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Temperature Guage

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 11:45 am
by sclemow
I'm having a few teething problems with my mini. The temperature gauge shoots up to max very quickly and stays there.
I have checked the part numbers for the gauge and sender and believe that I have the correct ones, and I don't suspect the regulator currently as the fuel gauge doesn't do the same.

The wiring diagram here http://www.minimania.com/images/wiring/ ... ring01.pdf shows a rectangle on the wire from the gauge to the sender. Is this supposed to be a resistor?
If so what value is it?

Thanks

Simon

Re: Temperature Guage

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:06 pm
by guru_1071
simon

its just a joiner to show that there is a loom break - like where the headlamp looms join the main loom.

i guess your problem is either the sender or the guage

Re: Temperature Guage

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:09 pm
by sclemow
I thought it was probably a joiner, it was a long shot but would help electrically. I have changed the gauge and fitted a new sender. I guess I'd better go back and take another look.
What voltage should come out of the regulator?

Re: Temperature Guage

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:34 pm
by guru_1071
i think its more of a case of 'how consistant is the voltage'

the regulator stabalises the 'float' of the voltage between (say) 10-14 volts as the load alters on the battery/dynamo

i would assume that on a running car the output would be about 12 volts near enough

Re: Temperature Guage

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:49 pm
by 12g295
I would check the resistance of the temperature sender.
It should be quite high (3000 ohms ? at 15c) and drop to around 200 ohms ? at 100c.

Re: Temperature Guage

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 1:50 pm
by sclemow
Hi 12g295 - I tried a few new senders when at Steve Harris's the other day, and I've tried a few gauges I'm pretty sure that it's not the sender.

Re: Temperature Guage

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 2:16 pm
by bmcman.ie
are you sure its not a short/earth problem?

Re: Temperature Guage

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 2:35 pm
by Jack of all trades
The voltage from the stabiliser should be 10V, it uses a Bi-metal and a heating element so that it roughly gets +/- 13,6v(engine running) 73% of the time and the the rest of the time 0V so that averages at +/- 10V.
If you're in to simple electronics then use a solid state L78S10 voltage stabiliser(for negative earthed cars) that will make 10V (and switches 2Amps) all of the time by connecting the batt input to pin 1, ground to the backplate(or pin 2) and you're instrument to pin3.

It will make the world of difference and makes you'r instrument(s) more accurate trogh the range and you can fit it inside the original stabiliser so no body will notice.

Cheers,

Jack

Re: Temperature Guage

Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 3:37 pm
by 12g295
Jack wrote :-
If you're in to simple electronics then use a solid state L78S10 voltage stabiliser that will make 10V (and switches 2Amps) all of the time by connecting the batt input to pin 1, ground to the backplate(or pin 2) and you're instrument to pin3.
Here is a pictorial guide from a guy that has done exactly that. Simples :)

http://www.ken555.plus.com/gtm/regulato ... rsion.html

Or you could buy a ready made one from here :-

http://classicstabilizers.webs.com/information.htm

£8.99 delivered.

Some good information on that page about how they work to get a "10 Volt average".
Switching on and off all the time means you can't put a Volt meter on it and measure if it is ok or not.

Re: Temperature Guage

Posted: Tue Mar 22, 2011 1:16 pm
by sclemow
Does anyone know if the gauges are different internally?

I have a 2204/04 gauge and a 2204/11. The faces are different (the 2204/04 has a red hot region, whereas the 2204/11 is black and white.)

I believe that all but the early ones are 2204/11 guages but I'm not sure.

Thanks

Simon

Re: Temperature Guage

Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 11:46 am
by sclemow
Finally took the dash out to investigate this - all solved, however I'd rather not admit to my schoolboy error :lol:

Re: Temperature Guage

Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 1:17 am
by 12g295
however I'd rather not admit to my schoolboy error :lol:
Go on then, tell us what it was :)

Re: Temperature Guage

Posted: Wed Apr 20, 2011 8:57 am
by sclemow
The live was connected to the wrong side of the regulator :oops: giving ~13.5v unregulated.

(To quote my Star Wars obsessed 3 yr old .... "go on then laugh it up Fuzzball!") ;)