temperature gauge senders, advice please

Post by **morrisman1** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 11:33 am

i am about to buy an old smiths temperature gauge for the ute, its a smiths electrical unit with a sticker saying 057 on the back. it doesnt come with a sender unit so i would need to find one which was compatable with the gauge.

is anyone aware on what temperature sender i should get for it?

Post by **Rob_Jennings** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 1:42 pm

standard one that fits a classic mini (a-series engine) is fine

whole circuit must be run from 10V stabalised (regulator behind speedo or add a new regulator somewhere)

Post by **morrisman1** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 1:55 pm

i dont believe that i have any of those, were they on the later vehicles only? in new zealand we only got the LCVs after 1963. do you have a part number at all? i am putting this into a morry ute with a datsun 1200 engine in it. i have a 3/8 bspt thread for the sender to screw into so would a mini thermostat fit into that (i can adapt if necessary). just remembered plenty of minis here so should i go for one off one of those?

with the voltage stabiliser, do i connect that into 12v via the ignition switch, then run the fuel gauge and temperature gauge off the other side of the stabiliser?

Post by **Rob_Jennings** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 2:09 pm

<assume -ve earth>

don't know the thread size, should be easy to get a mini temp sender for 'pennies' that you can just try it?

10v stabiliser: yes thats connected to 12v outputs 10 which then goes to the gauge and earths in the block via the sender

if the connection to sender is shorted to body earth, the temp gauge reads max a simple test that is all work but it should swing gently to max not jump up past gauge end!

Post by **morrisman1** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 2:19 pm

so i can run multiple gauges off one voltage stabiliser no problem? another option is to use an aftermarket type gauge (which sort of looks period obviously). that way i know it will work properly and it will come with a sender unit

Post by **Rob_Jennings** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 2:52 pm

within reason you can run multiple gauges as long as you are not gonig for the airplane cockpit look of dozens you shuold be fine with a couple from one stabliser

the old gauges are fine, they only a mechanically damped volt meter at the end of the day and most of them stil work fine after 60 years +

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Sep 18, 2008 4:52 pm

But only the temperature gauge and the fuel level gauge (later 'hot wire' type) want the stabilised 10 volts !

Post by **morrisman1** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 12:56 am

ive just been advised that smiths gauges and their accessories arent available in NZ anymore, the supplier stopped stocking them. i wont go near that gauge then cause it will just cause me trouble

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 11:18 am

A gauge + sensor from a Mini will work fine.

Post by **morrisman1** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 12:23 pm

thanks for your help, but i have bought a modern gauge (no not a bling bling one!) heres a picture of the panel i made up today. the rev counter is photoshopped in cause im still waiting for it to arrive:

edit: i apologise for the bad photoshopping, the angles were all wrong and i dont know how to fix that up

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 1:11 pm

As long as you can find a sender to match the gauge - should be fine.

Post by **morrisman1** » Fri Sep 19, 2008 1:40 pm

yea, gauge came with a sender. the sender has a 1/4" NPT thread on it so im going to have to get a 3/8" BSPT plug and put a 1/4 NPT thread in the middle of it, otherwise if i use adapters the sender wont be in the flow of water and i dont think that it would read correctly then.