Misc

Annunciator Panel

It was decide to build a small warning light panel. Rather than add several confusing indicator lights to the dash panel a low profile panel will be placed below the main dash panel above the radio. The panel will appear as a black face panel 1" x 6". Functions for the panel are 'Check Engine', 'Brake Warn', 'Low Coolant', 'Battery', 'Low Oil' and 'Low Fuel'. The circuit board includes a warning light bulb test relay to check the bulbs each time the car is started. Also on the board is a circuit to control the voltage to the gauge illumination lights. The board was designed Fail-Safe so that failure of any circuit or component will not affect the operation of the car, in fact unplugging the entire board will have no effect other than causing the gauge background lights to operate full bright. The 'Low Fuel' light will come on when 3 gallons of fuel remain and is tied to the factory 'Slosh Module' so that it will not blink when there is fuel movement in the tank. The 'Low Oil' light was designed with a time delay circuit so that it will not falsely trigger during hard cornering or acceleration.

Each circuit was designed and tested on breadboards. The layout was then made to scale on the computer so that the component pins would fit properly.

The layout was then printed on transparency film with an InkJet printer. The small printout at the bottom is the panel for the lights. The panel uses standard replaceable dash panel lights and sockets.

The transparency is laid on top of a reversing film purchased from KeproCircuits.com and exposed to UV light then developed under warm water to produce a negative.

The negative film is then laid on top of a photosensitive copper clad board and exposed to UV light to transfer the pattern to the board. The exposed areas darken and are developed by placing in a soda ash solution. The board is then etched in ferric chloride to remove the copper clad except where the darkened trace lines exist. The board just needs to cut out and drilled, then the components can be soldered in place.

The panels fit into a modified Radio Shack box. Finished size is 6" wide and 5" deep. The white block in the front is the light guide removed from the Mustang dash. The small circuit board on the left is the factory (anti)slosh module for the fuel gauge. The front panel will be covered with tinted lexan and the box will be painted black to help blend the unit with the dash.

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	Each circuit was designed and tested on breadboards. The layout was then made to scale on the computer so that the component pins would fit properly.
	The layout was then printed on transparency film with an InkJet printer. The small printout at the bottom is the panel for the lights. The panel uses standard replaceable dash panel lights and sockets.
	The transparency is laid on top of a reversing film purchased from KeproCircuits.com and exposed to UV light then developed under warm water to produce a negative.
	The negative film is then laid on top of a photosensitive copper clad board and exposed to UV light to transfer the pattern to the board. The exposed areas darken and are developed by placing in a soda ash solution. The board is then etched in ferric chloride to remove the copper clad except where the darkened trace lines exist. The board just needs to cut out and drilled, then the components can be soldered in place.
	The panels fit into a modified Radio Shack box. Finished size is 6" wide and 5" deep. The white block in the front is the light guide removed from the Mustang dash. The small circuit board on the left is the factory (anti)slosh module for the fuel gauge. The front panel will be covered with tinted lexan and the box will be painted black to help blend the unit with the dash.