Steering Wheel Mounted Accelerator Button
Steering Wheel Mounted Accelerator Button
(OP)
Hello Everyone,
I'm working with a highschool team, building an electric race car for competition this spring. We want to improve our accelerator button in the car, and we're looking for ideas how to do this. The button is a simple on/off button, and needs to be mounted on the steering wheel.
The current steering wheel is shaped like a U, and the button is on the top of the right hand side of the U. So you push the button down to power the car. This isn't very ergonomic, and after awhile your thumb goes numb, so we're looking for something more natural to hold in for long periods of time.
I just stumbled across this place, and thought it looked like there might be some good ideas out there. If anyone can point me to some better ideas for steering wheel-mounted buttons, I would appreciate it! Thanks in-advance for any help!
I'm working with a highschool team, building an electric race car for competition this spring. We want to improve our accelerator button in the car, and we're looking for ideas how to do this. The button is a simple on/off button, and needs to be mounted on the steering wheel.
The current steering wheel is shaped like a U, and the button is on the top of the right hand side of the U. So you push the button down to power the car. This isn't very ergonomic, and after awhile your thumb goes numb, so we're looking for something more natural to hold in for long periods of time.
I just stumbled across this place, and thought it looked like there might be some good ideas out there. If anyone can point me to some better ideas for steering wheel-mounted buttons, I would appreciate it! Thanks in-advance for any help!





RE: Steering Wheel Mounted Accelerator Button
But I am wondering why you wouldn't want this so-called 'accelerator button' to have more resolution than all the way on or all the way off.
Norm
RE: Steering Wheel Mounted Accelerator Button
Cheers
Greg Locock
New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
RE: Steering Wheel Mounted Accelerator Button
http://www.mustang6g.com/forums/picture.php?albumi...
Norm
RE: Steering Wheel Mounted Accelerator Button
To answer Norm's question - This is our first year in the competition, so we're trying to keep the design fairly simple. We decided not to pursue a variable drive for the motor, in the interest of simplicity, efficiency, and reliability. It is an efficiency race, and any additional electronics have the potential to reduce that efficiency. I'll look into these handgun switches, and see if I think we can incorporate one.
Greg, thanks for the idea. I was thinking something very similar - just have to find something I can incorporate into a steering wheel. I'll do some searching on the subject.
RE: Steering Wheel Mounted Accelerator Button