Hey, that's interesting.

Designing such a trip computer has been something I've wanted to do
for years, but if they're already available so cheap, there's no
excuse to wait (especially now that I just retired).

The sensor magnet attachment looks like a challenge.  What kind of
adhesive are you using?  Aquarium?  It'll be interesting to see if
that holds up with the heat & dynamic forces.  Fortunately, the
magnet is pretty cheap to replace.  Is the reed switch & cable
included in the kit?

Please keep us informed.

//Jack
'85 Vanagon

On 14 Jul 2002, at 18:53, Edward Maglott wrote:

> Just in case anybody cares, here is an update on this project.  The magnet
> fell off and I "designed" an improved magnet mounting "system."  Go to the
> website below for details.  Other than that problem, it has worked well for
> me.  I have included the original message about this in case you have no
> idea what I am talking about...
> Edward
>
>
>
> Here is a project I am working on for the vanagon camper. I have adapted an
> inexpensive bicycle "cyclo-computer" to become a powerful trip computer. It
> senses speed from a sensor I installed fairly easily on the front left
> wheel. It tells your current speed, down to .1 mph. It tells your average
> speed for a trip, your maximum speed, your trip distance down to .01 miles,
> the time you have been moving, whether your current speed is faster or
> slower than your average. It has a time of day clock, it turns itself off
> when you are not moving for a few minutes, starts automatically when you
> start driving. It has a function that will scan automatically through all
> of its readouts. It comes with 2 mounting kits so you can use it on 2
> vehicles, or even on your van and your bike. It can switch easily from the
> configuration of one vehicle to the other.  You can reset the "trip" at any
> time.  It can read in 12 or 24 hour time, miles or km. You calibrate it to
> the circumference of your tires, down to 1 mm, so it has the potential to
> be very accurate.  It has an odometer that keeps going to measure your
> cumulative mileage.
>
> I bought the kit from Bike Nashbar. It was about $15 with shipping. The
> speed sensor is basically a magnet and a reed switch.  I am currently
> (4/1/02) testing it out, and so far it is working quite well. I have read
> up to 75 mph on it. There is a bit of a lag in the speed display at times.
> I think it only updates the speed every second or two, so sometimes it is
> behind what the speedometer is reading if you are accelerating (ha!) or
> decelerating significantly.
>
> Why, you may ask, would I do this.  That is a good question.  I had a VW
> GTi that had a built in trip computer, and found it quite entertaining on
> trips when there was not a lot to look at.  Generally, I love information,
> I'm pretty cheap, and I get a kick out of adapting a product to do
> something useful other than what it was not intended for.
>
> Here are some photos:
>
> http://buncombe.main.nc.us/~emaglott/pp8/index.htm
>
> Edward