[Vwdiesel] Glow plug indicator system design?

[Val Christian]

Gosh, it was probably 20 or more years ago.  I used a sample 
hall effect chip, to measure flux.  I then used a NE555 to 
oscillate faster with more current through the hall effect device.

I don't have the car, and I probably drew the schematic in the 
margins of the application notes.

Sorry.  Oh, I tweaked a resistor to get the right flash rate.
I just used one led, and pointed it downward.  Easy to see off my 
pantlegs at night.  It's not the kind of thing that you need
to watch all the time.  Oh, for powering it, a pin in the relay 
socket, and a ground pin.  Pulls out easily.

Val


> 
> Although my car isn't on the road (yet....maybe never) I was thinking that
> it might be neat to have
> 4 LED's, or 4 sensors of some type......maybe even an ammeter....Ie:
> *SOMETHING* to let you know
> not only *IF* the glowplugs are going, but *HOW MANY* of the glowplugs are
> actually glowing.
> 
> Just an idea.
> 
> Haven't even put pen to paper to see if an easy, cheap and dirty circuit
> could be rigged up. 
> 
> I know, for me, it will be increase my peace of mind knowing all 4 plugs are
> glowing.
> 
> Maybe Val could elaborate a bit more on his circuit?
> 
> Mike
> 
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:	vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com [SMTP:vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com] On
> > Behalf Of Val Christian
> > Sent:	Tuesday, December 21, 2004 11:04 AM
> > To:	swright at zuiko.sls.bc.ca; vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> > Subject:	Re: [Vwdiesel] Glow plug indicator system design?
> > 
> > On one car I used a hall effect transducer, tie-wrapped to the glowplug 
> > relay output, driving a NE555, which flashed a LED showing me how much
> > current was being drawn.  200 msec was full glow.  A once second flash was
> > sure sign of hard starting when it gets cold.
> > 
> > On a different car, I used a foglight switch, hardwired to a gutted glow
> > plug
> > relay, to turn on the heaters.
> > 
> > As I look into chinese diesels, I find that some have an aftermarket
> > propane heater, that looks like a couple of low velocity Bernzomatic
> > torches, connected to a disposable propane bottle.  A bottle is good
> > for hundreds of starts, because you just spark up the flame, while the
> > engine is cranking.  It's all over real fast.  Gee, disable the ignitor,
> > and you have a propane boost system.  Grin.
> > 
> > 
> > Val
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > > 
> > > Has anyone thought of designing an active glow plug indicator system 
> > > which can actually detect the presence of sufficient current or voltage
> > drop 
> > > through each plug? I'm thinking of a system which could monitor each
> > plug 
> > > independently with an LED for each. If necessary, the plug could be 
> > > powered from a separate relay circuit using a manual switch, but I'd
> > prefer 
> > > the option to use the stock relay, and just have feedback for each plug.
> > > My knowledge of electronics is rusty at best, but there must be someone 
> > > on the list up to the task? I'd love to see a little row of LEDs in one
> > of the 
> > > spare dash switch blanks monitoring the plugs, and the option for a 
> > > manual switch if desired...
> > > 
> > > Santa... ? ;-)--
> > > Shawn Wright
> > > I.T. Manager
> > > Shawnigan Lake School
> > > 
> > > 
> > > _______________________________________________
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> > > 
> > 
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