how tell if smiths oil gauge is electric or capilliary?

[xpress]

Ordered a temp gauge electric. Maybe declan can link me to what I will need to get it running. Will try out the oil gauge at the same time and get the bits he suggested for that too. Are all oil gauges capillary?

[bmcecosse]

No - there are electric ones - but I wouldn't want one ! I had assumed you were getting gauges etc at low cost from ebay ?

[Declan_Burns]

Ordered a temp gauge electric. Maybe declan can link me to what I will need to get it running. Will try out the oil gauge at the same time and get the bits he suggested for that too. Are all oil gauges capillary?

It's all explained in the technical tips section.
http://www.mmoc.org.uk/index.php?page=335
Just remove the speedo to access the voltage regulator-access through the glove compartments as can be seen on Hans Dieter's photos below.
Driver's side[frame][/frame]
Passenger side view showing second screw[frame][/frame]
If you have repro glove box liners the access holes rarely line up so it might be easier to remove them to get at the screws.
Regards
Declan

[alex_holden]

Just remove the speedo to access the voltage regulator

Note that earlier cars (< 1964 ish) with the bronze-face speedo and 'fast acting' fuel gauge don't have a 10V voltage stabiliser. You can add one pretty easily though.

[SGTBILKO]

Thanks for all those very useful photos declan. You helped to answer some questions for me.

[dellerie]

i am going to do this as well. i have got oil and water gauges and both are capillary. these pics have answered my questions. thank you.

[xpress]

Electric temp gauge, c n and h . Two spade terminals what does the left and right one do? Screw thread in the middle what's it for? And a tube below like a metal chimney. Where the early mini gauges painted metal colour? Some corrosion on the back is this normal? Should I derust and paint the back of it? Will any smiths electric temp sender match it or best for one from a mini? How can I test it works is there a test for it with some wire and aa car battery?

[Declan_Burns]

The standard temperature sender for Smiths instruments is GTR 101 or intermotor part no. 5271. It has a 5/8" UNF thread-don't go overboard on tightening it. The resistance is 800ohms @20°c and 50ohms @90°C-There's plenty on ebay e.g
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Temperature-Sende ... 2c5a55b7ad
The two spade connectors are current in current out-test with a small battery to find the polarity-it will only work one way, then label it.
Fine adjustment is easy in case of a mismatch and the gauge overreads.
Fitting a 22 ohm 0.1 Watt trim potentiometer in series with the wire from the sensor cures this. Very easy to do and you can adjust the gauge to match the measured temperature perfectly. The potentiometer is then insulated and hidden under the dash. If it underreads, the potentiometer has to be connected in parallel with the sensor. The potentiometer is available from any electronics shop for a few pence.
Regards
Declan

[bmcecosse]

It's a hot wire instrument - it will work either way round. Be sure to feed it from the 10 volt supply on the speedo mounted voltage regulator.