Digital gauges

[nanook]

Any good news or bad news on digital gauges for boost and egt. I've been looking into the S. P. A Technique gauges and need some input from everybody out there.

 

[Fireman]

Some people think they are hard to read because they change so fast.



That's all I know about that



Fireman

 

[Prairie Dog]

I agree, their good for show but not very functional.

 

[krabman]

Depends on the how often they update or smoothing we call it on the water. Most modern stuff we have seen recently has been adjusted to be readable. In general such gauges are better in FYI jobs rather than mission critical situations. This is because you can glance at a standard gauge and get a feel for where you are at and how fast or slow things are changing. Not so easy with the digital couterpart.

 

[raychem]

SPA Gauges

I have had both my SPA guages for over two years without a problem. So you know, I have a boost-egt combo and a dual temp for engine oil and trans. I love the guages because they are two in one and therefore need less space. They also have warning lights built into them which you can set, to let you know when you are exceeding your limits (egt, boost,and temps). Since mine are a little old, I can not tell you about the functionality of the new series of guages. But, as I understand it, they have a higher resolution (more sensitive to readings) and their backlight are adjustable which I like. ... ... ... ... . As far as them being hard to read, as in to fast, when I on the go pedal, the onlything I look for is the idiot light . If you have any other questions that I can answer, feel free to ask.







Richard

 

[nanook]

Thanks for the info on the SPA gauges, I like the combo because then I would get a dual pod for the A pillar and have 4 readings, EGT, boost and 2 temps... .

 

[raychem]

Nanook, That is exactly how I have my gauges on a pillar mount.

 

[jmbrowning]

I'm very happy with the SPAs. I don't find them hard to read and I like the telltale (highest readings recorded).

 

[Scooby]

I also have two dual SPA guages (the older models) and really like them. The only complaint I had has been addressed with the newer units (the backlight adjustability). I've also had great customer service - which is important to me.

 

[SOOT]

I had SPA on my 97 and they never worked right from day one. When I called them to try and fix the problem they basically told me I was lier and and that they have never had the kind of problem I was having So I then proceeded to pull the POS gauge out and throw it in a dark dark corner never to be seen again.

 

[dunncamp]

I have had the lights go out on two gauges and had to hassle over the warranty to get the gauges back two months later. I just had the light go out again and am getting very irritated and wish I would have bought different gauges.

 

[Matt400]

I have 3 SPA's over the mirror and like them allot.

I was using just one in the A pillar, I moved to over the mirror to add 2 more.

One thing I noticed is the digits are more crisp over the mirror due to the viewing angle vs the Pillar.



The thing about digital is they are not good to do a quick glance to see if all is normal

On mine I have 6 gauges and IMO I don't care to glance for a normalcy check, I don't use them that way.



I will glance at the EGT and Trans Temp while towing just for a look but since they have led warning set points to get my attention I don't watch them all the time.



Boost I rarely look at and for me is used more for diagnostics if the truck is not pulling right or to see how performance mods effect it. (I am on my 3rd box)



Rail Pressure I use just for box evaluation at the moment since I have been watching for excessive pressures, later on if I get real crazy in the fueling I would be using it to see if pressure is running low in the rail.



Lift Pressure I use just for box evaluation, I want to know if a particular box or setting is maxing out my lift supply so I can either back off, make changes or whatever. It also would provide me with diagnostics should the lift fail completely but I didn't buy it for that.



Engine Oil Pressure is just cuz I don't care for the fake DC gauge, If something were to happen like oil pump mounting bolts backing off I would want to know before pressure has dropped below 6 lbs.



I think its important on how you use them if you will like them. I will use the high number recall for evaluation of performance changes I make, the led warning set points I selected are low enough so no damage has happened and instead get my attention to monitor the gauge more closely.



If I were to ever be satisfied with my performance changes I could pull out several but by that time I probably won't bother and just leave them.

If I sell the truck, it would be a nice unit to sell on ebay for a fella going through all the same mod changes.

 

[DHayden]

3 SPA's here and I love em'. They are easy to read and like what has been said the low and high limits can be set to trigger the flashing warning light so that catches my attention out the corner of my eye if I need it. The record of max readings is something else I like.

 

[Tony T.]

Any good news or bad news on digital gauges for boost and egt. I've been looking into the S. P. A Technique gauges and need some input from everybody out there.

Sorry I can't give you any info toward the S. P. A. gauges other than what the ones that have them already said. I do like there look and function though, similar to the X-Monitor IMO. I have the BD X-Monitor mounted on the A-pillar, and I like it other than in direct sun-light that is the only problem I have with it at times if I'm wearing real dark sun-glasses, but looking over the sun-glasses I see the read out just fine. As far as being readable at that position mine is mounted where I have no problem reading the three features(trans,pyro,boost) all at once, maybe it's the compact size. Also the alarm and record features are a plus to me. It's all personal prefence to most, some like digital and some like the antalog gauges,I like both myself.



Tony

 

[coobie]

Sorry I can't give you any info toward the S. P. A. gauges other than what the ones that have them already said. I do like there look and function though, similar to the X-Monitor IMO. I have the BD X-Monitor mounted on the A-pillar, and I like it other than in direct sun-light that is the only problem I have with it at times if I'm wearing real dark sun-glasses, but looking over the sun-glasses I see the read out just fine. As far as being readable at that position mine is mounted where I have no problem reading the three features(trans,pyro,boost) all at once, maybe it's the compact size. Also the alarm and record features are a plus to me. It's all personal prefence to most, some like digital and some like the antalog gauges,I like both myself.



Tony

I agree with Tony T. on the BD X-Monitor. coobie