guages?

mherndon

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 8, 2011
Messages
47
so i want to get a couple new guages. what is the difference in marine guages and auto guages? other than the obvious, like the speedometer.... could i use like a battery guage for a car in my boat?
 

bartles17

Cadet
Joined
Jul 11, 2010
Messages
25
Re: guages?

Not to rain on your parade but i would think this question would be better suited for the electronics section, but to answer ur question i would think they are different cause of waterproofing, just my .02
 

Bob_VT

Moderator & Unofficial iBoats Historian
Staff member
Joined
May 19, 2001
Messages
26,065
Re: guages?

so i want to get a couple new guages. what is the difference in marine guages and auto guages? other than the obvious, like the speedometer.... could i use like a battery guage for a car in my boat?

Depends on the motor. Normally auto gauges will NOT stand up to marine use at all. Ebay is usually filled with used gauges.
 

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Re: guages?

What gauges do you intend to install? A voltmeter is a voltmeter and 12 volts in a boat is the same as 12 volts in a car. Two stroke outboards don't need an oil pressure gauge. Cars don't have water pressure gauges but boats benefit by having one. Temp gauges for cars are different than those for an outboard. Fuel gauges for cars are different than those for a boat. Tachometers for an outboard are driven by the charging system -- tachometers for a car are driven by the ignition system. So there ya go -- yes they are different functionally. Yes they are different structurally because of the moisture issue previously mentioned.
 

fucawi

Banned
Joined
May 18, 2011
Messages
1,039
Re: guages?

Tachometers on cars are driven by the alternator or pulses from the ECU ..what year are we in ?
 

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Re: guages?

Tachometers on cars are driven by the alternator or pulses from the ECU ..what year are we in ?

They can also be driven mechanically off the disributor drive shaft and up until engine management systems became current technology, off the ignition coil.
 
Top