Stowe log transducer to Nasa head?

[Ardenfour]

As per title, can anyone advise how to modify a Stowe paddlewheel transducer to work with a Nasa display? I know the Nasa paddlewheel has two magnets, that's the easy bit. My Stowe has 3 wires - 12v, 0v, and signal. The Nasa unit uses a coax cable, so 2 wires.
The Stowe unit is larger diameter compared to the Nasa, so I'd like to keep the existing Stowe thru hull, apart from the quality issues associated with the Nasa...

 

[NUTMEG]

In the same position. Would be interested to read any answers

 

[pvb]

See this recent post, seems it's possible...

http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...lost-magnets&p=5728889&highlight=#post5728889

 

[Ardenfour]

Been in touch with that OP, his Stowe is early version with 2 wires

 

[pvb]

Is yours a Dataline era transducer? If so, the Stowe Marine website says "On a Dataline measure the voltage with the black probe of a multimeter on the black wire and the red probe on the red. If this is not 12 volts, the Databox is faulty. Now put the red probe on the blue wire and turn the paddle very slowly. As the magnet passes the sensor the voltage reading should change from 5 volts to 0 volts and back again. If not, the paddle sensor is faulty. For a Micro do as above, but red is brown and black is green." So it seems the output is 5v pulses.

 

[rogerthebodger]

As per title, can anyone advise how to modify a Stowe paddlewheel transducer to work with a Nasa display? I know the Nasa paddlewheel has two magnets, that's the easy bit. My Stowe has 3 wires - 12v, 0v, and signal. The Nasa unit uses a coax cable, so 2 wires.
The Stowe unit is larger diameter compared to the Nasa, so I'd like to keep the existing Stowe thru hull, apart from the quality issues associated with the Nasa...

The stowe paddlewheel transducer is a hall effect sensor the needs power, ground and signal. The Nasa may be a simple reed switch (open and close) as the magnet passes.

Don't think they will be compatible.

You can check the NASA transducer with a multi meter on the ohm range and turning the paddle wheel to see if the meter goes open circuit the short circuit,

 

[Ardenfour]

Think you may be right Rogershaw - I wonder would there be an interface circuit of some kind to change a pulse-type signal to a open/short-type signal?

 

[rogerthebodger]

Think you may be right Rogershaw - I wonder would there be an interface circuit of some kind to change a pulse-type signal to a open/short-type signal?

It may be as simple as adding a pull up or pull down resistor in series with the switch. This then makes a 3 wire transducer, supply voltage, 0 Volts and signal but would need some experimentation to find the correct arrangement and resistance values.