Gauges: Mechanical vs. Electrical
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Honda-Tech Member
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From: Snellville, Ga, USA
Gauges: Mechanical vs. Electrical
Looking at purchasing/ installing some good gauges in the race car.
RacerPartsWholesale sells some nice Longacre gauge panels (water temp and oil pressure panel is what I am looking at, $169.95)
These are mechanical gauges. Is this an issue? What sort of issues, if any, am I going to run into installing mechanical gauges that I wouldn't have installing electrical? Which is better? Which is easier?
Bowie
RacerPartsWholesale sells some nice Longacre gauge panels (water temp and oil pressure panel is what I am looking at, $169.95)
These are mechanical gauges. Is this an issue? What sort of issues, if any, am I going to run into installing mechanical gauges that I wouldn't have installing electrical? Which is better? Which is easier?
Bowie
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: HP, NC, USA
Re: Gauges: Mechanical vs. Electrical (RacerBowie)
I'm a fan of electrical becuse they are easier to install, and you don't have to pump hot fluids into the cockpit. Some may argue that Elec. guages are less accurate, but I argue that a 2-5% difference doesn't mean squat in the club racing world!
(BTW, what does a "drive it till it blows up" guy like Bowie need guages for?
)
(BTW, what does a "drive it till it blows up" guy like Bowie need guages for?
)
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From: Snellville, Ga, USA
Re: Gauges: Mechanical vs. Electrical (Track rat)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Track rat »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm a fan of electrical becuse they are easier to install, and you don't have to pump hot fluids into the cockpit. Some may argue that Elec. guages are less accurate, but I argue that a 2-5% difference doesn't mean squat in the club racing world!
(BTW, what does a "drive it till it blows up" guy like Bowie need guages for? )</TD></TR></TABLE>
From the sounds of things, these autometer mechanical gauges don't actually pump any hot fluids...they heat ether in capillary tubes to activate the needles.
I know I don't need gauges....it would just be nice to look down and go "damn, it's gonna blow up!" right before it did!
(BTW, what does a "drive it till it blows up" guy like Bowie need guages for?
)</TD></TR></TABLE>From the sounds of things, these autometer mechanical gauges don't actually pump any hot fluids...they heat ether in capillary tubes to activate the needles.
I know I don't need gauges....it would just be nice to look down and go "damn, it's gonna blow up!" right before it did!
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From: I started it
Re: Gauges: Mechanical vs. Electrical (RacerBowie)
I *thought* the electrical gauges would be easier to install...not so. My plan was to use the oil filter relocation plate as a gauge sender mount. I got a plate with two in/out pairs...one for oil, one for senders.
Well, the oil pressure sender for my VDO electric oil pressure gauge is enormous. I had to completely reengineer the whole deal. When they leaked I finally ended up breaking one of the senders and having to reengineer the thing AGAIN.
I'm with Track rat...who needs 'em? Its like a car alarm. All that tells you is that someone just broke into your car and stole your stuff.
Well, the oil pressure sender for my VDO electric oil pressure gauge is enormous. I had to completely reengineer the whole deal. When they leaked I finally ended up breaking one of the senders and having to reengineer the thing AGAIN.
I'm with Track rat...who needs 'em? Its like a car alarm. All that tells you is that someone just broke into your car and stole your stuff.
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From: Pacific Northwest, USA
Re: Gauges: Mechanical vs. Electrical (RacerBowie)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RacerBowie »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
From the sounds of things, these autometer mechanical gauges don't actually pump any hot fluids...they heat ether in capillary tubes to activate the needles.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Is this the case for all Autometer bits? I'm interested in keeping an eye on oil pressure, oil temperature, and water temperature, but I'm still on the electrical/mechanical fence like you.
From the sounds of things, these autometer mechanical gauges don't actually pump any hot fluids...they heat ether in capillary tubes to activate the needles.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
Is this the case for all Autometer bits? I'm interested in keeping an eye on oil pressure, oil temperature, and water temperature, but I'm still on the electrical/mechanical fence like you.
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From: Pacific Northwest
Re: Gauges: Mechanical vs. Electrical (johng)
I have the Autometer electrical water temp. It was pretty simple, the sensor has a couple wires and a connector on it. Then you have to install a box with several leads for power and input/output. Works really well.
The oil pressure guage I use is mechanical (autometer) and runs a plastic line to the guage from the block. This is very simple too, but at a minimum I will probably be looking to upgrade to a braided line. One of the guys in Seattle had the line break in the engine bay above the exhaust, and the car looked like a fireball to the corner workers.
The oil pressure guage I use is mechanical (autometer) and runs a plastic line to the guage from the block. This is very simple too, but at a minimum I will probably be looking to upgrade to a braided line. One of the guys in Seattle had the line break in the engine bay above the exhaust, and the car looked like a fireball to the corner workers.
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