Engine instrument installation

[hans737]

Wondering if anyone has any insight into installing engine gauges on my Yanmar on a Hunter 380. I want to keep the idiot lights and warning horn intact as a secondary so will need find a way to attach another sending unit for the water temp indicator and oil pressure. Was thinking of teeing into the water lines that run to the hot water heater from the engine for the water temp sender but not sure what would work best for adding the oil pressure sender. I've heard of installing a tee in the current oil pressure attachment hole then somehow putting both sending units (one for the light/horn and one to the gauge) into the tee. Anyone have any luck trying this. I'm getting tired of motoring around waiting to find out I've overheated after the engine dies...

[eherlihy]

I agree that it is far better to have gauges than idiot lights. A tee fitting to connect the Oil pressure sender, next to the Oil pressure switch would be fine - if you can fit it. If not, you can run a high pressure hose to where your current Oil pressure switch is, and tee a sender and the switch at some more convenient location.

However, I recommend being more careful with the water temperature sender. A tee fitting will not allow the sender to be in the actual flow of water, and may trap air. In either case you will get a lower reading than you should.

I carefully drilled and tapped a hole into my thermostat housing next to where the temperature switch is, to accept a water temperature sender for my gauge panel.

[poopdeckpappy]

You can change the oil pressure sending unit to a dual station unit and you should have a couple locations ( that are factory plugged ) to add additional temp sender

[JimsCAL]

Been thinking of doing that also as I don't like the idea of just the water temp idiot light. I'm fine without the oil pressure gauge. Remember the sensors need to be grounded, so cutting the water hose and putting in a tee won't work unless you use a bronze tee and ground it to the engine.

[remetau]

I switched to Murphy gauges. They have an output for an alarm built into the gauge.

[galynd]

remetau,

do you know model # of water temp and oil gauge? does it come with the alarm or did you connect to existing alarm?

thx

[remetau]

Murphy EGS guages
Temp: EGS21T-250-12
Pres: EGS21P-100-12

I used my existing Yanmar buzzer and idiot light for the alarm.

[galynd]

Thanks remetau.