I am debating on weather or not to get gauge pillars, or the scangauge II. I was wondering if there is any info someone can share with me on how to hook up maunual gauges if i were to go the gauge pillar route. Is it hard to hook them up? Thanks and all info is helpful

 

Manual gauges will involve installing an additional sending unit into each system you want to monitor. So instead of using the factory ECT sensor, you find another place and add a temperature sending unit. If you want EOT, same thing. If you want LPO pressure, you find a place to add a pressure sending unit. TFT, you either add a sending unit or put a special unit on a trans cooler line. Then you route all the wires into the cab and hook them to the gauges, plus power, ground, and a dimmer control.

That's why the SCII and digital gauges are so popular: the truck already has several sensors in place where you just need to pull data that is already fed to the computer, so you aren't adding redundant sending units all over the truck. The only manual gauge I know of that doesn't involve adding a sending unit is an Isspro EV2 HPOP gauge, which tees into the wiring connector coming out of the ICP sensor, because there's no other good way to tap into that system.

Somethings don't have an associated factory sending unit, namely fuel pressure, exhaust gas temp, and low pressure oil pressure, so those you have to either add a manual gauge, or buy a product like Edge's CS/CTS units or a DashDaq that are expandable to read input from additional sending units you've installed. (read: $$$, but it's all in one box).

It's really up to you, if you want a ton of manual gauges in the cab you can cover almost all the bases going that route, it's just a touch of a PITA to wire everything correctly. But there are a couple of things that are only easily read through the computer (FICM voltage, FIMC main power, IPR%, fan speed, EGR etc), so there's almost no way to go entirely digital (without spending a fortune) or entirely manual. Manual will cost a lot more to add redundant monitoring to sending units the truck has installed, so one reason for the popularity of the SGII is simple cost comared to the benefit you get out it.

 

Are you running any gauges Brian? If so, whats your set up? If you dont mind me askin

 

Edge CTS and Isspro fuel press and EGT manual gauges. I have an SGII for my other vehicles that can do double duty to cover what the Edge CTS can't.

IMO a SG2 and manual fuel pressure and EGT is the most cost effective combination.

 

What about transmission temp? I see that as a common triple pillar package. Still, $300 for an SGII and $300 for a set of 3 gauges. Grrrr.

 

SG2, DashBoss and Torque monitor nearly everything.

With DashBoss you can add EGT and fuel pressure. No need for external gauges of any kind.

Josh

Josh

 

Or if you have a iOS device, check out DashBoss.

http://www.dashboss.com/forums/index.php?topic=162

 

The bold red is off a bit on the cost
It's more like $160.00 for the SGII.

The think I really dislike about the pillar setup is the loss of the grab bar.


Sean

 

Besides pillar gauges are so 1999


Josh

 

Trans temp (TFT) can be read by a SG/ digital gauges. It seems like a lot of pre-slected pillar setups have EGT/Boost/Trans because those are the most common things that can turn a normal day of towing into a dead truck. EGt has to be done through an additional proble, trans temps can be read through the computer, but boost is an oddball.

A manual boost gauges will pull an actual pressure reading from the intake horn, but the digital boost gauge assumes a constant atmospheric pressure, so there's a chance your reading could be off by a couple psi going from sea level to the mountains. Not a big enough deal to me to add another unit, but some people feel this one is worth it.

Voltage is another oddball, because some people have actually tested the V reading they're pulling through the Scangauge with a reading taken at the engine and reported a .1-.3ish variance between the two.

If you pay $300 for a SG that guy saw you coming a mile off:

 

My fault on the $$$ of the SGII, I'd been look at an Edge CT for so long that I just couldn't remember that the SGII isn't that brutal. Thank you all for your insight, I'm thankful that we all appreciate each of the dollars that we earn and are frugal with them.

 

Now that's funny! -Steve