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04-19-2011, 01:32 AM | #1 |
RCC Loves Me Not You
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Anyone have SPA gauges?
I just got 3 SPA dual gauges. Fuel press/water temp, oil press/oil temp and dual EGT. Had some issues with the water temp messing up before but it hasn't been lately, and in the manual it says that all sensors must be grounded. Not sure how I'm going to do that with the water temp sensor mounted in a t-fitting between two pieces of hose, unless I mount it in the stock location haha. I think I might just do that anyway, and see if the stock sensor can mount where I have the aftermarket sensor right now.
Anyway, this is more about the issue with the EGT gauge. I'm using TSC sensors that are supposed to be quick reacting. I'd like to keep using them but I guess I'll switch to the sensors that came with the gauge if I have to. Anyway, I took the thermocouple connectors off the SPA sensor wires and put them on the TSC wires (yellow-positive, red-negative). When I turned it on, the EG temps were around 150*F, and as I drove the car it only got lower. I figured maybe SPA wanted the wires hooked up the other way so I switched them, and then I got a reading of -86*F haha. So that's not it. I'm going to look into the TSC sensors (I believe they're K type but I could be wrong) and the SPA sensors (which I believe are K type as well). They're both 2-wire sensors, I'm just not sure why they're not working. I just looked on their site and it says the temp is limited to 1000*C, which is 1832*F, but IIRC that is because of the sensors and not the gauge. Although the gauge reads 4 digits but it's set up as 000.0 and not 0000, so I'll have to see if there is a way to push the decimal to the right one spot. Anyone have any input? |
04-19-2011, 09:19 AM | #2 | |
Lifetime Rotorhead
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04-19-2011, 10:22 AM | #3 |
Rotary Fanatic
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I have my SPA water temp sensor in the stock location on the rear iron for years with no problem so it must need a ground. I've found their sensors wear out every so many years and must be replaced - more so on the pressure sensors.
You should be able to change the resolution on the EGT to read four digits before the decimal. It's cumbersume using the one button to control everything on those SPA gauges. Jack |
04-19-2011, 05:09 PM | #4 | ||
RCC Loves Me Not You
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I thought I read something about changing the resolution or something on the EGT gauge but I still need to look through the manual again. I agree, that single button is kind of a pain lol. Thanks! |
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04-20-2011, 07:31 PM | #5 |
RCC Loves Me Not You
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I emailed SPA yesterday about the EGT issue and got a response today. They said I could adjust the resolution (0000 instead of 000.0) by going to HR in the menu and turning it off so it would read without a decimal. I already figured this since Trout2 mentioned it but I didn't get around to it last night. I did this after work today and fixed the issue.
They also said I could change the temp readings by going to TYP in the menu and changing the setting to tHi (the setting for 1000 degree thermocouple). I did this and it read higher, but only to around 750 degrees or so once warmed up. I noticed in the manual there is another setting called tEh (for extra high, the 1200 degree thermocouple) so I went back through and changed it to tEh and it is reading around 1080 degrees on the front rotor and 1010 degrees on the rear rotor, which is closer to what it was on my old gauge but I'm still not sure how exact it is. I figure I'll datalog my EGTs at some point and compare them to what the gauge is reading. This should work since the sensor wires will plug directly into the datalogging hardware and bypass my gauges. Now I'm trying to decide if I still want to mess with the water temp and fuel pressure sensors haha. I just remembered, the water temp and fuel pressure sensor wires are run together and I used some magnets and hose clamps to keep them hidden up under the lip that runs along the firewall at the back of the engine bay. I wonder if the magnets are messing with the readings on those two. I thought about it before I ever started the car and wondered if it would matter, but I forgot all about it. Last edited by speedjunkie; 04-20-2011 at 07:41 PM.. |
04-20-2011, 08:22 PM | #6 | |
Lifetime Rotorhead
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04-20-2011, 10:34 PM | #7 | ||
RCC Loves Me Not You
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I looked into PLX but their fuel pressure sensor isn't up to par to actually be used with fuel, it degrades apparently. But they said they're working on that issue. I would have gone with them though, need one, MAYBE two gauges at most. Did you put anti-seize on the threads before you put them in? I did on mine and I haven't had a problem yet. But you've probably had yours in for quite a while longer than I've had mine in. I'm using the 500R but with short runner manifold. Quote:
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04-20-2011, 07:41 PM | #8 |
Rotary Fanatic
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When the sensors go bad, the temperature will jump around or in the case of the oil pressure one last year it read 0. I've been using the water temp/fuel press and oil temp/oil press since 2003 and have replaced fuel and oil pressure sensors once and oil temp sensor once.
I would have gone PLX if it was available back then. Last year I got a PLX gauge and two Team Rip EGT sensors, logging thru datalogit. One of the EGT sensors started reading 0 most of the time a couple of months ago. When I went to remove it from the exhaust manifold it feels like its cross threaded so I left it alone for fear of breaking something off in therre right before DGRR. 900 to 1000-F at idle is normal for me (aspec 500R with long runner manifold on small street port). Jack |
04-20-2011, 10:43 PM | #9 |
Rotary Fanatic
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No anti-seize. I used teflon tape on mine.
PLX gauges can be used with other sensors so I would think any 0-5 V pressure sensor that's fuel safe could work with it. I'm using the PLX gauge for EGT with sensors from another vendor. Jack |