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electronic signal to mechanical speedo

3613 Views 11 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  brian_
I am not fond of the Leaf instrument cluster so I was wondering how difficult it would be to take the speed input and convert it to run my cable driven mechanical speedo. The question holds true for other display items such as battery monitor. Any thoughts?


Here is the dash look I wish to keep (if possible). There is lots of space to put small displays if needed.

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If you can get it apart (some are sealed like a soup can) there are mounting points that can be converted to hold different drive schemes, like using the motors from current gauges. Could even be companies doing retro conversions for them late model swaps where they are basically new frames and guts with a vintage body.
If you can get it apart (some are sealed like a soup can) there are mounting points that can be converted to hold different drive schemes, like using the motors from current gauges. Could even be companies doing retro conversions for them late model swaps where they are basically new frames and guts with a vintage body.

I was thinking of putting a small motor onto the existing speedo to be driven by the signal to the leaf cluster but I don't know enough about the system to know what needs to be done.
What motor/controller combo are you using?
What motor/controller combo are you using?

It's all Nissan leaf.
The English page is missing the description, but Google can translate the Dutch page.
This is interesting but I can't quite figure it out.
Based on the instructions, this appears to use a set of magnets strapped around the propeller shaft (a.k.a driveshaft... you would have to use the inner CV joint on one axle shaft), and a magnetic pickup ("pulse generator") to produce the electronic pulses needed to control the motor which rotates the speedo cable. The translated Dutch description and photo confirm that.
The English page is missing the description, but Google can translate the Dutch page.

Based on the instructions, this appears to use a set of magnets strapped around the propeller shaft (a.k.a driveshaft... you would have to use the inner CV joint on one axle shaft), and a magnetic pickup ("pulse generator") to produce the electronic pulses needed to control the motor which rotates the speedo cable. The translated Dutch description and photo confirm that.

Not the most elegant thing but quite usable and a good idea. $300, hmmmm
Not the most elegant thing but quite usable and a good idea.
For someone without an electrical pulse source, this is about as direct as is reasonably possible... but I agree, the whole system is not as elegant one would like due to the need to go from a rotating shaft to an electronic signal and back to rotating shaft.

$300, hmmmm
Seems like a lot, but not surprising due to the number of components in this approach... and it is a specialty item.
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