Newbie: Installing Senders & Gauges

[John & Jan]

It's time to add the gauges to our ol' Perkins 4-107. What words of advice do you have for an old newbie?

Cheers,
John & Jan

[Hud3]

Hi, John and Jan.

Don't know about the Perkins (mine's a Yanmar), but welcome to the Forum!

[Ex-Calif]

John - Welcome aboard and good luck.

Not sure what you mean by advice for installing guages. Water Temp? Oil Pressure, Oil Temp?

Senders and guages and wiring or just replacement guages?

What are you adding?

[GordMay]

There’s a few images in my gallery that should help. Don’t hesitate to ask any specific question.

Testing Engine Gauges (1)
http://www.cruisersforum.com/gallery...=500&userid=79

Testing Engine Gauges (2)
http://www.cruisersforum.com/gallery...=500&userid=79

Engine Gauge Wiring Diagram
http://www.cruisersforum.com/gallery...=500&userid=79

Perkins Engine Wiring:
http://www.cruisersforum.com/gallery...=500&userid=79

and

Yanmar Engine Wiring
http://www.cruisersforum.com/gallery...=500&userid=79

Universal Engine Wiring:
http://www.cruisersforum.com/gallery...=500&userid=79

More Typical Instrument Wiring Diagrams:
http://www.cruisersforum.com/gallery...=500&userid=79
http://www.cruisersforum.com/gallery...=500&userid=79

[Jerry Cox]

Hi.
Fitting gauges to an old Perkins is relatively easy...or any other motor for that matter.
All you need is a live feed.normally taken from the ignition switch. The live goes to the gauge across the gauge down to the relevant sender. The gauge is basically a voltmeter and the sender is a variable resistor triggered by pressure or heat. Some senders need seperate grounding, most have internal grounding
Make sure that the sender you attach to is not an alarm sender and that the senders on the motor are dedicated dual or single station senders and the correct voltage. . If you get unusual readings these things are often the problem.
Also colour code the wiring and note what goes where for later owners. I use 14 gauge wire as a rule depending on the lenght of wire run and voltage. .

I have spent many a frustrating hour at the owners expense trying to figure out how the last three owners thought when they added or subtracted gear. Always remove redundant wiring, use good quality crimps and where poss seal joints with shrink insulation or liquid tape. Not insulating tape..it holds moisture and when its old and hot goes horribly sticky.
Cheers..Jerry

[John & Jan]

WOW! Thanks for all the help. This is amazing. I was expecting to wait a couple of weeks to get a reply and you all jumped right to our aid OVERNIGHT and complete with diagrams and step by step instructions.

Cheers,
John & Jan
Santa Teresa