Fitting a temperature gauge and a volt meter...

[Helga]

Hi, now to be honest, I have had my 82 2 litre Aircooled for over a year now and except for one or two problems... every week.. and a lot of money... things have gone ok, and she has NEVER actually let me down... but I have just purchased a new dash which comes with 52mm gauge holes and I thought for a laugh I'd fit... to start with... a volt meter for each battery plus a temp gauge... but where to start?

I found this on just kampers,

http://www.justkampers.com/shop/type_25 ... egory/867/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

But where does the sticky pole thingy actually go? Into the oil stick hole or what? Do you think this gauge would be any good? It seems expensive... or would a cylinder head temp gauge be better, if so where can you buy them?

As for the volt gauge:

http://www.justkampers.com/shop/type_25 ... egory/867/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Two of these one for each battery - ok you think?

Final question, where should I put all the wires for these things? I don't want to put them all just under the cab carpet - is there someway of putting them UNDER the van?

Thanks!!

[CovKid]

Don't waste your money on two voltmeters: https://club8090.co.uk/wiki/VW ... ging_cause" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Helga]

Thanks, that link is good - but does the red live wire for the volt meter go DIRECT to the live of the battery, ie with a seperate wire, or can it be fed from the fusebox?

[AngeloEvs]

You can connect to either, depends on how accurate you want the reading to be. Mines wired to the fuse box but you could equally wire it to the terminal of the battery via a fuse (just in case the wire gets damaged en route). The oil temperature gauge sender does look as though its fitted in place of the dipstick looking at the picture.

[CovKid]

Both AngeloEVS and I have done this to monitor both batteries and can vouch for its effectiveness and ease of fitting but more importantly - peace of mind. Theres also a tiny adjustment on the back of the meter so you can calibrate it against a known accurate multimeter and wiring it as suggested means you don't need two meters - just the one.

Having had it in the bus for a month or two now, you soon get to know how well your battery is doing and what really saps power. Important that you order it from supplier suggested though as the meter shown doesn't need any additional power supply (important) and even from china appear to arrive in about a week. Well worth the £7 and one of the best guage additions you can fit other than oil pressure and rev counter. Very easy to fit if set in the heater cowling as its plastic and easier to drill/cut/file.

[eatcustard]

Mine will be done today, IF I can find my Crimper

[Helga]

Thanks everybody, all very helpful - I'm going to see just what holes there already are in my new dash and heater cowling when they arrive and then work out best 'positioning', but that Chinese meter looks good.

However you have now started me off on rev counters! Are they easy to fit as well? They are just wired to the coil aren't they, so a simple job I'd imagine?

They a 'best from China' job as well?

And wiring, under the body?

[Helga]

Oh God, you have really got me thinking?! Do I have a pressure aguge in my 82 Aircooled? Isn't that what the red warning light on the dash is...?

[eatcustard]

Found the crimper



Helga

Look here at link, it may help

http://luggie.demon.co.uk/t25/rev_counter_wiring.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[CovKid]

Oh God, you have really got me thinking?! Do I have a pressure aguge in my 82 Aircooled? Isn't that what the red warning light on the dash is...?

Kinda except the red light means "If you ignore me I'll explode in the next four minutes" or "Ha - my sensor has gone, I'm gonna churn your stomach for the hell of it"

And Eatcustard, you and AngeloEVS make me feel part of the digital club now....

[Cruz]

Eatcustard, where did you get your funky little black switch from?

And the ebay shop lists and LED backlit type as well. Are they the same?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-1-2-Blue-LED-Di ... .m14.l1262" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[CovKid]

Switch - maplins. And AsiaEngineer does LCD and LED types but check that the LED one is self-powered. Just checked, it requires a working power. Stick with the LCD one (which is backlit too).

This 15v LED one doesn't need power - just noticed: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Green-LED-Volt-Me ... .m14.l1262" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; but you want a 20v range for this job.

[eatcustard]

Yes switch is from Maplins http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?menuno=70526" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The LCD is backlit (blue), its the Camera flash that stops it from showing on the pic.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Blue-LCD ... 06.c0.m245" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Cruz]

Yes switch is from Maplins http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?menuno=70526" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sorry to be thick but which maplins switch is it? I take it it's set up to switch from mains to leisure battery?

Also what guage of wire did you use? Where on the fuse box did you tap into?

[eatcustard]

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=2363" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (I went into shop and purchased it)

I already have a fused wire from the Leisure battery to the head unit, so I made a connection from that wire and put a radio inline 1amp fuse in (just to play safe).

I have only used thin wire, which I had lying around.