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El cheapo gauges: 52mm digital with 3+ inputs & peripherals for $300
I'm wanting for some temp and oil pressure gauges but am not wanting to spend $600 for two gauges. That's an absurd amount of money.
So while the Cravenspeed / Marshall kit is quite nice, I'm gonna try and get 3-5 inputs into one digital gauge.
I think I can get all of the hardware for $300, plus my own labor, to monitor coolant temp, oil pressure, voltage.
Here is my theoretical parts list.
Comments and suggestions are welcome as I haven't purchased anything yet.
Auber, which I've used before, now has a 52 mm round multi-meter gauge. Its digital, comes in 3 colors, and which while not as attractive as swept gauges, is much easier to read. This single display can display one parameter at a time and then will signal if other parameters have been exceeded. It can accept signals from 3+ sensors and provides a 5 volt relay for output LEDs or buzzers.
5. Automotive grade wiring plus soldering equipment ~$20-30
6. Optional: Additional LED for notification of threshold exceed for parameter X, $8.(http://www.auberins.com/index.php?ma...roducts_id=219), although I think the gauge will blink the display if you exceed a threshold.
Problem is you still need to install an oil pressure and coolant temp transducers to get a reading on those parameters, but you get the benefit of all those other parameters already present via the OBDII port.
We still talking $250 for the AeroForce plus sensors etc...so $500-600 again.
Coolant Temp is available from OBDII port and their oil pressure kit is $65.
Ok thats cool. Of course coolant temp is a monitored parameter out of the OBDII port...duh. Silly me.
The problem with that oil pressure sensor (sold by many other retailers) is that u still need the Cravenspeed adapter into the oil filter housing.
I like this option MINIAC. It shows 2 parameters at a time as opposed to the Auber round gauge which shows only one a time. Auber makes 2 display gauges, but they aren't round.
On more thing is worth noting. The AEROFORCE unit is worth $250 while the Auber gauge is worth only $70 and so they maybe more or less attractive to a thief if your car is parked in public areas. For whatever that is worth.
So the AeroForce = $250 + $55 for the pressure transducer + $40 for the Cravenspeed adapter = $350, and u can skip the need to add a coolant thermocouple into the coolant stream and see 2 parameters at once and monitor additional parameters if you wish.
I would buy a $50 dollar tablet and use the Torque app...
Good idea.
For my purposes this option, a tablet, it too attractive to thieves and space is limited. If this was my car Id consider it but its my girls. Im just installing this gauge cause the car is getting high in miles and want to be able to keep an eye those 2 basic parameters.
A tablet and torque app doesnt allow you to monitor oil pressure.
12-23-2015 | 12:12 PM
