Usually getting the initial signal from the CPS sensor, or distributor rotor signal.
There are warning lights, then shift lights.
Oh and BTW... don't waste your money, you'll never see the RPM's move that fast.
Thread Starter
Registered!!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 579
Likes: 0
Rep Power: 0 i know i know but remember, i just wanna do it.... cause i wanna do it. i like doin this kind of stuff.
yeah i know our cars are slow, but i like lights coming on and stuff. makes my mundane auto seem, kidna, more interesting...
so yeah, any ideas?
yeah i know our cars are slow, but i like lights coming on and stuff. makes my mundane auto seem, kidna, more interesting...
so yeah, any ideas?
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 13,151
Likes: 3
From: Washington DC
Rep Power: 425 
Tap the tach wire with a DMM. Just measure voltage values for various RPMs you want to light up then set up resistors to do the job. The VTEC light is similar in form... the VTEC signal is XYZ volts and it takes a certain resistance to keep the light from coming on until VTEC engages. Same thing. Just fiddle with it, I like fiddling too.
Thread Starter
Registered!!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 579
Likes: 0
Rep Power: 0
Originally Posted by Boilermaker1
Tap the tach wire with a DMM. Just measure voltage values for various RPMs you want to light up then set up resistors to do the job. The VTEC light is similar in form... the VTEC signal is XYZ volts and it takes a certain resistance to keep the light from coming on until VTEC engages. Same thing. Just fiddle with it, I like fiddling too.
nice fiddling is good
what was the thing about the DMM?
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 13,151
Likes: 3
From: Washington DC
Rep Power: 425 DMM = Digital Multimeter aka ohm-meter... electronic probing thingie.
Just measure the voltage of the tach wire at some given value, then build a circuit that needs X volts to trip a light.
Just measure the voltage of the tach wire at some given value, then build a circuit that needs X volts to trip a light.
Thread Starter
Registered!!
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 579
Likes: 0
Rep Power: 0
Originally Posted by specter542
he has an automatic...he doesnt need a shiftlite.
http://www.mrtrally.com.au/performan...rt_revlite.htm
well any luck skarteez? I'd try but I learned long ago that diy's are not for me.
Check out this link, it looks cool if I can find on for a good price I might buy one. but I'd like to have the custom one if some one could do it first (so i wont f__k up)
well any luck skarteez? I'd try but I learned long ago that diy's are not for me.
Check out this link, it looks cool if I can find on for a good price I might buy one. but I'd like to have the custom one if some one could do it first (so i wont f__k up)
Registered!!
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: Connecticut
Rep Power: 0 I may very well be wrong, but I thought the VTEC light was 0 volts when off, and +12 volts when activated. In all of the VTEC light DIYs I've read, the resistor is merely to keep the 1.5v or 3v LED from burning out with a 12v current.
I haven't measured the line myself, so I could be wrong, but if I am, I have a lot of rethinking to do before I tackle my VTEC light
I haven't measured the line myself, so I could be wrong, but if I am, I have a lot of rethinking to do before I tackle my VTEC light
Thread
Thread Starter
Honda Civic Forum
Replies
Last Post
Blazz
Mechanical Problems/Vehicle Issues and Fix-it Forum
3
May 25, 2015 10:56 PM
Wild Cranker
Mechanical Problems/Vehicle Issues and Fix-it Forum
1
May 19, 2015 06:10 PM
