element14 Community
element14 Community
    Register Log In
  • Site
  • Search
  • Log In Register
  • About Us
  • Community Hub
    Community Hub
    • What's New on element14
    • Feedback and Support
    • Benefits of Membership
    • Personal Blogs
    • Members Area
    • Achievement Levels
  • Learn
    Learn
    • Ask an Expert
    • eBooks
    • element14 presents
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Spotlight
    • STEM Academy
    • Webinars, Training and Events
    • Learning Groups
  • Technologies
    Technologies
    • 3D Printing
    • FPGA
    • Industrial Automation
    • Internet of Things
    • Power & Energy
    • Sensors
    • Technology Groups
  • Challenges & Projects
    Challenges & Projects
    • Design Challenges
    • element14 presents Projects
    • Project14
    • Arduino Projects
    • Raspberry Pi Projects
    • Project Groups
  • Products
    Products
    • Arduino
    • Avnet Boards Community
    • Dev Tools
    • Manufacturers
    • Multicomp Pro
    • Product Groups
    • Raspberry Pi
    • RoadTests & Reviews
  • Store
    Store
    • Visit Your Store
    • Choose another store...
      • Europe
      •  Austria (German)
      •  Belgium (Dutch, French)
      •  Bulgaria (Bulgarian)
      •  Czech Republic (Czech)
      •  Denmark (Danish)
      •  Estonia (Estonian)
      •  Finland (Finnish)
      •  France (French)
      •  Germany (German)
      •  Hungary (Hungarian)
      •  Ireland
      •  Israel
      •  Italy (Italian)
      •  Latvia (Latvian)
      •  
      •  Lithuania (Lithuanian)
      •  Netherlands (Dutch)
      •  Norway (Norwegian)
      •  Poland (Polish)
      •  Portugal (Portuguese)
      •  Romania (Romanian)
      •  Russia (Russian)
      •  Slovakia (Slovak)
      •  Slovenia (Slovenian)
      •  Spain (Spanish)
      •  Sweden (Swedish)
      •  Switzerland(German, French)
      •  Turkey (Turkish)
      •  United Kingdom
      • Asia Pacific
      •  Australia
      •  China
      •  Hong Kong
      •  India
      •  Korea (Korean)
      •  Malaysia
      •  New Zealand
      •  Philippines
      •  Singapore
      •  Taiwan
      •  Thailand (Thai)
      • Americas
      •  Brazil (Portuguese)
      •  Canada
      •  Mexico (Spanish)
      •  United States
      Can't find the country/region you're looking for? Visit our export site or find a local distributor.
  • Translate
  • Profile
  • Settings
Arduino
  • Products
  • More
Arduino
Arduino Forum I have a zero center meter and need to drive it??
  • Blog
  • Forum
  • Documents
  • Quiz
  • Events
  • Polls
  • Files
  • Members
  • Mentions
  • Sub-Groups
  • Tags
  • More
  • Cancel
  • New
Join Arduino to participate - click to join for free!
Actions
  • Share
  • More
  • Cancel
Forum Thread Details
  • State Verified Answer
  • Replies 3 replies
  • Answers 2 answers
  • Subscribers 393 subscribers
  • Views 436 views
  • Users 0 members are here
  • c
  • hardware
  • meter
  • nexgen_flight_simulator
  • arduino
  • diy_cockpit
  • software
Related

I have a zero center meter and need to drive it??

phoenixcomm
phoenixcomm over 11 years ago

Ok I have a meter that has two leads and you can drive it bi-directionally so I know how to dive a meter one way:

image

outputValue = map(sensorValue, 0, 1023, 0, 255); // scale for analog out
analogWrite(analogMeterPin, outputValue); // write the analog out value

   But I dont know how to drive it both positive and negative. Sound like fun any body have any ideas image

   Thanks for the help ~~ Cris H.

 

Oh BTW I could use a DPDT relay and drive it from a digital output..lolimage

  • Sign in to reply
  • Cancel
Parents
  • vsluiter
    0 vsluiter over 11 years ago

    I think the simplest would be to use two PWM outputs and 'drive' your meter differentially. If the meter should be in the center, drive both outputs half-scale (127 for Arduino), if it needs to go one way, you can drop one voltage and increase the other, for the other direction you invert this. I'm not at home in Arduino programming, but I guess this should kind of do the trick (analog in value 512 will be center):

     

    outputValuePos = map(sensorValue, 0, 1023, 0, 255); // scale for analog out, positive
    outputValueNeg = map(sensorValue, 0, 1023, 255, 0); // scale for analog out, negative (notice change of output w.r. to positive)
    analogWrite(analogMeterPinPos, outputValuePos); // write the analog out value for postitive pin
    analogWrite(analogMeterPinNeg, outputValueNeg); // write the analog out value for postitive pin

     

    This should work for a meter that is suited for +/- your Arduino output voltage. If the needle hits the max, you can either adjust the scaling in software, or add a series resistor with the meter.

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up 0 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • Reject Answer
    • Cancel
Reply
  • vsluiter
    0 vsluiter over 11 years ago

    I think the simplest would be to use two PWM outputs and 'drive' your meter differentially. If the meter should be in the center, drive both outputs half-scale (127 for Arduino), if it needs to go one way, you can drop one voltage and increase the other, for the other direction you invert this. I'm not at home in Arduino programming, but I guess this should kind of do the trick (analog in value 512 will be center):

     

    outputValuePos = map(sensorValue, 0, 1023, 0, 255); // scale for analog out, positive
    outputValueNeg = map(sensorValue, 0, 1023, 255, 0); // scale for analog out, negative (notice change of output w.r. to positive)
    analogWrite(analogMeterPinPos, outputValuePos); // write the analog out value for postitive pin
    analogWrite(analogMeterPinNeg, outputValueNeg); // write the analog out value for postitive pin

     

    This should work for a meter that is suited for +/- your Arduino output voltage. If the needle hits the max, you can either adjust the scaling in software, or add a series resistor with the meter.

    • Cancel
    • Vote Up 0 Vote Down
    • Sign in to reply
    • Reject Answer
    • Cancel
Children
No Data
element14 Community

element14 is the first online community specifically for engineers. Connect with your peers and get expert answers to your questions.

  • Members
  • Learn
  • Technologies
  • Challenges & Projects
  • Products
  • Store
  • About Us
  • Feedback & Support
  • FAQs
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Legal and Copyright Notices
  • Sitemap
  • Cookies

An Avnet Company © 2025 Premier Farnell Limited. All Rights Reserved.

Premier Farnell Ltd, registered in England and Wales (no 00876412), registered office: Farnell House, Forge Lane, Leeds LS12 2NE.

ICP 备案号 10220084.

Follow element14

  • X
  • Facebook
  • linkedin
  • YouTube