So I as working on this device (31mmx23mm) that you connect to a VESC and the second channel of your PPM remote.
It automatically logs your data like odometry, watt hours, cell voltage…
By using your remote it “beeps out” your data using a buzzer. It stores data over power cycles automatically (using an FRAM chip).
The purpose is the same as of those remotes with LCD screen. But at a VERY cheap prize point, plus no configuring the VESC. The other though I had was, that looking at a screen is a bad thing when you should focus in the road. With this device you can do both: look at the road and hear your telemetry data.
Since we are dealing with numbers smaller or equal to 3 digits (it supports up to 1.000.000 km / miles though) I found it OK to beep the digits of the number sequentially: 13 per example: be-PAUSE-be-be-be
I use the same buzzer they have on those cheap battery voltage checkers. From using them I found they are good even at 40km/h and with a helmet.
Its an alternative to remotes with screens. I also wanted something that keeps track of my mileage etc. automatically.
I think an alternative use to the buzzer might be a LV alarm? If it would give a short warning for low voltage or right before low voltage it would help
Yes, that is be biggest disadvantage of it!
But for anyone who can live with it this thing is a viable alternative to remotes with screens.
I am not really advertising it. I will make all the files available and make sure anyone who wants one gets one, like with all my DIY stuff.
Definitely going to include LV alarm in the software!
It also keeps track of you watt hours and watt hours regenerated so it is even easier to keep track of range than with voltage alone.
edit: though LV is for “low voltage” just googled it and found out what you really mean!
The first version of the PCB is in the making right now even smaller at just 31mmx23mm and with 2 buzzers, also the software needs debugging in the UI part.
This is pretty dope! Reminds me of older Metroboards. They used the mini remote and when you turn the wheel up, it gives you 0 to 4 beeps (in ascending tones so you can hear the distinction easily) for 0%-25%, 25%-50%, 50%-75%, and 75%-100%. I think this would be a much more intuitive implementation than doing a number of beeps to correspond to the numerical value.
That only works for voltage, but honestly thats all I would want it for. Anything more complicated than voltage and I want to look at the data. I also dont need to know my total mileage or whatever while I am riding
If you could make a small, simple, cheap voltage beeper that works exactly like the old Metroboard battery beeper, I would be about it. The Metroboard beeper also just made some loud beeps when you turn the wheel down (i.e. a “horn” to signal to pedestrians). That feature is less important to me, as I usually just ended up pressing the battery beeper to alert peds.
One drawback the Metroboard had with this was that throttle/breaking input would be totally disabled while the beeper was beeping. So if you have full battery and accidentally bump the wheel, then you have to wait 4 sec for all 4 beeps to be able to break or throttle again. Obviously not ideal haha.