I scouted about the world to buy as simple yaw indicator for my boat. No such animal exists, so I made my own.
I needed to know engine position relative to the boat so I wouldn't have to constantly be looking back or over correcting the steering. A true steering indicator.
I purchased a cheap auto voltmeter from parts store and removed the lens. I had to cut around the bezel with a Dremel tool to remove the meter movement because the voltmeter is mechanically sealed and cannot be disassembled. In other words a throw away from China.
I used the 8 to 18 voltage range of the meter and built a voltage follower circuit to follow the voltage from a trimmer potentiometer internal to the linear actuator that steers the main engine on my boat.
The position of the red needle pointer will represent the position of the engine relative to center.
The circuit works fine. I will paint the face of the voltmeter and remove the voltage numbers.
I will also be adding a tachometer, so I will build a instrument panel that swings out of my way when not in use.
Fun project. Spent most of the day around boat shops, just looking and thinking and "justa swingin".
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z...pscf7eb0fc.jpg
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z...ps335f6b3e.jpg
