# A Custom PKE Meter based on Crusader\_X's design!!! **URL:** \ **Category:** PKE Meters\ **Created:** [October 6, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/a-custom-pke-meter-based-on-crusader-xs-design/5100 "2010-10-06T21:53:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ldlaughlin](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/9fc29f/32.png) [@ldlaughlin](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/ldlaughlin)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/a-custom-pke-meter-based-on-crusader-xs-design/5100/1 "2010-10-06T21:53:21Z")
First of all I have to give credit to Crusader\_X… I love his [PKE meter](https://www.gbfans.com/shop/mattel-pke-meter) designs!!! I took what I liked about his design and changed it just a little to make my own version of it!!! I am very proud of it, I think it turned out great!!! [![](https://discdn.gbfans.com/original/3X/d/6/d6666142ba607a81d463c8567df77e409e5a6898.jpeg "Dean's PKE Meter") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GMUMKLZpzg) ---
**Author:** ![stroudy](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/stroudy/32/6713_2.png) [@stroudy](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/stroudy)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 10:07pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/a-custom-pke-meter-based-on-crusader-xs-design/5100/2 "2010-10-07T22:07:25Z")
That’s superb. Like that! ---
**Author:** ![ThrowingChicken](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@ThrowingChicken](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/ThrowingChicken)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 10:09pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/a-custom-pke-meter-based-on-crusader-xs-design/5100/3 "2010-10-07T22:09:23Z")
I like! [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GMUMKLZpzg](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GMUMKLZpzg) ---
**Author:** ![irricanian](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/irricanian/32/5887_2.png) [@irricanian](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/irricanian)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2010, 10:09pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/a-custom-pke-meter-based-on-crusader-xs-design/5100/4 "2010-10-07T22:09:36Z")
Nice work! ---
**Author:** ![crusader\_x](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/97f17d/32.png) [@crusader\_x](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/crusader_x)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 12:43pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/a-custom-pke-meter-based-on-crusader-xs-design/5100/5 "2010-10-08T12:43:09Z")
Wow. I love the light/sound system. It actually gives the knobs a function. How did you mount the light behind the viewscreen if you don’t mind my asking? And do you care to share the electronics diagram for those of us still learning? ---
**Author:** ![Vincenzo330](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/v/8c91f0/32.png) [@Vincenzo330](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Vincenzo330)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2010, 3:09pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/a-custom-pke-meter-based-on-crusader-xs-design/5100/6 "2010-10-08T15:09:17Z")
Really nice work man! ---
**Author:** ![ldlaughlin](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/9fc29f/32.png) [@ldlaughlin](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/ldlaughlin)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2010, 9:34am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/a-custom-pke-meter-based-on-crusader-xs-design/5100/7 "2010-10-09T09:34:23Z")
Yes, I did mount an LED behind the view screen. It is a simple 555 timer type circuit with a potentiometer controlling the speed. I added a small buzzer with the LED’s so it makes a sound with each blink. I am at work now, but as soon as I can… probably in a day or so, I will get the schematic drawn up and put on here for anyone who might want it. Thanks for all the nice comments! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Haas](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@Jeff\_Haas](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Jeff_Haas)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 6:28am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/a-custom-pke-meter-based-on-crusader-xs-design/5100/8 "2010-10-17T06:28:14Z")
Dean, Any chance of the schematic before Halloween? Jeff ---
**Author:** ![noslliT](https://forum.gbfans.com/user_avatar/forum.gbfans.com/nosllit/32/5954_2.png) [@noslliT](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/noslliT)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 6:36am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/a-custom-pke-meter-based-on-crusader-xs-design/5100/9 "2010-10-17T06:36:03Z")
That’s pretty cool. Nice job! ---
**Author:** ![ldlaughlin](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/9fc29f/32.png) [@ldlaughlin](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/ldlaughlin)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 7:12am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/a-custom-pke-meter-based-on-crusader-xs-design/5100/10 "2010-10-17T07:12:37Z")
> [@Jeff Haas](#): > > Dean, > > Any chance of the schematic before Halloween? > > Jeff Sorry, I tried to get it done this last week, but have been working a crazy amount of hours at work. I will do it later today, probably just afternoon sometime! ---
**Author:** ![crusader\_x](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/97f17d/32.png) [@crusader\_x](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/crusader_x)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 9:41am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/a-custom-pke-meter-based-on-crusader-xs-design/5100/11 "2010-10-17T09:41:40Z")
> [@ldlaughlin](#): > > Yes, I did mount an LED behind the view screen. It is a simple 555 timer type circuit with a potentiometer controlling the speed. I added a small buzzer with the LED’s so it makes a sound with each blink. I am at work now, but as soon as I can… probably in a day or so, I will get the schematic drawn up and put on here for anyone who might want it. > > Thanks for all the nice comments! 🙂 Well yeah I can see you mounted an LED behind the screen, my question was _how_? I’m only curious because I have a certain way I mount mine but if you’ve got a different/better way of doing it I’d love to know… ---
**Author:** ![ldlaughlin](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/9fc29f/32.png) [@ldlaughlin](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/ldlaughlin)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 1:49pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/a-custom-pke-meter-based-on-crusader-xs-design/5100/12 "2010-10-17T13:49:29Z")
![image](http://www.gbfans.com/images/pb/ldlaughlin/Ghostbusters_DeansPKEMeter.jpg) I know the schematic probably could have been done a little more efficiently, but it works! LOL I put the 2 AAA battery source for the red, yellow and green lights in the handle… the bottom cap is removable to change the batteries. I use a 9V to power the blinking lights. I separated the power source to keep the indicator lights from flickering. The potentiometer is a 50k ohm. I am pretty new to some of this, but by experimenting with circuit wizard I got it to work. I hope it helps! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ldlaughlin](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/9fc29f/32.png) [@ldlaughlin](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/ldlaughlin)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2010, 1:54pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/a-custom-pke-meter-based-on-crusader-xs-design/5100/13 "2010-10-17T13:54:51Z")
> [@crusader\_x](#): > > > [@ldlaughlin](#): > > > > Yes, I did mount an LED behind the view screen. It is a simple 555 timer type circuit with a potentiometer controlling the speed. I added a small buzzer with the LED’s so it makes a sound with each blink. I am at work now, but as soon as I can… probably in a day or so, I will get the schematic drawn up and put on here for anyone who might want it. > > > > Thanks for all the nice comments! 🙂 > > Well yeah I can see you mounted an LED behind the screen, my question was _how_? I’m only curious because I have a certain way I mount mine but if you’ve got a different/better way of doing it I’d love to know… I used a small piece of PVC, about a 1 inch section hot glued behind the screen. Then I used a piece of a circuit board to mount the LED on and hot glued it to the PVC. It worked out pretty well. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Haas](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@Jeff\_Haas](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Jeff_Haas)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 6:35am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/a-custom-pke-meter-based-on-crusader-xs-design/5100/14 "2010-10-18T06:35:54Z")
Dean, one thing confuses me about your schematic…what does Switch 1 do? In your video, you only show one switch in use, I assume that’s Switch 2 (the double-pole/double-throw for power). And where is it on the actual PKE? ---
**Author:** ![crusader\_x](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/97f17d/32.png) [@crusader\_x](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/crusader_x)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 10:28am UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/a-custom-pke-meter-based-on-crusader-xs-design/5100/15 "2010-10-18T10:28:06Z")
Switch #1 appears to cut off power to just the buzzer so that you can kill the sound if need be… ---
**Author:** ![ldlaughlin](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/9fc29f/32.png) [@ldlaughlin](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/ldlaughlin)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2010, 2:10pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/a-custom-pke-meter-based-on-crusader-xs-design/5100/16 "2010-10-18T14:10:31Z")
That is exactly what the second switch controlled… kills the buzzer sound. I didn’t put in the one that I made, but am thinking about putting it in if I want to silence the [PKE meter](https://www.gbfans.com/shop/mattel-pke-meter). ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Haas](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/a88e4f/32.png) [@Jeff\_Haas](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/Jeff_Haas)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 4:50pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/a-custom-pke-meter-based-on-crusader-xs-design/5100/17 "2010-10-19T16:50:12Z")
Oh, of course. “But why wouldn’t you want it to beep all the time?” [SMACK in the back of the head.] “Hey!” Couple more questions…What parts did you use for the variable resistor and the piezo buzzer? The VR just shows “8%” and there are a lot of piezo buzzers out there. ---
**Author:** ![ldlaughlin](https://forum.gbfans.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/l/9fc29f/32.png) [@ldlaughlin](https://forum.gbfans.com/u/ldlaughlin)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://forum.gbfans.com/t/a-custom-pke-meter-based-on-crusader-xs-design/5100/18 "2010-10-19T18:59:24Z")
The variable resistor is actually a 50k potentiometer, the schematic is copied from circuit wizard and that was the position I had it in when I copied, so just disregard the 8% notation. The buzzer I got from Radio Shack… [http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062394](http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062394)