Gauges/Sending Units

[Devilman]

Working on putting some new gauges in the boat & was wondering... are sending units pretty specific as to what gauges they will work with? I know I have to get some because most of the factory gauges aren't hooked up anymore. (oil pressure, water temp, fuel) Just thinking if its something that can be bought say from a parts place, or be better off matching them brand for brand & getting them where the guages came from..

Mines got an amp gauge/meter in it now but a voltmeter is replacing it... so out of curiousity, is there any benefit or advantage by running an amp gauge versus a voltmeter, or is just personal preference...

 

[Disturbed]

Are you going back with automotive gauges?  From my experience, ( very limited ) temp senders and oil pressure senders are pretty much the same.  The fuel sender may give you fits.  Measure the resistance (with an ohm meter) with the float full down and full up.  That will tell you which gauge you need.  You'll basically get the same information from a volt meter that you would get from an ammeter.....

 

[Devilman]

Nah, they are Faria marine gauges... I can get a fuel sender to match the new gauge, but I really don't wanna have to screw around with pulling that float assembly out of the tank, lol... :tongue:

What would happen if say, the sender wasn't compatible with the gauge... would it fry something, or just not read correctly. :undecided:

 

[wildbunch]

Kenny,
  I have Gaffrig gauges in my boat & I was replacing the oil sending unit & needed to match the correct ohms. Couldn't find one anywhere around here, had to go back to Gaffrig.

 

[Devilman]

Yeah Alan, thats what I'm thinkin I may end up doin as well.

 

[Disturbed]

Marine gauges........ :smile13:  Prolly a whole nother ball game. 

Baller!

lol.

Better match the senders to the gauge...  :smile20:  The past few new gauges I bought came with the sender......  So naturally, I used them.  :smile28:

 

[turboed-tx-20]

the amp gauge vs the volt meter is just personal preference.Most just use volt meter because it's easier to wire and you'll have to run a 10 gauge wire for the amp meter and if i remember right it has to be in series so it needs 2 large wires,one from the alt to gauge then from gauge to battery.This  lengthens the battery charging circuit increasing voltage drop.

 

[SlowRyd]

Nah, they are Faria marine gauges... I can get a fuel sender to match the new gauge, but I really don't wanna have to screw around with pulling that float assembly out of the tank, lol... :tongue:

What would happen if say, the sender wasn't compatible with the gauge... would it fry something, or just not read correctly. :undecided:

No it shouldn't fry anything, most senders use ground resistance to make an electronic gauge function.  But as far as matching up senders the easiest thing to do is get them from the manufacturer  cause there is a Brazilian different ones out there.

 

[KONA77]

From my experience,  in a nut shell,  marine guages must use marine sending units.

 

[Devilman]

Marine gauges........ :smile13:  Prolly a whole nother ball game. 

Baller!

lol.

Better match the senders to the gauge...  :smile20:  The past few new gauges I bought came with the sender......  So naturally, I used them.  :smile28:

You're too late, Oldbuck will be back tomorrow..... cuz I know you ain't referring to me, lol...



Thanks for the all the info fellas... gonna go ahead & get 'em to match the gauge. No sense in buyin 'em twice tryin to save a couple bux... :cheesy:

 

[Devilman]

the amp gauge vs the volt meter is just personal preference.Most just use volt meter because it's easier to wire and you'll have to run a 10 gauge wire for the amp meter and if i remember right it has to be in series so it needs 2 large wires,one from the alt to gauge then from gauge to battery.This  lengthens the battery charging circuit increasing voltage drop.

So I've got all the gauges in other than the voltmeter.... coming back & reading over this, I'm wondering: on the ammeter, since power runs "through" the gauge, am I correct in thinking that once I remove the ammeter, to put it simply I would basically just be tying those 2 wires back together to "re-connect" the circuit? :huh:

 

[KONA77]

the amp gauge vs the volt meter is just personal preference.Most just use volt meter because it's easier to wire and you'll have to run a 10 gauge wire for the amp meter and if i remember right it has to be in series so it needs 2 large wires,one from the alt to gauge then from gauge to battery.This  lengthens the battery charging circuit increasing voltage drop.

So I've got all the gauges in other than the voltmeter.... coming back & reading over this, I'm wondering: on the ammeter, since power runs "through" the gauge, am I correct in thinking that once I remove the ammeter, to put it simply I would basically just be tying those 2 wires back together to "re-connect" the circuit? :huh:

alittle lost,  Pleases clearify,    was your boat originally wire for a ampmeter, or a volt meter

 

[duanehydro]

the amp gauge vs the volt meter is just personal preference.Most just use volt meter because it's easier to wire and you'll have to run a 10 gauge wire for the amp meter and if i remember right it has to be in series so it needs 2 large wires,one from the alt to gauge then from gauge to battery.This  lengthens the battery charging circuit increasing voltage drop.

So I've got all the gauges in other than the voltmeter.... coming back & reading over this, I'm wondering: on the ammeter, since power runs "through" the gauge, am I correct in thinking that once I remove the ammeter, to put it simply I would basically just be tying those 2 wires back together to "re-connect" the circuit? :huh:

yes, but go to the source....from the alt. ....eliminate the 20' of wire from the output of the alt to the system.

 

[Devilman]

alittle lost,  Pleases clearify,    was your boat originally wire for a ampmeter, or a volt meter

Yes, Lokela, boat is wired with a ammeter now, replacing it with a voltmeter... :grin:

 

[Devilman]

yes, but go to the source....from the alt. ....eliminate the 20' of wire from the output of the alt to the system.

That would be the best thing & eliminate some wiring that doesn't need to be there, but what I descibed will work for the time being.... correct?

 

[KONA77]

alittle lost,  Pleases clearify,    was your boat originally wire for a ampmeter, or a volt meter

Yes, Lokela, boat is wired with a ammeter now, replacing it with a voltmeter... :grin:

yes, but go to the source....from the alt. ....eliminate the 20' of wire from the output of the alt to the system.

That would be the best thing & eliminate some wiring that doesn't need to be there, but what I descibed will work for the time being.... correct?

crap with out seeing it, not gonna answer,  :smile30:

 

[Devilman]

crap with out seeing it, not gonna answer,  :smile30:

LOL, c'mon, don't puss out on me Lokela... :kiss: jus' kiddin.... :wink: :grin:

 

[KONA77]

crap with out seeing it, not gonna answer,  :smile30:

LOL, c'mon, don't puss out on me Lokela... :kiss: jus' kiddin.... :wink: :grin:

like the name,  but scared to ask what it means,  but if it has any thing to do with ^^^ i'm all about that!  :cheesy:

 

[Devilman]

like the name,  but scared to ask what it means,  but if it has any thing to do with ^^^ i'm all about that!  :cheesy:

lol, Lokela is Hawaiian for Roger... :grin:

 

[Patchman]

like the name,  but scared to ask what it means,  but if it has any thing to do with ^^^ i'm all about that!  :cheesy:

lol, Lokela is Hawaiian for Roger... :grin:

:grin:I was going to keep him guessing! :grin: