New on this platform although some programming experience.
I'm looking to make a self-leveling camper. When you park a camper you want it to be level, as it's not nice to sleep on a slope.
There are commercial hydraulic solutions out there but not within my budget.
I've found these electric jacks:
that should do the trick. It has a controller for Up and Down so i expect 3 wires.
If i attach one on each corner of the campervan and fill out the excess space, and connect these 4 motors to a arduino and accellerometor, it should be able to self-level the car.
A few things that needs thought:
How can i control the motors
What sensor would be best for the leveling
Can i "calibrate" this so it saves the level position even on power off?
Check the motor data sheet. No doubt it has instructions on how to control them.
What sensor would be best for the leveling
An accelerometer sounds like the tool for the job. It'll tell you exactly which direction down is - from the perspective of the sensor of course, so do mount it firmly.
Can i "calibrate" this so it saves the level position even on power off?
You mean the actual position of the sensor (which is probably not level) when your floor is level? You can take some sensor values and store them in the on-board EEPROM.
One thing to keep in mind: the accelerometer will react to the vibrations of the motors. So you may have to measure, calculate how much to run which motor, stop the motor, measure again, etc. Until you're level.
zwieblum:
Image is broken
Not for me. Not that the image tells you much, really...
By controlling the motors i mean how to feed them the 12v they expect using the arduino. Use a motor shield? And if they have 2 wires, how to switch polarity to retract them?
mikeisahappycamper:
By controlling the motors i mean how to feed them the 12v they expect using the arduino. Use a motor shield? And if they have 2 wires, how to switch polarity to retract them?
In the OP you talk about three wires, now it's down to two. What does the manual tell you? Without actual details you're just wasting our time.
A regular DC motor can of course be controlled by a motor controller. That includes direction change. Make sure it can support the current those motors need.
You'll be replacing the controller, which is probably just a switch doing what the DPDT relay I have above is doing.
Push one buttom, contacts close +12V to + and Gnd to motor -.
Push the other button, contacts close =12V to motor- and motor+ to Gnd.
I would love to give you the datasheet however i have not bought it yet, as i want to know if this is possible first. I was talking about 3 wires bit later i thought it was more likely to have 2 and reverse polarity.
Sorry for the lack of details, however i wanted to get some advice from the experts before purchasing them first and then finding out they are useless.
Can i "calibrate" this so it saves the level position even on power off?
I do not understand this piece.
Why do you want to save the level position?
Also, I have not seen anything in your description that talks about knowing the position of each jack. Are you intending to have some way of knowing the position of a jack?
I would think that would be important.
How will you know how far you can extend a jack? What if a jack reaches its full extension before the camper is level? Without awareness of reaching full extension you run the risk of overrunning the end.
How will you know how far to retract the jack when it is time to leave?
My 5th wheel camper has landing legs with a similar motor. I am sure the interface is a DPDT switch.
And the only positional awareness in in the thumb that is holding the switch. I suspect that your jacks will be similar.
I DO have 4 scissor jacks (for extra stability on a long camper) bolted to the frame but they are not motorized except by my cordless drill with a 3/4 socket on it. Again, positional awareness is in the trigger finger.
One thing is for certain, you can build a little one of these in your kitchen with some really inexpensive l298ns and mabuchi motors. figure out a way to make a toy jack system.
As the previous person indicated, there are a lot of variables to consider. I would not spend a dime on hardware until you get the program running. By that time, your excitement and expertise will steer you in the correct direction $$$
mikeisahappycamper:
I would love to give you the datasheet however i have not bought it yet, as i want to know if this is possible first.
You found a picture. You know there's a controller. Can't you find some specifications in the same place? Or at least provide a link to where your information comes from?
I was planning to bolt them to the underside of the van frame permanently. So i just have to put some metal pads under it and extend them.
My idea was to press a button so it will auto level based on the current incline. However then it still stands on 2 tires. Then when it's level press the button again so it extends all 4 at the same time and it lifts a few inches so the van is resting on the jacks instead of the
I read it automatically stops when it reaches the motor limits. (Toolots, Inc. - Reliable Equipment Fast.) I'll buy one first and how it works. In the worst case i have a 12v jack
Good that the jack will know when it reaches the limit of travel. Will the Arduino know that?
You mention moving up another few inches to put the weight on the jacks rather then the tires.
How will the arduino know that distance?
You mention bolting these under your camper. Are the motors intended to survive exposure to water and road grime? I would be concerned about that since they probably expect it to sit in its case in the trunk.
I looked at the link that Crossroads posted to a product that looks similar to your pic. It states that is can be used on a vehicle up to 6600lbs. No clear lifting capacity, but apparently it can lift one tire of a 6600lb vehicle.
How much doe your camper weigh? Gross vehicle weight rating because you always load up the camper with all the toys, pots, pans and fresh water.
I am not trying to punch holes in your plan. Just help you identify possible issues.
