Adjustable power supply

Projects General Guidance
1

Hi all,

I have been tasked to find a solution for an issue I have at my place of employment.

We work on mining equipment.

Task: Replace a foot operated throttle pedal with a more accurate hand controlled device for testing purposes.

The pedal receives 5 vdc from the drive control system, and returns 0.5 - 4.5 vdc to control vehicle speed.

I am wondering if i can use an arduino to control a voltage output between 0.5 and 4.5 vdc at prescribed intervals.

0.5 vdc reflects zero pedal input, with 4.5 vdc reflecting 100% pedal input.

For the testing that we want to achieve, I need to be able to simulate : 0% pedal
10% pedal
20% pedal
30% pedal
all the way up to 80% pedal input.

The machines run a 24vdc control system. The solution can use the 24vdc from the truck or a seperate battery.

Any help, or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

2

"Task: Replace a foot operated throttle pedal with a more accurate hand controlled device for testing purposes."

You don't need an Arduino for that but the hardware you use does depend on how much current flows through that pedal.

If the pedal only gets low current (pretty sure this is your case) then a hand control can be made out of a potentiometer and a resistor wired as a variable voltage divider and give very fine control if desired. If you want solid 10% spots then you make or find a dial with detents to click onto or slots to drop into, that mechanical stuff we know and love so well.

If the pedal runs motor current (very unlikely) then I'd find a way to squeeze the what the foot-lever part of the pedal does except by turning a thread perhaps 120-180 degrees and for sure have detents for that one, it will have a spring pushing back. Best part is that the only rewiring would be to move the box under the pedal itself.

3

Sounds like that pedal is indeed simply connected to a pot, which produces the required voltage as signal, which is fed to the motor.

Replacing this with another pot should be all you need to do.

Carefully check your vehicle's operation and mainentance manuals on this.

4

If this is a mining application , you probably need flame proof or IS , ruggedised , industrial stuff - not an Arduino project , search for appropriate equipment .