htr

Well-Known Member

• Jun 8, 2014

• #1

I'm organising to install extra gauges to monitor things. Oil pressure & temp'. Now I can't decide on a voltage gauge of a amps gauge. The former indicates the voltage or battery systems state of 'health' - the latter indicates the charging state of the system - it indicates if the alternator is doing its job and how hard it's working.

Have many of you have fitted a water temp gauge? Where is the preferred site to locate the probe? Bottom rad outlet?

Has anyone used an A pillar mount set up? Does it block much of the forward view - i.e. enlarge the A post's black spot?

What recommendations are there for brands?

 

Last edited: Jun 8, 2014

Winu

Active Member

• Jun 8, 2014

• #2

I use VDO's from vision series. Good price to quality, almost OE look, green backlit match all dash back lights

Amp gauge is unsafe, you need to put high voltage wires in to the cabin or fit ammeter with external shunt. But these are 150 amps and higher.

Voltage meter is very functional. You also see work of alternator, and system condition.(ie volt drops when fans kick in or all aux lights are used)

A-Pillar is to weak to hold 3-4 gauges. you need to fix it directly to body through plastic trim, but this caue "squeeze" of pillar trim (some kin of spacers required), and it looks to much Fast and Furious for me

 

Last edited: Jun 8, 2014

htr

Well-Known Member

• Jun 8, 2014

• #3

Thanks Winu. I like the VDO gauges as a brand. Mounting, yes I'm wanting to keep them close to the driver's vision area. Most likely put Oil gauges where you've mounted the boost and ? gauge. Volt and water temp' on the other side.

Those pillar mounts seem to basically clip on and you fix with screw/s either side - inconspicuously. Just weary that if I do go for that arrangement I may create a vision blind spot. I could always us a 2 pod arrangement and not 3 which will make it shorter.

What do others think?

 

Winu

Active Member

• Jun 8, 2014

• #4

boost and ? gauge.

Click to expand...

EGT gauge

ust weary that if I do go for that arrangement I may create a vision blind spot

Click to expand...

If you put it like my roll cage goes (angle and offset from pillar) there will no cause any problem with blind spot.

Oh, and one more thing to Volt VS Ammeter. If any malfunction of ammeter occurs your car will lost all electrical supply.

 

T

The Docmeister

Active Member

• Jun 9, 2014

• #5

I've been using the boost and oil pressure gauges from this range in my Saab for the last year or so. Looks very OE - especially if you swap the amber bulb for a green LED and a very good price.
Had no problems with quality either, boost gauge seems particularly accurate.

ANY 3 GAUGE OFFER- Black Face Boost Oil Pressure Oil Water Temp Volt Rev Amp | eBay

 

Nodge68

Well-Known Member

• Jun 9, 2014

• #6

Not all ammeter gauges have thick wires. There are several electronic gauges that use a shunt to monitor the current. They are much however much more expensive than a voltmeter.

 

tonytherunner

Active Member

• Jun 9, 2014

• #7

Deporacing ......realy good quality

 

GrumpyGel

Well-Known Member

• Jun 9, 2014

• #8

Winu said:

If any malfunction of ammeter occurs your car will lost all electrical supply.

Click to expand...

This has happened to me in the past, car (Triumph Vitesse) just stopped dead one day. Had to be rescued back home by the RAC and eventually found the problem was a wire come off the ammeter, or it had just broke - forget which. Don't know if they're still made the same way - sounds like the 'remote' one might be a more reliable option.