Linear Potentiometer

[ran_l]

Hi everyone,
i got two questions about Linear Potentiometer that maybe someone could help me with:
1. i saw in many fsae car's pictures that most of the teams are using linear potentiometer only at the front suspension why??
2. how do i install them to the dampers? is there a place/ web site that i can buy those installation pins/screws?

thanks in advance,
Ran
BGR team 2012

[ran_l]

Hi everyone,
i got two questions about Linear Potentiometer that maybe someone could help me with:
1. i saw in many fsae car's pictures that most of the teams are using linear potentiometer only at the front suspension why??
2. how do i install them to the dampers? is there a place/ web site that i can buy those installation pins/screws?

thanks in advance,
Ran
BGR team 2012

[Jay Lawrence]

Hi Ran,

1. Not sure which cars they were but typically you run them on all 4 corners.

2. Make some mounts for them. All you need is a small diameter bit of metal that gets welded to, for example, your shock mount bolts. That way you have mount points that are directly in line with the ends of your shocks

[Goyds]

G'day Ran

I've had mixed success with linear pots on our vehicles. I have found they are both expensive and fragile if you do not look after them. If you have the chance i'd recommend running them of 5V rather than 12V as this will increase their life substantially.

As for mounting, most of the teams I’ve seen just make up small brackets out of strip aluminium. If you are using something like the Celesco MLP sensor they actually use a 2.5mm mounting pin so you will need access to a watch lathe to accurately make the pins.

Finally the one thing that is guaranteed to kill these if if you over extend/compress them. Make sure you buy sensors with longer travel than you need and mount them so you can't bottom/top them out.

As for why you would want them only on the front, well i guess it depends what your dynamics team want to measure. Personaly i'd have all 4 but as they can be many $$$, some teams might be stuck with only a pair.

Lloyd Morrissey
Power and Electrics
Team Swinburne 2011

[ran_l]

thank you for your quick response.
Ran

[ran_l]

Hi Pabiyan,
I think you forgot to add the link.

[Fantomas]

Pabiyan is a spambot...

[Jon Burford]

We use linear pots.
Just as stated above. Make sure you get the correct ones and really think about how they attach to the car.
We use direct mounts off the dampers via stepped inserts.