I needed a 12v power supply, something to charge my phone with and wanted a voltmeter to monitor it all.
Here are some photos of what I made yesterday. I hope someone finds this useful:
This is my stock layout. Pretty basic.
http://www.twtex.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=4393
This is the $11 kit I bought off amazon.
http://www.twtex.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=4396
I wanted to make the dash out of aluminum, so first I found this wheel chair foot support in scrap.
http://www.twtex.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=4397
Being cast aluminum, it cracked in half before I could finish rough cutting it. Using a giant reciprocating saw was probably not the best tool for the job though. That's okay though because my sketch was off pretty far.
http://www.twtex.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=4398
I found the sign and made a better sketch of how I want the layout and began cutting and shaping. Warning: Aluminum transfers heat quickly. Best to wear gloves. Also, safety glasses, ear plugs, yadda yadda yadda.
http://www.twtex.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=4394
Using the plastic frame from the kit as a guide, I found a hole-saw that was the perfect size, however I couldn't find the bit part that it attaches too. So I found the perfect size drill bit, but again couldn't find a drill press or chuck big enough to accept it. (I have an odd assortment of tools)
http://www.twtex.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=4399
So, I stepped it up using 3 drill bits.
http://www.twtex.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=4392
Then finished it up with a stone bit. Several times I had to take the stone to the bench grinder to get the packed aluminum out of it so it would grind better. Also, at this point if the bit got caught in a bind, there was a risk of bending the panel especially with all the leverage of the drill.
http://www.twtex.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=4400
Here it is with holes cut and how I wanted it positioned. Sorry for the upside down upload.
http://www.twtex.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=4387
Here is the dash panel completed and wired up. I bent the top portion over 90* to give it some rigidity.
http://www.twtex.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=4391
A similar dash on amazon goes for $54. Probably worth the time to just buy it, but I'm trying to build my bike on the cheap. I made this with $11 in components and scrap material. This shouldn't take but an hour or so to make if you have all the correct tools and material. I did not, so it took about 4 hours. Most of that hunting tools.
Here are some photos of what I made yesterday. I hope someone finds this useful:
This is my stock layout. Pretty basic.
http://www.twtex.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=4393
This is the $11 kit I bought off amazon.
http://www.twtex.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=4396
I wanted to make the dash out of aluminum, so first I found this wheel chair foot support in scrap.
http://www.twtex.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=4397
Being cast aluminum, it cracked in half before I could finish rough cutting it. Using a giant reciprocating saw was probably not the best tool for the job though. That's okay though because my sketch was off pretty far.
http://www.twtex.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=4398
I found the sign and made a better sketch of how I want the layout and began cutting and shaping. Warning: Aluminum transfers heat quickly. Best to wear gloves. Also, safety glasses, ear plugs, yadda yadda yadda.
http://www.twtex.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=4394
Using the plastic frame from the kit as a guide, I found a hole-saw that was the perfect size, however I couldn't find the bit part that it attaches too. So I found the perfect size drill bit, but again couldn't find a drill press or chuck big enough to accept it. (I have an odd assortment of tools)
http://www.twtex.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=4399
So, I stepped it up using 3 drill bits.
http://www.twtex.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=4392
Then finished it up with a stone bit. Several times I had to take the stone to the bench grinder to get the packed aluminum out of it so it would grind better. Also, at this point if the bit got caught in a bind, there was a risk of bending the panel especially with all the leverage of the drill.
http://www.twtex.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=4400
Here it is with holes cut and how I wanted it positioned. Sorry for the upside down upload.
http://www.twtex.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=4387
Here is the dash panel completed and wired up. I bent the top portion over 90* to give it some rigidity.
http://www.twtex.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=844&pictureid=4391
A similar dash on amazon goes for $54. Probably worth the time to just buy it, but I'm trying to build my bike on the cheap. I made this with $11 in components and scrap material. This shouldn't take but an hour or so to make if you have all the correct tools and material. I did not, so it took about 4 hours. Most of that hunting tools.
Last edited: