yeah.. They make potentiometers that twist 12 times from lowest to highest. it's like a flathead screw that moves the wiper across the resistor and changes the ohmic value. like these, but with a screw moving the slider..





Resistors are measured in ohms. they're rated in watts. Watts are how much power they can handle, Ohms are a measure how much resistance to electricity they provide.



5Kohms = 5000 ohms. 3 watts is how much power it can handle. The screw driven wipers are the best type of potentiometer for this application because they allow for a more precice calibration.

 

Yeah..however ur in US im in Australia...Watever i try to find here that u guys have there, i cant and its pain in the @ss....(i.e. acrylic rod for Angel Eyes - looking for it for ages now and still cant seem to find anything that i can use..) So ill try to get all the parts and see how it goes...Hopefully it will work out ok..

And dw i know wat ohms are and watts..im still in year 12 and just had my physics exam laugh.gif im pretty good with the theoritcal part but im not that good with applications and other bits of the stuff..Like that potentiometer..now at least i know what it does.. wink1.gif we've got it here but they are called differently wink1.gif "variable resistor"

 

go to radioshack.com and order their assortment bag. it comes with 2- 3Watt, 12 turn pots, i think one is 5Kohm and the other is 10Kohm.

for that matter, you could always just order every part i listed from Radioshack.com

Varriable Resistor is a common friendly name the component. Potentiometer, Rheostat, Trimmer, are the technical terms. It's like calling an engine a motor. We all know that motors are electrical powered, engines are fuel powered. I try to use the proper words.

 

hehe..we arent all electrical technicians here laugh.gif

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DrivingTibNaked @ May 24 2006, 12:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I can also make this a kit if you'd like: you'd just need to put the LEDs in your car, attatch resistors, wires, adust and let it rock.</div>


Just noticed that lol, can u still do that and how much would that cost me? + shippment to australia? lol laugh.gif that would save me a lot trouble trying to do everything myself....

 

^^ um.. My job is actually to repair medical equipment, from vacuum cleaners to x-ray machines. I used to be a radar repairer but decided I needed a change.



Yeah, I could do that, PM me.

 

^yeah exactly..u worked wit electrical stuff..all i did was plug the wires into the power pack in school lmao.gif but for some reason ive got some knowldedge about it all.. so im not a complete n00b..

 

So I read this earlier and spent the rest of the day thinking about a variation of the idea. Mr. Electronics Wiz: smile.gif do you think it would be possible to do this, but instead of it being based on volume, have it based on frequency? Sort of a graphical representation of the eq?

 

hmm..that would be intersting, but hardly usable..well at least i cant figure out the use, unless u fill up ur whole trunk with leds lol laugh.gif

DTN I PMed u..waiting for reply wink1.gif

 

^^I sent you a PM earlier

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Caj Darkmoon @ Nov 6 2006, 07:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>So I read this earlier and spent the rest of the day thinking about a variation of the idea. Mr. Electronics Wiz: smile.gif do you think it would be possible to do this, but instead of it being based on volume, have it based on frequency? Sort of a graphical representation of the eq?</div>

Yes, it would, I'd go with a digital setup on that, one light to represent a certain ammount of sound in a certain frequency. it would be easier to just have a comparitor operational amplifier, compairing expected input to the value on a predetermined RCL Time constant. But... if you want a full EQ effect.

It would include a RCL time constant setup for 3 operational amplifiers (or however many bands there are) then the LEDs would be hooked to a resistor and a string of diodes which would be the power return lines. As power in a certain band increases, the more LEDs per op-amp would light.

It would be very possible to do that, but time consuming to draw out the schematics, and expensive to buy parts. Op-amp chips alone cost $2, but then you have to regulate power, bias inputs bias outputs and setup feedback for each band of the EQ graph. Not to mention that these components take up space.


The point of this DIY is it's relatively cheap, and easy to do. It's just a handfull of components and you get to customize your sound system with a bit of bling.

 

Well, if you ever happened to draw up schematics for somethin like that, I'd do it myself. smile.gif I've got the experience with soldering, and space isn't at that much of a premium in a car, I just wouldn't know where to start with the electronics aspect of it.