Modular Pedal Power Displays
Please note: All our kits will be sold via The Curious Electric Company from now on. This page is for information only. Please visit our shop to see our current range of kits or contact us to discuss your project and how we might be able to help.
We have created a range of modular power monitors, regulators and displays. The basic modular unit has been designed for pedal generators within the range of 12-35V DC and up to 20A DC, but bespoke units for different voltage and current ratings are available.
Options are available to display power, regulate the power level or record data to a computer or SD card.
Here is the overview of the options available and their features.
These units are available ready built and tested. Please contact us to discuss your project and how we might be able to help.
Here is the range of units, showing the basic model, the regulator model and the power display model. They are enclosed in especially designed laser-cut wooden boxes.
The design of these units is modular, so that different features can be enabled depending upon the application.
Here is a short video of one of the displays:
They can be used anywhere DC power must be measured and displayed.
Knowledge is power. Use the pedalog to:
- explain the concepts of power and energy
- promote energy efficiency
- explain basic electrical theory
- create interesting and informative displays
- Monitor and record voltage, current and power
Basic model
This is a ‘bare bones’ monitor. It monitors the voltage and current. It has an LED to provide feedback. It can output data (via a special lead) for use with: the computer visualisation, an SD card recorder or an LED display unit.
The LED provides feedback on the voltage. A voltage set-point can be entered (this is usually set to 12V DC, but can be from 0 to 50V). The colour of the LED will vary, with Green being “OK!”, Red being “Too Low” and Blue being “Too high”.
This unit is designed to be used in conjunction with a computer or the SD card datalogger.
Display model
This model has the same features as the basic model, but with a large and highly visual display of power. Power is displayed in watts (from 0-999W). It also provides feedback on the voltage level using an LED.
This unit can be used in any application (not just pedal generators) where DC power must be displayed.
Regulator model
The regulator model contains a ‘shunt’ type regulator which will regulate the output voltage level. It also contains a 12V output socket (car lighter type) and a 20A thermal fuse. This unit can handle 100W continuous and peaks of 200W. It is designed for use with single-person pedal generators.
This also has the same features as the basic model, with a serial data output for recording and display via a computer. It can also power an external 7 segment LED display or an LED bar graph display.
Scrolling LED display
This model displays the data on a scolling display which can have simple graphics added. This is also shown in the video above.
Scrolling text on the display.
Computer visualisation
The output from these devices is a stream of serial data. This gives voltage, current and power at one second intervals. This data can be connected to a computer (via a USB/serial lead). A visualisation program has been written (in Processing) to display the data on any computer. It is multi-platform and free to download program and programming language.
Note: The code is a work-in-progress at the moment. More details will be added here when complete.
The code can be adapted for your own personal use.
The computer visualisation program is free to download.
It has been written in Processing, a multi-platform open language.
A USB/serial data cable for use with the pedal devices is available.
Wireless data options are available so the data can be sent wirelessly to a local computer, using the equipment shown above. Please email us for more details and costs.
SD card data storage
The serial output data can also be recorded using our DataDuino serial version. This records the data to a comma separated variable (.csv) file which can be analysed and displayed later. The SD card recording unit can be added internally, or can be bought as a stand-alone remote unit.
Bar Graph Display
To show the output power these units can be connected to a large LED bar graph display. This gives a fun and highly visual display. Some more details are available here.
Bar graph unit installed at the Arcola Theatre in London
Bar graph unit installed at Stubbington Study Centre
Bar graph unit for use by Wiltraco, a pedal power events company based in the Netherlands.
Portable bar graph unit for the Nottinghamshire Healthcare pedal generator system.
Please email for information and prices of bespoke bar graph display units.
Ordering information
It is best to email us to explain the system and we can advise on the best options. Please just get in touch if you would like any advice or information on these units.
Hello, I am college student here in Los Angeles CA. One of my class project is to build a IV curve tester, to characterize solar panel. The panel we will be testing are rated at VOC 30v and ISC 12A. We would like to test it under different irradiance and under variety of resistance and finally transfer the data to pc or mac to plot graphs or have it display on a lcd monitor. I will all the advice and list of product i will need either from you guys somewhere online. i appreciate any help you can provide.
thanks
shoab siddiquie
Hi Shoab,
I have built a prototype IV curve tester, with information about it here:
http://www.re-innovation.co.uk/web12/index.php/en/projects/solar-pv-iv-curve-tester
This was only ever built as a prototype and I have not taken it any futher.
I think that contains a lot of the information you require including a circuit diagram.
Hope that helps,
Let me know how the project goes and I can put any links here.
Regards,
Matt
Thanks Matt, for taking the time to response. I was wondering if it will be a good idea to start with the “pedalog” circuit that you have built and Let me know if I can order that online. from you guys.
Thanks again
shoab