Nick H Wrote:Hi all,
I contacted Konstantin @ Kosbo.Com. Regards remanufacturing the clock. As for some reason I am finding this quiet interesting :lol: .
Here's his reply:-
Hi Nick,
Are you back from the future? ;-)
It's very interesting and I did not know that this car has VFD display in
it.
Yes we can make new clock, no problem.
How many clocks do you think your club would need, just one?
Or this clock is headache for lots of cars and it's better to replace it...
I ask about it, as it's not cheap to design/make new clock just for 1-2
replacements
If we can get about 10-20 orders, then I would not charge you for design and
clock would cost about 40-50GBP
You will get 1 year warranty and a few more features we can implement into
the new clock too.
Could you also give me dimensions of display and clock board, so I can start
to think/work on initial design...
Let me know what do you think about it
Best regards, Konstantin
http://www.kosbo.com
Rissy do you think you could give Konstantin the dimensions as you have the clock out?
This sounds quiet good to me. I'd order one for £40-50 quid to have as a spare as they are not available.
Plus this would be a proper VFD display not a modern replacement.
How about a show of hands of those who want a new clock?
Regards
Nick
Nick,
This is a very positive response indeed. The chap definitely sounds quite keen.
Just another another side note, the chap at
http://www.wellgainelectronics.com/futaba4-bt-05.aspx has confirmed that they only have the 4-BT-05 and 4-BT-07's. No 4-BT-02 in stock there)
For the other link posted above:
http://www.electronic-search.de/cgi-bin ... rtikel.txt
I have gotten in contact with these people also, just to confirm that it is indeed our display they have (unknown) quantities of. I've attached a photograph of both sides of my own on my email, to confirm that it is indeed the exact same part. I've asked for confirmation of the part, and also an estimate of cost per unit or in multiple quantities, if indeed the same unit type.
As for your investigations (I know what you mean about finding this quite an interesting topic lol!)
I've taken some measurements, but I think it is a little more complicated than this if we are to get as close an alternative as possible to fit our existing enclosures, and with the same functionality as we have now (constant supply after ignition turned off, as well as ignition sensing and headlight sensing for the auto illumination and dimming respectively, with the existing 4-wire connection we have in our cars.
Not to say this is impossible, but i think the chap might have to backwards engineer our circuit, and understand what each of the connections is (maybe someone here more familiar with the car wiring fixtures could help us identify what each of the 4 wires are. I'm presuming 12V supply, 0V line, and then two inputs, one for ignition input and the other for headlight input....? But I don't know which way round right now....?
Also, for the purist, I'm sure we would want the new clock, if we pursue this, to both fit into the existing enclosure AND work in harmony with the green lens, meaning the HRS and MINS increment buttons would have to be positioned under where the holes are for sticking in your wooden tooth pic or whatever other implement people have adopted for adjusting the time on the clock (when they work!)
I think, since you have opened communications Nick, it is best for you to continue. Of course, I will help out wherever possible. I'd definitely buy one for the price quoted!
Anyway, here's some dimensions, and photos which might be of some additional help to you with talking to this guy. I will of course update on the answer I get back from my latest endeavor too.
Circuit Board:
Through-hole, single side tracking
Width: 54mm
Height: 39mm
HRS and MINS increment button centres should be placed at 3mm from bottom edge of circuit board, and starting from the bottom left corner, the HRS increment button centre is placed 11.5mm to the right and again from the bottom left corner, the MINS increment button centre is placed at 39mm to the right.
The height of the completed assembly should be no more than 16mm from the stubs of the soldered components on the underside of the circuit board to the front face of the VFD display in order to fit in the existing enclosure. This will ensure it fits under the green fascia cap which we are all familiar with being the thing we see as the clock from the cockpit of the car.
The actual inside measurement of the enclosure the circuit fits into is 62mm by 46mm.
I hope this helps. Below, some more pics. If there are any others you need before I put all my stuff back together again late this week hopefully, then let me know.