handwheel potentiometer

[banh]

hi,

i need to find something like a car steering wheel, and its funtion is like a potentiometer, i.e. as you turn the resistance changes.
anyone knows where to buy sth like that?

thanks.

 

[Slayerza]

Does the wheel have to rotate 360° or more? If so than maybe a normal potentiometer and some sort of gearing can do the trick. Something similar to the inside of a servo motor.

 

[IanP]

How to build one:
**broken link removed**

Where to buy one from:
http://www.happcontrols.com/driving/50807000.htm

Regards,
IanP

 

[philba]

I've thought about doing something similar but lean towards a different approach. I would use some sort of a quadrature encoder on the wheel axle to generate a series of pulses. This can go into a cheap little uC to then drive an electronic pot, iif a resistive output is desired output or used directly in a microcontroller.

The big advantage here is that you don't use mechanical parts that can wear out. I think you would need to get a pretty good pot to have a reasonable life span. Also, wear on a pot will likely change its linearity.

Phil

 

[banh]

i found building this is very tough for me. SO i bought a car racing game set (including a steering wheel + a few buttons on it)+accelerator and brake pedals. The steering wheel is based on potentiometer.

Besides, the set is not so expensive.

 

[Slayerza]

The electronic approach is propably better suited, as there is no mechanical wear or design and the electronic pots have a good lifetime.