I want to fit a water temp gauge along the warning light and have bought a gauge. Both sender units (the one on the engine and the one in the box have a singe wire connection) but I can't get a reading on the gauge when the engine is hot? Come to think of it I've neve seen the light come on either although when I put a volt metre from the terminal to earth on the sender unit on the engine I do get a reading.
Can anyone give any advise please.
Should I get a light on as I start the engine?
Can I use the same sender ubit for both jobs (light and gauge) at the same time?
How would I wire in the gauge as it has 3 terminals plus one extra for the instrument light?
Yes I've emailed the manufacturer in India but the email bounces back
I would have thought that a water temp light (I'm not convinced such a thing existed on older boats??) would be switched with a thermal switch. ie. one that is either on or off.
A gauge would require a sender that changes it's resistance as the temperature varies.
There are at least 2 different systems of senders and gauges. They operate at different resistance ranges so are incompatible. They tend to be known as US spec and UK spec. But gauges made in the 60's could be different again!!!
You should end up with a +ve feed to the gauge, a connection from there to the sender on the engine block. The engine is then earthed back to the battery -ve.
Are any of the terminals on the gauge marked in any way??? Are there any instructions?
water temp gauge
Posted - 18 Jul 2011 : 21:33:07
