Monitoring multiple parameters

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I think every Ram should have an analog boost and pyro gauge, but there are a host of other generally non-critical parameters that would be nice to selectively monitor as needed on a single display or readout. Axle temp, engine oil temp, fuel temp, turbo discharge or intake air temp, exhaust backpressure, auxiliary tank fuel level, etc. , available on a palm pilot or some other electronic gizmo. Temperatures should be pretty easy to do, use all YSI 400 or YSI 700 probes with a readout and some kind of switch to cycle through them all. But monitoring pressures involve transducers, that's kind of an unknown for me.

Anyway thoughts and suggestions . . . I want to read fuel temperature, eng. oil temp, trans and differential temp all on one readout of some sort on my '98. I'm looking to do a full WVO 2-tanks sytem on the truck and want to monitor tank and fuel temp at the injection pump as well.

Vaughn

 

[ENafziger]

For multiple pressures, the cheapest route may be one of Dakota Digital's displays. I got one that offers 5 different pressure displays, and you can pick the pressure range of the transducers. The transducers simply thread in with a 1/8" NPT, and you run 2 wires up to the display. You can even choose the display color that matches the factory greenish-blue pretty well.

As for the temperatures, one gauge should work. You could probably use a common ground, and just use a 3, 4, or 5 position switch to select the positive signal that you want sent to the gauge.

--Eric

 

[amsoilman]

I think every Ram should have an analog boost and pyro gauge, but there are a host of other generally non-critical parameters that would be nice to selectively monitor as needed on a single display or readout. Axle temp, engine oil temp, fuel temp, turbo discharge or intake air temp, exhaust backpressure, auxiliary tank fuel level, etc. , available on a palm pilot or some other electronic gizmo. Temperatures should be pretty easy to do, use all YSI 400 or YSI 700 probes with a readout and some kind of switch to cycle through them all. But monitoring pressures involve transducers, that's kind of an unknown for me.



Anyway thoughts and suggestions . . . I want to read fuel temperature, eng. oil temp, trans and differential temp all on one readout of some sort on my '98. I'm looking to do a full WVO 2-tanks sytem on the truck and want to monitor tank and fuel temp at the injection pump as well.



Vaughn

Vaughn,

On my old 94' CTD, I had one temp gauge that monitored the Engine oil temp, transmission temp, and both differentials, using a rotary switch. This system worked very well. As to the other things you mentioned, I had a buddy that also monitored air temps before the turbo, and after the turbo, and as I recall, there was about 110 Deg F. difference, and it was pretty consistant.



Wayne

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Hadn't thought of Dakota Digital, thanks Eric. Wayne that's what I'll probably do, just get more sensors and install a rotary switch. Where did you install your switch? I was going through some of my old Ram pictures a found a couple of your '94 I saved to my PC

 

[amsoilman]

Hadn't thought of Dakota Digital, thanks Eric. Wayne that's what I'll probably do, just get more sensors and install a rotary switch. Where did you install your switch? I was going through some of my old Ram pictures a found a couple of your '94 I saved to my PC

Vaughn,

I made a bracket from aluminum and mounted it just under the edge of the dash panel. I'll look and see if I have any of the pictures that would show that switch.



Wayne