Battery indicator question

[Commie]

Disclaimer: I have no idea about electronics, beyond Ohm's law. I can solder though.

Question: what would it take to set up a small neon light that is green when ou put 4.2v on it, and red when you put 3.6v? With some sort of colors in between? Is that involved, or something that can be rigged up pretty small?

 

[jimbalny]

Check out the "uh oh" battery indicator light kit on sparkfun. It works by turning on a big red led when the voltage drops below a value set by a trimpot.?

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[Commie]

That is pretty cool, thank you!

I may have to make one, rather than using the spiffy kit they have, as I may try to stick all that stuff inside a mechanic mod.

 

[jimbalny]

Np. Yea, it is pretty oversized for such a simple circuit. They may even have the schematics posted on there. I got the kit to mess around with and was able to get the pot set to make it turn on at below 3.6. May be best for small size to replace that pot with a resistor when you figure out the right value you want it at.

 

[Commie]

Yup, that's what I was thinking too. It'll be fun trying to fit it into the Reo, to light up the juice bottle when it's time to replace battery.

And yes, they do have schematics there. That site is awesome! I may have to forgo feeding my kids, but look at all the cool stuff I can make!

 

[jimbalny]

Yup, that's what I was thinking too. It'll be fun trying to fit it into the Reo, to light up the juice bottle when it's time to replace battery.

And yes, they do have schematics there. That site is awesome! I may have to forgo feeding my kids, but look at all the cool stuff I can make!

Its good to have priorities in line! Ive been wanting to do the same thing with my vv grand! I have a mini voltage meter but always forget to use it, then again it should come with low battery warning already!