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David G4EBT · 10th Oct 2020, 8:42 pm

You can get digital turns counters which just need an AA cell for power. Each turn is triggered by a 'proximity switch'.

Basically, you attached the supplied small neodymium magnet to the shaft of your winder, and position the sensor about 5mm away, and each rev will trigger the counter.

All very simple.

Here's an example:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-Digit-C...-/324311172604

You can make a counter using a cheap pocket calculator, which I did some years ago on a hand wave-winder but it's a bit of a faff. (See pic below).

Basically, it involves connecting a microswitch across the equals sign contacts on the calculator PCB, and to fit a cam on the shaft of the coil winder so that with each rev, the microswitch shorts out the 'equals' button of the calculator. To start counting, you press '1' then + +, then each time the = button is pressed (or shorted out) it will increment by 1. (Just need to make sure it's not an auto turn off calculator because if you don't note the turns right away, the calculator will shut off!).

Lots of videos on using calculators as turns counters on youtube.

You can use a reed relay rather than a microswitch, and trigger it with a magnet of the oil winder shaft. EG:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1FP2NIWj6k

Hope that's of interest.

10th Oct 2020, 8:42 pm	#4
David G4EBT Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 5,761	Re: Quick n dirty coil winder You can get digital turns counters which just need an AA cell for power. Each turn is triggered by a 'proximity switch'. Basically, you attached the supplied small neodymium magnet to the shaft of your winder, and position the sensor about 5mm away, and each rev will trigger the counter. All very simple. Here's an example: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-Digit-C...-/324311172604 You can make a counter using a cheap pocket calculator, which I did some years ago on a hand wave-winder but it's a bit of a faff. (See pic below). Basically, it involves connecting a microswitch across the equals sign contacts on the calculator PCB, and to fit a cam on the shaft of the coil winder so that with each rev, the microswitch shorts out the 'equals' button of the calculator. To start counting, you press '1' then + +, then each time the = button is pressed (or shorted out) it will increment by 1. (Just need to make sure it's not an auto turn off calculator because if you don't note the turns right away, the calculator will shut off!). Lots of videos on using calculators as turns counters on youtube. You can use a reed relay rather than a microswitch, and trigger it with a magnet of the oil winder shaft. EG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1FP2NIWj6k Hope that's of interest. Attached Thumbnails __________________ David. BVWS Member. G-QRP Club member 1339.