Why would ya go with anything but digital gauges?????????

[ChrisKringle]

Come on fellas... ... it's 2005! I can't think of any innovative electronic item available in analog form other than an old fashioned clock.



Even car and motorcycle (all of any popular import bike, speed and tach) manufacturers realize the simplicity and instantanious response. Why attempt to decipher where the 'clock' is, when you can get a number right in the face??



Sure, you look cool with the triple gauge tree on the driver side pillar, but can ya really see 'em when it counts?? What do they say, is that 1300 or 1400 degrees??



Believe me, I've seen both and I'd much rather be looking at one line of NUMBERS rather than three different 'clocks'.



The X-Monitor I'm thinking of even matches the green hue of the Dodge instrument cluster. Maximum value memory, menu to scroll thru, alarms, etc. Paint the carcass with 'factory taupe' and looks just like OEM. People think it came with the truck.



So get over the triple gauge pillar----they're ugly! Actually they look ok in a Duramax, but I see alot (all) of the Ford guys runnin' 'em, and I hate Fords!



All you Ford guys, Fords are ugly! The interiors are cheap, looks like Henry himself designed it. Hell, even Dodges interior blows it away! Now we all know Chevy has the bomb int. , like a Caddy. Once again Ford sucks! The grill is flat as Elene Degeneres. Damn do the new Fords sound good though, I can hear that variable turbo from a block away. Too bad I pull ahead come toe to toe. Their trucks suck too, every one I've ever talked to had problems (many, including me) with his Ford.



We don't want to be the stereotypical diesel owner with the 'clocks' like the Ford farm boys--hell no!! So put the backlit X-Monitor right on the pillar! SEE what your rigs doin'!!



'Mamma says stupid is as stupid does... . and that's all I have to say about that'

 

[JohnnyH]

Hmmm, Why dont you tell us how you really feel. Dont beat around the bush. If I read between the lines, it seems you dont like analog gagues. For me, I like to see the trend that a needle gives you, instead of numbers just flashing. But hey, thats just me. I'm glad you like your digital gague. To each is own.



John

 

[swexlin]

For me, I like to see the trend that a needle gives you, instead of numbers just flashing

I agree, John.

 

[cyborg]

My eyes are to old to decypher a row of digits. Too damn busy.

I have the ugly-***** A-pillar tri-pod, a quick glance if the orange needles are at 12 o'clock, everything is cooool.

I have a digital odometer, does that count?

The x-monitor is a little too "gucci" for me.

 

[TSpecht]

Ever wonder why many race vehicles still have analog guages? It's at least in part because it's a very simple to understand display of exactly what is going on with the parameter it's monitoring. It's not hard to look at an analog guage and see whether it's in the danger zone or not. With digital guages you must see the number, and then you have to decide whether it falls within acceptable limits or not. In fact, taking it a step further in racing vehicles, they tend to put the guages in so the needles all point a certain direction (straight up for example) when it's in the normal operating range, so you know what's going on instantaneously at a glance.

 

[Rams-n-Hogs]

So far, it looks like it's 5 to 1 for analog gauges. It's way quicker to glance at the gauge to make sure everything is normal.



Jim

 

[klenger]

On a modern all-digital aircraft, the engine instruments are displayed on an LCD display in analog format with a digital display shown next to or below the analog display. I think it has been proven that the human mind can interept data in an analog format quicker than decoding a bunch of numbers.



Here's a picture of a Bombardier CRJ with Collins Proline 4 avionics as an example. #ad




Here's one that the company I work for makes: http://www.uasc.com/products/index.asp?contentid=prod_flatpanel&rightmenuid=92



As for use in a pick-up truck with guages that are not even required (from the factory), if the digital ones work for you, that's great.



FWIW, I don't even have guages in my truck, but would like to add the EGT/Boost option to my Brakesmart if they ever get it to market. I guess that would be a digital display.

 

[JohnnyH]

I'll second what Klenger said. I fly a Gulfstream IV jet and our engine instruments are digitally displayed on a CRT using round analog layout. It is easier, especially when comparing left to right, to view a round gague with a needle. Good point Ken.

 

[nickleinonen]

i like both styles [analog & digital] but i find at a quick glance, the analog is easier to read... you don't look at the numbers, you just look at the position of the gauge pointer... for like oil temp&press, water temp & fuel press, those could be digital gauges for me... just set warning points on them to alert me when they get too low or too hot...



and all the gauges i have as of current are analog. .

 

[KBennett]

The analog gauges are still around for more than just aesthetics. I can see the needles position out of the corner of my eye without having to focus on them like I would with digitals.

My Autometers are digital underneath the needle. For example, the Pyrometer takes the voltage from the thermocouple and converts it into a rotary position that is then sent to a small stepper motor that controls the needle.

 

[Tomeygun]

. For me, I like to see the trend that a needle gives you, instead of numbers just flashing. John

Esp. for my boost gauge, I have two, one with the TST. and one analog. . I would never be without my mechanical boost gauge

 

[jwduke]

If you are interested in digital gauges check out http://www.dakotadigital.com



A lot of the racers & street rodders use their gauges.

 

[Tony T.]

I like both styles myself, digital and the analog gauges. I went with the X-Monitor myself, because I wanted it located on the A-piller painted to match and did not want to loose my grab handle. The cubby hole also is a neat place for the gauges, but there again I use it for a catch all for some of my junk (cell phone, wallet,etc. ). A couple of the features also that the X offered I liked was the alarm feature, and recorded temps along with digital brightness setting. Draw backs direct sunlight can be hard to see display at times, but nothing a good pair of sunglasses want cure, nice looking though at night. As it has been said what ever floats your boat, go with what suits you digital or analog they both serve the purpose IMO.



Tony

 

[LightmanE300]

All I have to say is THEY MATCH THE STOCK GAUGES!

 

[AK RAM]

I've had both. After going digital, I will never go back to round analog. Much easier to read and keep up with for me.



We have a huge Cummins crowd at work and what I find interesting is the younger generation, say 35 and under, seem to prefer digital. The guys that are say 40 and above absolutely hate digital, with the exception of a few. Interesting. The younger generation just seems to be a little more comfortable in a digital domain. I can however see a cockpit environment with many systems to monitor being much easier with analog gauges displayed on a screen. It provides much better separation of readings than a bunch of running together numbers, making it much quicker to pick out the one system your interested in at that moment with less likelihood of reading the wrong value. The six digital readings in my truck are not enough to be a problem for me.



What I like, and do it every time, is when at the track with my friends who have analog gauges, ask them what their boost and EGTs were after a run. "I don’t know. Didn’t have time to look. " Then run over and hit the recall feature on my digital and show them everything that happened during a run on my truck. I love it (heee…. . heee).



For what its worth, I do like the Outlook Monitor much better than the X-Monitor as a gauge set. Clarity is much better and it does not wash out in the sun. I do question its accuracy though since it takes some readings from sensors on the truck that you can only assume are working correctly themselves.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

YUP - I like digital for more relaxed and accurate use - but sure wouldn't trade the ability to QUICKLY scan my analog Fuel PSI, EGT and boost with a quick glance, getting my gaze back on the traffic and road as rapidly as possible...

 

[CLAYTON]

I like having both kinds of gauges.

 

[tgbol]

I like like the ablity to scan the analog guages quickly. I also take exception to the remarks about the pillar mount. It puts the guages in a location where I can see them without taking my eyes off of the road. The digital are more accurate but I don't need to know whether the EGT is 935 or 950

 

[Boondocker]

ISSPRO analog (rainbow) EGT gauge - Green is Good, Red is Bad. My non-technical spouse understands this clearly.

 

[CUrquieta]

A Plug for Analog

Analog gauges were never meant to be read precisely in auto/aircraft applications.



They are nothing more than trend indicators. I used to fly an airplane that had 20 round dials to monitor the four engines. It didn't take long to establish a trend line and see how the engines were doing with a quick glance.



Having observed many cases of inept multi-tasking drivers on the road (cell-phone and driving at the same time for example), the last thing we should encourage is another more-than-a-glance distraction in a vehicle unless we are going to require flight engineers in our trucks. :-laf