electric gages

CarlG

CarlG

Well-known member
I want to put Oil Press & Water Temp gages in my 31PU. I would like to put electric ones in if there is such a thing -- especially the Oil Press that would read something a whole lot less that the 0-100# that I see everywhere. Anyone ever done that?, or just stick with mechanical Rexaco's
 
I have an electric Stewart Warner water temp gauge, but I also have a 12V system so that makes it easy to find senders.
 
Sparky said:
I have an electric Stewart Warner water temp gauge, but I also have a 12V system so that makes it easy to find senders.
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I have 12v also, it's the Oil Pres with ranges 0-15 or so that I can't seem to come up with.
 
Some of the guage companies are making Digital oil pressure guages now, but I know thats not the look you are going for.... Rex a co is the one you want!
 
We have a challenge measuring Model A oil pressure with the original flood lubricating system. Since the oil pump has little resistance to flow we seldom see but 10 psi in cold weather and after the oil is warm zero pressure is typical on the oil gauge sold by Model A suppliers.

The height the oil is pumped is roughly 12” from the pump to the valve camber. The pressure to pump motor oil at operating temperature 12” is approximately 4/10 pounds and does not register on our standard Model A gauge. Mounting the gauge on the steering column gives us nothing as the pump cannot pump the oil to this height.

I hope readers will not jump on me yet. A good Model A pump may put out 80 psi in a restrictive setup but this is not what we have as the oil in the flood system will take the path of least resistance and the actual gauge location is located to high to read.

If we can find a gauge supplier able and willing to provide an electrical sending unit capable of measuring 1/10 pound accurately at the discharge of the pump we can have an effective gauge.

The temperature gauge available to us from the Model A supplier is not refined but is effective and my gauge matches the thermostat.

Finding electric gauges with 6 volt positive systems is tough. I would try http://www.westach.com/.
I hope you can find what you want as I would be interested also.
 
Brattons' & Snyders Both have a "two-in-one" electric gauge for Water Temp and Oil Pressure, versions for both 6 or 12 volt... it's in their catalogs...
 
If you have a stock electrical system, you won't be able to "turn off" the power to the gauge. Nothing is switched on a model a. Thats the main reason for using the mechanical gauges.
 
Kurt in NJ said:
Perhaps a fuel pressure gauge could work --stewart warner has an elecric 16 lb gauge and sender

--another electronic gauge-
http://www.aemelectronics.com/fuel-pressure-gauge-0-15psi-with-analog-face-1185

perhaps they can delete "fuel" from the face

another gauge while you are at it---a mixture gauge to help adjust the GAV
http://www.aemelectronics.com/gauges-26/analog-gauges-37/wideband-air-fuel-gauges-42/
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This gas to oil gauge may do the job nicely but is listed as 12 Volts. The 320 degrees resolution is promising as it give you 1/10 PSI resolution. Local dealer to my location is Advance Auto.
 
Tom Wesenberg said:
Still a NO-GO because the ignition switch connects the ground side of the coil to the points, rather than switching the hot side on and off. The coil has power all the time.
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:o

Whoops... I did not know that...

Boy, that design feature would have me chasing my tail if I went to work on the electrics not knowing any better... :(

Thanks for the tip !
 
Electrical noise

When installing an electronic device in a Model A you have to be aware of the electrical noise produced by the ignitions system. If the gauge uses very low power, i.e. sensitive, sensors you may get so much interference that the gauge is not usable. I tried to install an electronic temperature gauge with the sensor in the radiator hose and the gauge on the dash. The wire connecting them picked up interference from the ignition which made the gauge jump all over the place. I tried rerouting the wire, shielding the wire but no matter what I did the interference was too much.

Bob
 
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