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Digital frequency counter panel?

I

Ignoramus5533

Jan 1, 1970
0
Is there some easy way to add a small LCD or other digital panel with
a frequency counter, to a circuit? I was thinking of attaching that to
the actual welder. I have separate frequency counters, but would like
to know if there is an easy way to add a digital panel.

i
 
Ignoramus5533 said:
Is there some easy way to add a small LCD or other digital panel with
a frequency counter, to a circuit? I was thinking of attaching that to
the actual welder. I have separate frequency counters, but would like
to know if there is an easy way to add a digital panel.

A OEM Basic stamp and a LCD work great up to 60 Khz or so, with ~1 hz
resolution, use a prescaler before that ie divide by 10 or 100 or 3 or
whatever.

Steve
 
I

Ignoramus21085

Jan 1, 1970
0
I see. Thanks. Well, I will wait with doing it.

i

A OEM Basic stamp and a LCD work great up to 60 Khz or so, with ~1 hz
resolution, use a prescaler before that ie divide by 10 or 100 or 3 or
whatever.

Steve


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W

Walter Harley

Jan 1, 1970
0
Ignoramus5533 said:
Is there some easy way to add a small LCD or other digital panel with
a frequency counter, to a circuit? I was thinking of attaching that to
the actual welder. I have separate frequency counters, but would like
to know if there is an easy way to add a digital panel.

Depends on how accurate you need.

You can get inexpensive (<$30) 3-1/2 digit panel-mount voltmeters, with LCD
readout. For instance, Jameco part 108388CJ, for $13. Then all you need is
a frequency-to-voltage converter; e.g., LM2917 and a couple of resistors and
capacitors.

If you go this route, be aware that these inexpensive voltmeters usually
need a 9v supply that is *isolated from ground* - in other words, the power
supply ground can't be the same as the signal ground. There are various
ways around that limitation, the easiest of which is just to use a 9v
battery - they don't draw much current, the battery will last a long time.
 
I

Ignoramus21085

Jan 1, 1970
0
Depends on how accurate you need.

You can get inexpensive (<$30) 3-1/2 digit panel-mount voltmeters, with LCD
readout. For instance, Jameco part 108388CJ, for $13. Then all you need is
a frequency-to-voltage converter; e.g., LM2917 and a couple of resistors and
capacitors.

If you go this route, be aware that these inexpensive voltmeters usually
need a 9v supply that is *isolated from ground* - in other words, the power
supply ground can't be the same as the signal ground. There are various
ways around that limitation, the easiest of which is just to use a 9v
battery - they don't draw much current, the battery will last a long time.

This is the perfect answer, thanks.

i
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C

Chris Jones

Jan 1, 1970
0
Ignoramus5533 said:
Is there some easy way to add a small LCD or other digital panel with
a frequency counter, to a circuit? I was thinking of attaching that to
the actual welder. I have separate frequency counters, but would like
to know if there is an easy way to add a digital panel.

i

Someone has programmed a PIC16C84 or 16F84 to do this up to about 40MHz,
with a standard LCD panel (anything that uses a HD44780 chip or clone
thereof). Google for pic frequency counter. I think the ham radio people
like them.

I was meaning to write one that could do reciprocal counting to get fast
updates on low frequencies but I never got around to it, partly because I
got a very nice HP counter second hand so my motivation reduced.

Chris
 
J

Jasen Betts

Jan 1, 1970
0
Depends on how accurate you need.

You can get inexpensive (<$30) 3-1/2 digit panel-mount voltmeters, with LCD
readout. For instance, Jameco part 108388CJ, for $13. Then all you need is
a frequency-to-voltage converter; e.g., LM2917 and a couple of resistors and
capacitors.

If you go this route, be aware that these inexpensive voltmeters usually
need a 9v supply that is *isolated from ground* - in other words, the power
supply ground can't be the same as the signal ground. There are various
ways around that limitation, the easiest of which is just to use a 9v
battery - they don't draw much current, the battery will last a long time.

where do you get stable enough parts to get 3.5 didgts precision?

Bye.
Jasen
 
W

Walter Harley

Jan 1, 1970
0
Jasen Betts said:
[...]
where do you get stable enough parts to get 3.5 didgts precision?

Just because the meter can display 3.5 digits doesn't mean the problem
requires that much precision. The OP didn't say anything about how much
precision he needs, but from context of other posts I'm guessing that he
just needs to know order of magnitude.
 
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