Auxilliary gauge installation help

[MJacobson]

Evening all,

I'm currently in the process of fitting a couple of 52mm Smiths gauges to my dashboard: an electrical water temp. gauge and a mechanical oil pressure gauge, I'm hoping they'll be valuable diagnostic tools/early warning indicators of ill engine health. I was hoping someone could reassure me that all I've done so far is correct.

I've taken the blanking plug from the engine (near to the thermostat) and screwed in the water temp sender, I've also removed the oil pressure warning light switch and screwed a T piece adapter in it's place which will soon accommodate both the warning light switch as well as the plastic hose to the pressure gauge (I neglected to order the straight adapter for the oil hose but it should be with me tomorrow).

On the back of the water temp. gauge are two male Lucar connectors. I've connected one of these to the sender in the engine and the other to the spare Lucar on the voltage regulator located at 12 o'clock on the back of the speedo.

Does this all sound right?

Also I was hoping someone could advise on the correct way to wire up the backlights for both gauges so they switch on with the speedo backlight. Each gauge came with a small slot-in bulb holder, these bulb holders have two black wires running from them. I'm unclear on where is best/safe to connect them.

As always, any and all advise would be greatly appreciated.

Mike

[bmcecosse]

Sounds ok, to get the regulated voltage you need to use the same terminal that feeds to the fuel gauge, 'light' green wire. Put the lamp wires to the same connections as the little speedo lights - on the back of the speedo. Red/white wires from memory. It's all in Barry's excellent wiring diagram at the top of this section - print it off and laminate it!

[simmitc]

If the new laamps are standard bulbs then one black wire will go to earth and the other to the red/white as above. If they are LEDs then test to see which wire is +ve and which -ve - and LED will work only one way around.

[MJacobson]

Many thanks for the help and reassurance chaps!

I've now successfully mounted and hooked up both gauges, and am about to pop out to buy the requisite connectors etc. to wire up the back lights.

I was hoping someone could now advise me on what readings I should be looking out for on the gauges. What would be deemed healthy at tickover, cruising, and accelerating for oil pressure and water temp?

Thanks once again for the support and assistance!

Mike

[bmcecosse]

Running oil pressure when HOT (ie after a decent run) needs to be at least 10psi for every 10mph in top gear - settling at 60/70 psi max depending on the relief valve setting. Idle depends on what tick=over speed you have set -s o no point giving a reading, except it should always be above 10psi minimum. Temperature depends entirely on the chosen thermostat - usually around 160 deg F.