Installing PowerTech Gauges

Topic: Installing PowerTech Gauges (Read 1447 times) previous topic - next topic

Installing PowerTech Gauges

May 11, 2017, 10:22:17 pm

I have installed a coolant temperature gauge along with an oil pressure gauge under the dash for the PowerTech generator. Just wanted to know if any members have done this and if they were able to locate any spare wires from the generator control box to the dash area. I can run a new cable if needed but was hoping there were existing spares.

Re: Installing PowerTech Gauges

Reply #1 – May 11, 2017, 11:07:40 pm

Haven't seen any spare wires from the front end of coach, just from the back.

Re: Installing PowerTech Gauges

Reply #2 – May 12, 2017, 06:58:44 am

I don't think there are any extra wires from there to the dash area. If you need to run wires outside this duplex wire type is nice. Tinned marine grade. Lots of sizes and lengths, three wire as well.
Amazon.com: 14/2 AWG Duplex Tinned Marine Wire, Red/Black 50 Feet: Industrial...

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Installing PowerTech Gauges

Reply #3 – May 12, 2017, 09:32:26 am

Quote from: Roger & Susan in Home2 – May 12, 2017, 06:58:44 am

I don't think there are any extra wires from there to the dash area. If you need to run wires outside this duplex wire type is nice. Tinned marine grade. Lots of sizes and lengths, three wire as well.

I have not done a direct price comparison with other vendors, but my boat friends say this is the best place to get tinned wiring and supplies. It says all wire made in USA: Marine Wiring, Boat Cable and Electrical Genuinedealz.com

Also check: Marine Wire, Boat Wiring & Marine Electrical - BestBoatWire.com (might be same company)

Re: Installing PowerTech Gauges

Reply #4 – May 12, 2017, 03:08:58 pm

FWIW, Many years ago I acquired a partial spool of 14 Gage Prestolite stranded wire. It is double insulated with what appears to be a white woven layer under an outer layer of clear insulation. It is Pre Tinned. Other than some MIL SPEC numbers there is no further ID on it. I can guess where it originated but I won't, I would guess remaining on the spool is well over a thousand feet. I will not live long enough to use it all. Any one that is in the ATL area or passing thru is welcome to come by and get what they need. I have been using this for years and I love it. Only thing better would be if I had multiple colors but I have to settle for just white.

Gary B

Re: Installing PowerTech Gauges

Reply #5 – May 12, 2017, 05:07:38 pm

If you want 50 ft of 14 ga tinned duplex marine wire, Amazon is cheaper. Shop around.

Re: Installing PowerTech Gauges

Reply #6 – May 12, 2017, 07:20:07 pm

Four,

what are you going to use for generator oil pressure sender?

Our Isuzu has non-standard tapered threads in the block for our oil pressure sender.

Re: Installing PowerTech Gauges

Reply #7 – May 12, 2017, 07:46:28 pm

Quote from: Barry & Cindy – May 12, 2017, 07:20:07 pm

Four,

what are you going to use for generator oil pressure sender?

Our Isuzu has non-standard tapered threads in the block for our oil pressure sender.

When you say non standard, it isn't 1/8" pipe thread? I didn't know there was a metric pipe fitting, learn something new everyday.

Re: Installing PowerTech Gauges

Reply #8 – May 12, 2017, 09:15:13 pm

Have had several different brands of Japanese generators and they all have use standard npt fittings.

Re: Installing PowerTech Gauges

Reply #9 – May 12, 2017, 09:49:22 pm

Quote from: Barry & Cindy – May 12, 2017, 07:20:07 pm

Four,

what are you going to use for generator oil pressure sender?

Our Isuzu has non-standard tapered threads in the block for our oil pressure sender.

Bought a VDO gauge off of ebay, it came with a metric kit if needed. Plans are to install it this weekend.
I will post the results and let everyone know what NOT to do!

VDO 350-1942 Oil Pressure 80 PSI Metric Kit - Vision Chrome | eBay

Re: Installing PowerTech Gauges

Reply #10 – May 13, 2017, 12:35:50 am

Our 8kw Isuzu's oil pressure port is not NPT, just looks like it. We wanted to continue to use the OEM oil pressure switch and add a NPT VDO oil pressure gauge sender that we purchased. But could not find a way to easily and compactly add an adapter that accepts both NPT and the OEM senders.

And adding confusion is our findings that the non-standard is probably one of several different tapered metric choices.

We decided to double-use our Foretravel dash oil pressure and coolant temperature gauges and not add additional gauges. But in the end we can only monitor coolant. With a small DPDT switch we can optionally power the coolant gauge without ignition on and read generator coolant temps.

We purchased the same VDO senders Foretravel installed on our Cummins engine, so the dash gauges would readout accurately when measuring generator. Our Isuzu thermostat housing had a plugged NPT port that we are using for coolant temp measuring.

We ran a length of cable from gen to dash following the existing cables and hoses with cable zip ties.

Re: Installing PowerTech Gauges

Reply #11 – May 15, 2017, 01:46:07 am

I did essentially the same thing that Barry did, but added a new gauge below the instrument panel which is powered any time the generator is on. Ran a wire up through the floor to the gauge.

Re: Installing PowerTech Gauges

Reply #12 – May 15, 2017, 09:33:35 am

We installed the sending units for the gauges this weekend. The sending unit install was straight forward and didn't take but a couple hours start to finish.
The wire (multi-conductor cable) run was a little more challenging. We ran a cable from the gen set thru to the cargo bay up into the raceway thru the fuel bay and thru to the cables running under the drivers side floor. Used a wire loom to conceal the cable (along with some existing wires ran by the PO) up the steering column to the dash.
We installed a DPDT switch to the gauges power and illumination so we can switch from ignition power to coach 12V when the coach engine is not running.
Gauges seem to work fine, oil press at 50psi and water temp at 170*. Very pleased with the results!
Will post more and photos soon. Not at a computer right now.

Re: Installing PowerTech Gauges

Reply #13 – August 02, 2017, 08:09:22 am

Finally getting around to following up on this post...... here are a couple of photos of the finished project.

We just returned from a 4400 mile trip to the northeast, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The coach did great and we received many compliments on it from other campers. "Wow..... that's a 95?" .... "it's really in great shape" "I love that sloped front" are common responses.

Having the generator gauges added a little peace of mind knowing that I didn't have to rely only on the auto shutdown to protect the unit. Now if I can figure out why the temp runs at 170/180 while parked and 200/215 when traveling with the AC on........

Re: Installing PowerTech Gauges

Reply #14 – August 02, 2017, 08:20:52 am

My guess would be disruptive airflow. Not owning a GV it is only a guess.

Re: Installing PowerTech Gauges

Reply #15 – August 02, 2017, 01:35:36 pm

Maybe that's both the reason the GV coach did not have gen gauges and/or they moved the gen to the front on the Unicoach.

Or none of the above...

Re: Installing PowerTech Gauges

Reply #16 – August 02, 2017, 02:48:52 pm

Are you still able to pull the geny out for service. Looks as though the path of the oil pressure wire might prevent that ?

Re: Installing PowerTech Gauges

Reply #17 – August 02, 2017, 03:08:56 pm

Have you run the engine in neutral and checked the readings on the gauges to see if it is the alt. voltage changing the readings? They are electric senders and voltage may change the numbers.

Re: Installing PowerTech Gauges

Reply #18 – August 02, 2017, 05:57:26 pm

Quote from: Bob & Sue – August 02, 2017, 02:48:52 pm

Are you still able to pull the geny out for service. Looks as though the path of the oil pressure wire might prevent that ?

Yes, I made sure the loop in the cable was long enough, actually I installed everything with the generator pulled out to the stops.
Decided to run the cable thru the cargo bay and up thru the factory chase to the front of the coach. There was absolutely no room left in the flexible sealtite to add more wire or cable.

Re: Installing PowerTech Gauges

Reply #19 – August 02, 2017, 08:44:54 pm

Quote from: craneman – August 02, 2017, 03:08:56 pm

Have you run the engine in neutral and checked the readings on the gauges to see if it is the alt. voltage changing the readings? They are electric senders and voltage may change the numbers.

Yes, I have been running down the interstate and watched the readings at 210/215 and pulled in to a rest stop (idling the Cummins) and watched the temps drop 20 degrees in a few minutes. The temperature hasn't been high enough to trigger the safety shutdown,as it did last year in Arizona & New Mexico, and then only when traveling.

Re: Installing PowerTech Gauges

Reply #20 – August 02, 2017, 09:16:28 pm

It must be the air then. Any way to get a baffle to block the air from the front.

Re: Installing PowerTech Gauges

Reply #21 – August 02, 2017, 09:50:24 pm

I spoke with Gary O. today, he informed me that the flap under the coach that covers the duct outlet for the radiator fan must be in place. He had this same problem years ago with his U300 and discovered the $$$$ way that this flap is a must have or the radiator fan cannot push enough air thru the duct when traveling.

I have this flap but it may be partially closed due to the fact it's under the coach and could have been bent upwards. I will try increasing the size of the opening and make a trial run to see if there is an improvement.

Re: Installing PowerTech Gauges

Reply #22 – August 03, 2017, 12:07:49 am

Relating to the conveyer belt material that surrounds the side-mounted hydraulic radiator fans: Any air gaps around the material will allow engine heated air to be recirculated, reducing cooling. Must be sure that ALL air being pulled from fan blades only comes in from outside. We used expanding spray insulation foam to fill each gap. Have heard it said that this is a problematic area contributing to overheating.

Re: Installing PowerTech Gauges

Reply #23 – August 03, 2017, 12:07:51 am

Four,

Good idea to find an oil pressure port on the front of the Isuzu. Was that port originally plugged and is the casting threaded to our USA NPT? Did you use a 1/8 NPT tee into that port? Photo did not show enough on how the oil pressure gauge is connected to Isuzu. We have the sender, but previous attempts found non standard thread on back oil pressure sender, and also there is very little room on back side near starter. I like your oil pressure setup.

Re: Installing PowerTech Gauges

Reply #24 – August 03, 2017, 06:55:10 am

Quote from: Barry & Cindy – August 03, 2017, 12:07:51 am

Four,

Good idea to find an oil pressure port on the front of the Isuzu. Was that port originally plugged and is the casting threaded to our USA NPT? Did you use a 1/8 NPT tee into that port? Photo did not show enough on how the oil pressure gauge is connected to Isuzu. We have the sender, but previous attempts found non standard thread on back oil pressure sender, and also there is very little room on back side near starter. I like your oil pressure setup.

Barry,
Ours is the Kubota, I added a few more pics to my OP, there were two plugs just above the oil filter. I used the top one, using a 1/4 X 1/8 brass reducer then a brass 1/8 90* the sending unit is a standard 1/8 X 27 NPT if I recall correctly. I will go back and try to find my info on all this. I thought I had posted the info after I did the install a couple of months ago but I can seem to find it now.

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