Vehicle 12v detection or measurement

Question

I have an idea that involves detecting and possibly measuring a 12v feed from a car but my electrics skills are a little limited and I'm using this idea to learn. My understanding is that the 12v feed could range from 11-18v so I'll need some sort of step down electronics. So this is my understanding

Option 1

If I use a regulator LM1117 to 3.3v this will provide a basic high/low feed. If this is correct this could then be connected directly to a GPIO input.

Option 2

Use some other form of step down electronics (I need ideas or documents) that steps down the max 18v down to 3.3v. As the input voltage drops lower so does the output voltage. Then I can use an MCP3008 device to the read the actual voltage.

---

So is my thinking about both options correct and which would be the best approach? Technically is the regulator that I've referenced in option 1 the best option? If Option 2 is viable can anyone suggest any reference documents that I could read that provides the required stepdown.

This is as much a learning excercise as a real project, so the solution has to be reasonably simple and relatively cheap. Even though I've only mentioned one 12v feed eventually there will be 8 feeds two of which will be pulsating on and off. I'm using a PI and have RasPIO Zero on order:

https://thepihut.com/products/raspio-analog-zero?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=googlepla&variant=21364880964&gclid=CJu4gobums8CFSco0wod5eELxg

Thanks for any help

UPDATE:

Thanks for your help, I'll be doing a little testing over the weekend, as a result of your suggestions I've found a couple of useful site (very basic but what I need):

www.bowdenshobbycircuits.info/r2.htm

www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Voltage-Divider-Circuit

Answer 1

Sounds like you are trying to measure the source voltage (rather than try to get a stable 5v to power your Raspberry Pi).

As you know the Raspberry Pi does not have any analog input so you'll need an external device to do this - as you have already identified a MCP3008 is a good candidate.

Now the question is how to you get convert the 12-18v down to something that can be used by the MCP3008. For that you can use a voltage divider (and some Ohms Law):

+18v-------------------------
      |
      |
      \
      /
      \ R1
      /
      \
      |
      |
      -------------->   Vout (connect to ADC input)
      |
      |
      \
      / 
      \ R2
      /
      \
      |
      |
Gnd----------------------

The voltage dropped across each is a ratio of their resistances:

                R1
Vr1 = Vin * ---------
            (R1 + R2)

                R2
Vr2 = Vin * ---------
            (R1 + R2)

So, to get down to (max 3.3v) on Vout you need around a ratio of 5:1 I'd look at around 100K for R1 and 20K for R2.

Meaning that if the input was 18v you'd get:

18 * (20k / (20k + 100k) = 3v.

... and if it drops to say 12v, you'd get:

12 * (20k / (20k + 100k) = 2v.

Some testing of the ADC values for known source voltages will be required (i.e. calibration) to account for resistor tolerances (and I'm not sure if the performance of the MCP3008 is completely linear).

Answer 2

Use a UBEC which will drop any voltage between 5.5V and 26V to a Pi safe 5V.

You can buy a UBEC for 1GBP or so, e.g. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281924450613

EDITED TO ADD

I misread your question. I thought you wanted to power the Pi.

As it happens you could still use a UBEC. Let the UBEC drop the voltage to 5V and then use a pair of resistors as a voltage divider to drop the 5V to a Pi GPIO safe 3V3.