Date: Sun, 6 Jul 2008 09:53:57 -0700
Reply-To: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: neil N <musomuso@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Purpose of "Voltage Stabilizer" in Instrument cluster?
In-Reply-To: <KKEMKCMECLNHKBOOOODBAEPMCCAA.fikard@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Thanks for the report on the gauge Charlie. I too wonder if the
voltage stabilizer is needed.
I just bought a "Hastings" aftermarket gauge. It c/w a sensor to
thread into the block, BUT it looks like it can simply be connected to
the stock temp sensor. Considering it's intended to work with various
different vehicles, it may have a voltage stabilizer internally.
List?
At least I found out how to hook up a gauge. (rolls eyes) Took a while
to understand that the ECT sensor, is simply a variable resistor
located inline on the ground connection. So.....
Something possibly useful for other listers to know. As you and I both
found out, the wire from #4 on ECT plug (blue/white) is the magic
wire.
I'll be hooking up my "Hastings" temp gauge today or tomorrow.
Hopefully it will read at a similar temp. But great to know what
reading you got.
Cheers,
Neil.
On Sun, Jul 6, 2008 at 8:20 AM, Ikard <fikard@comcast.net> wrote:
> Hey guys, I used after market gauges for my conversion. The temp gauge seems
> to be reading accurately. Thermostat opens at approximately 205. Do the
> after market gauges need the voltage stabilizer? I am thinking not but would
> like to know what you all think.
>
> By the way Neil, my engine has developed an oil leak. I think at the
> intermediate shaft seal so the front of the engine comes off
> tomorrow.......again. I think the engine sat too long before I got it
> running. I did squirt some oil in the spark plug holes and turned it over by
> hand to prevent the cylinders from drying out but obviously there are other
> bearings which may have gone dry....hopefully not the cam bearings.
>
> Charlie
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
> Of neil N
> Sent: Saturday, July 05, 2008 11:37 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Purpose of "Voltage Stabilizer" in Instrument cluster?
>
>
> On Sat, Jul 5, 2008 at 12:55 PM, Mike S <mikes@flatsurface.com> wrote:
>> At 03:18 PM 7/5/2008, neil N wrote...
>>>
>>> Hi all.
>>
>> Hi Neil.
>>
>>> Does the voltage stabilizer work in conjunction with the engine
>>> coolant temp gauge?
>>
>> Yes, it provides a constant 10 volts for the gauges.
>>
>>> i.e. if one took the engine temp gauge out of the cluster, connected
>>> it straight to the temp sending unit (sensor) and 12+, would this give
>>> an innacurate reading of engine coolant temp?
>>
>> Yes.
>>
>>> Like maybe too high?
>>
>> Yes.
>
>> The gauges are bimetallic - they work by heating a special piece of metal
>> which bends as it gets warm. There's a heating coil wrapped around tha
> piece
>> of metal. 10 volts from the regulator goes to one end of the heating coil,
>> the other is connected to the sensor (fuel, temp). The sensors offer a
>> variable resistance. Less resistance causes more current to flow, making
>> more heat, bending the metal more, making the gauge read higher.
>>
>> If you bypass the regulator, then you have 12 volts on one end of the
>> heater, so more current will flow than is intended, and the gauge will
> read
>> higher than it should.
>>
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