Add oil pressure gage

[boeing1]

I have a universal M12 diesel, has only a oil pressure light, I would like to add a oil pressure gauge.
I can not find a dual sending unit for a light and gauge to replace the oil pressure switch.
any suggestions on where to locate a dual press switch, or do I have to T off press switch and add another sending unit.

[a64pilot]

You may have another tap into an oil gallery, most engine do and these are plugged with an internal wrench plug that can be removed with an Allen wrench, but often they are really in there, meaning heat and possibly an impact wrench is required to remove them.
If I were to use a T to mount two sending units on, I thin I would want to remote mount the units on a separate part of the engine or bulkhead or something, with a flex line as hanging two sending units on a brass T could due to their weight cause the T to fatigue and break.

[Roy M]

Here's how I did mine on a Yanmar 3GM30FW: In both pics you can see the upper "idiot light" switch and the lower, unpainted pressure sender switch.

[sanibel sailor]

Fine article regarding this in Good Old Boat magazine Jan/Feb 2014, including sender and gauge selection, how to T in etc. BTW, I wrote it but get no royalties...

If interested, I can fax a copy.

[boeing1]

good advice, from everyone, the boat only had a warning light, I did install a alarm but would like a oil press gauge.

[lmantuano]

G'day John!

are you able to scan & email your article?

thanx

Luigi M

[american]

I recently tackled this for my Yanmar and found a VDO sending unit that does pressure and warning light all in one:

http://www.amazon.com/VDO-360009-Pre...dp/B00029XEBG/

Required fitting a thread adaptor, but that too can be bought and found on Amazon. Not sure if this is really rated for marine use, but then it's so cheap you could afford to carry a spare.

Had the whole thing installed in less than an hour (with the VDO gauges).

[sanibel sailor]

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[lmantuano]

Thanx John,

much appreciated, great article and an inspiration for me to do something about my own ageing engine panel (VP MD17D) and add the oil pressure gauge to it..

One comment if I may, your ammeter (60-60A, direct reading) is measuring, directly, the current generated by the alternator on its way to the battery(ies).. I assume that your Balmar would be of the High Output type (say 100A ?), aren't you worried about overloading the ammeter and possibly the wiring to/from it as well? Just a thought..

lm

[sanibel sailor]

never occurred to me...

Likelihood of it actually putting out a hundred amps is low, have to be dead batteries and high engine speed, but I suppose it is possible. Wires going to it are pretty big. Good point though.

[deblen]

Sanibel--Good article-I'm a GOB subscr.
For Hi amp alt,you should probably use a shunt that is heavy guage wired between Alt & Bat. (master switch is good place-somewhere the Bat cables terminate.( I ,personally don't like to conn anything but bat cables on bat itself,if possible,-small wires corrode off too easily.)
A shunt type ammeter requires 16ga,or less,wire between shunt & guage.
Don't count on your 100+ amp alt to never put out it's full rating.Bats don't have to be down that much to absorb a high rush of current during initial minutes of recharge, & small ammeter terms get hot fast.
Cheers / Len

[go sailing]

Just be aware if using brass fitting they can and do crack due to vibration, I have seen this happen with aftermarket parts designed for this very practice.

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