Another Casper Modification

[Gregor 4,847]

First, if you have a real aversion to spending money (but not much) on doing dumb, pretty much useless things, you may want to leave now. Personally, I like to tinker, and I think it's fun. I said I had a modification in mind, and I did. This one had me stymied for a while. Lots of R&D and trial & error, mostly error, but I got there. I have a little bit of a structural bit to change, not hard, just time consuming. I also have an electrical question about the voltage to my winch, but I will get to that later. Keep in mind, with the snowblower set up on the front of this thing, there is very close to 400# on the front tires.

 

[ebinmaine 68,888]

So what did we did ?

[Gregor 4,847]

Not a very good video, sorry. The camera man is gone today. I am not touching the steering wheel at all during this video. This is my steering wheel. Crude, but it works for now.

[ebinmaine 68,888]

That is AWESOME.  

 

I'll be looking forward to details!

[Pullstart 63,205]

When does the remote control come into play?  

[Pullstart 63,205]

[Gregor 4,847]

I have been reading up on how to build a wireless remote control. I have not quite figured it out yet, but I'm working on it.

[ebinmaine 68,888]

So what's the actual control system here?

What does the work?

Linear actuators?

 

Would what you've done be useful as a power steering system of sorts?

 

 

[Gregor 4,847]

This could easily be modified to work as power steering. It wouldn't so much as turn the wheels by themselves, but could assist in turning, just like power steering. If I can get mt 125 up to the garage, I may work on that. Otherwise, it will have to wait until spring.

I will post some pics of this system as it is.

[ebinmaine 68,888]

6 minutes ago, Gregor said:

pics

Love to see video if possible.  

[Gregor 4,847]

I don't know if you can really tell a lot from the pics, so I have included some drawings. Everything I do goes on paper first, and sometimes second, and third, and................

There is a winch mounted underneath the tractor. It has a steel cable running up and around the fan gear.

Where the limit switches are also located on each side of the tractor.

It's a good thing Casper has a trunk.I tried running the winch off of just one realy, but the voltage to my winch was only about 6 1/2. Adding a relay increased it to about 10, but would like to know how to increase it more.

 

 

 

Casper is outside right now, I will get a video later.

 

Edited January 17, 2022 by Gregor

[Jeff-C175 7,203]

And all this is leading up to full remote control?

 

Even full autonomous control!  Knows when there's work to do and just goes ahead and does it.

 

A true ghost tractor... 

[Jeff-C175 7,203]

19 minutes ago, Gregor said:

like to know how to increase it more.

 

First you need to identify where the voltage drop is occurring.

 

You can measure from one end of a wire to the other while the winch is running, for example.

 

Typically, heavier wire gives the most bangfordabuck.

[ebinmaine 68,888]

Very very nice. 

 

So if you were going to consider this setup as a power steering usage how does it work?

Would you still need the buttons to be in full control or does it/can it be steered with the wheel and it's "helped" by the electronics?

 

[Gregor 4,847]

I was wondering about fuses. I am using 2 automotive mini fuses would increasing to larger fuses help? Or even larger?Or would it make any significant difference?

[Gregor 4,847]

2 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Very very nice. 

 

So if you were going to consider this setup as a power steering usage how does it work?

Would you still need the buttons to be in full control or does it/can it be steered with the wheel and it's "helped" by the electronics?

 

No, you would not need the buttons at all. The tractor would know when, and which way you were turning.

[ebinmaine 68,888]

Just now, Gregor said:

No, you would not need the buttons at all. The tractor would know when, and which way you were turning.

What tells it?

[Gregor 4,847]

1 minute ago, ebinmaine said:

What tells it?

Moving the steering wheel. I could have done the same, and might on the 125

 

[Jeff-C175 7,203]

9 minutes ago, Gregor said:

increasing to larger fuses help?

 

Measure the voltage drop across the fuse first.

 

Anything else is shotgunning.

 

First identify where the voltage drop is occurring!  Then start by correcting the wurst furst.

[Snoopy11 5,714]

 

I'm in.

 

I have no idea what is being done here... it looks TOTALLY ...so... I will follow along as a student of you all.

 

Where Casper goes, there will I go. It's owner will be my friend. Where it's videos are located, I will watch. Where it's pictures are, I will gaze at its beauty.

 

 

Don

[ebinmaine 68,888]

2 hours ago, Gregor said:

Moving the steering wheel

Forgive me and my lack of electrontical smartosity. 

 

The system as a whole understands that when YOU move the steering wheel then something else needs to happen. ....

How does that decision occur?

 

I do understand that if you press a switch then it will tell a circuit to do a certain thing. 

 

What tells the winch or whatever it needs to move when the wheel is moved?

 

 

[Jeff-C175 7,203]

19 minutes ago, Snoopy11 said:

Where Casper goes, there will I go. It's owner will be my friend. Where it's videos are located, I will watch. Where it's pictures are, I will gaze at its beauty.

 

Of prose, the King you are!

 

[Snoopy11 5,714]

2 minutes ago, Jeff-C175 said:

 

Of prose, the King you are!

 

Figured you would get a laugh out of that...

 

Don

[Gregor 4,847]

35 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Forgive me and my lack of electrontical smartosity. 

 

The system as a whole understands that when YOU move the steering wheel then something else needs to happen. ....

How does that decision occur?

 

I do understand that if you press a switch then it will tell a circuit to do a certain thing. 

 

What tells the winch or whatever it needs to move when the wheel is moved?

 

 

Not much of a drawing, I put it together in a hurry, but I think this is one way.

 

[ebinmaine 68,888]

Very cool. Well explained. Thank you.