Temp Gauge Adjustment
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: Walhalla, SC
Temp Gauge Adjustment
I installed Mid50's 12V temp gauge in my 54 when I restored the gauge cluster and Mid50s said that mid scale on the gauge was going to be 160 degrees, which meant it would peg the gauge at around 190-200. Since I like to run my motor temps between 190 and 200 to burn off any condensation, I knew I would have to adjust the gauge. A friend has a device that allows you to dial in a desired temp and plug in the sender. Once the sender is hooked up to the gauge and 12V is applied, the gauge will indicate a given temp. You can do this with water heating on a stove but this was much less messy for me. I set the temp at 190, hooked up a decade board between the sender and the gauge, and found that 50 ohms of resistance will produce a mid scale reading at 190 degrees. I also found, using the 50 ohms, that it required 145 degrees to move the needle off the peg to the very first mark - 170 to the 2nd mark (1/4 scale) - 190 to midscale - and 213 to the 3/4 mark. I'm using a 180 thermostat so I will set my electric fan to come on between mid scale and 3/4 scale, about 195-200 degrees. Keep in mind that no 2 senders are the same but they should be close.
Ken
Ken
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,838
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From: Mason City, Iowa
I installed Mid50's 12V temp gauge in my 54 when I restored the gauge cluster and Mid50s said that mid scale on the gauge was going to be 160 degrees, which meant it would peg the gauge at around 190-200. Since I like to run my motor temps between 190 and 200 to burn off any condensation, I knew I would have to adjust the gauge. A friend has a device that allows you to dial in a desired temp and plug in the sender. Once the sender is hooked up to the gauge and 12V is applied, the gauge will indicate a given temp. You can do this with water heating on a stove but this was much less messy for me. I set the temp at 190, hooked up a decade board between the sender and the gauge, and found that 50 ohms of resistance will produce a mid scale reading at 190 degrees. I also found, using the 50 ohms, that it required 145 degrees to move the needle off the peg to the very first mark - 170 to the 2nd mark (1/4 scale) - 190 to midscale - and 213 to the 3/4 mark. I'm using a 180 thermostat so I will set my electric fan to come on between mid scale and 3/4 scale, about 195-200 degrees. Keep in mind that no 2 senders are the same but they should be close.
Ken
Ken
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 106
Likes: 1
From: Walhalla, SC
Yep, 50 ohms in series will do it. I used a 1/2 watt resister because that's what I had but this is overkill - not much current flowing here. It would be nicer if the gauge had numbers instead if marks but that wouldn't match the other gauges.
Ken
Ken
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