EV2 Lighting question
PREMIUM SPONSOR
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,039
Likes: 74
Well, now I'm not convinced that it is a wiring issue. The gauge isn't flickering so much as pulsing. Its a very regular pulse, not completely dying out between pulses, but going between bright and dim. Pin 1 of the connector shows 12V, pin 2 varies smoothly with the dimmer switch, and pin 3 shows continuity with ground. The gauge works fine (I think) otherwise. I can get the EGTs up to about 950 at about 1500 with the go peddle mashed, then as the turbo spools, they drop to about 800 for the rest of the run up to speed. About 550 to 600 at 70 mph cruising.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
I'm just guessing here because I'm @ work, but the pulsing never really goes away, it just kind of washes out when the lights get bright enough. And below 7 or 8 volts on the lighting circuit, the gauge just goes dark. I don't know for sure the exact number, but thats about where its at just going off of the position of the dimmer switch. I don't know if the inputs are pulsing somehow, I'm measuring with a digital multimeter, not a analog, so I cant see if there is a pulse in the voltage that happens to be getting between my meters sampling rate, but I don't think that there is. Any of this help?
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,502
Likes: 2
From: Bend Oregon
If the Isspro gauges have LED's they are going to be much more susceptible to impure DC voltage, this may actually be a charging issue.
with the truck off and the lights on is the problem still present?
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,993
Likes: 2
From: Bend, OR
can you see the "pulsing" in the headlights or interior lights? I purchased a bad alternator from NAPA, they kept telling me it was good because their bench tester didn't sample fast enough to catch the fact 1/2 the rectifier diode array was open. With my Fluke 87 you could see the voltage alternating between 12.2 and 14.3V. The headlight pulsing was way annoying.
If the Isspro gauges have LED's they are going to be much more susceptible to impure DC voltage, this may actually be a charging issue.
with the truck off and the lights on is the problem still present?
If the Isspro gauges have LED's they are going to be much more susceptible to impure DC voltage, this may actually be a charging issue.
with the truck off and the lights on is the problem still present?
Very good idea!
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,156
Likes: 0
From: Yuba City, CA.
I second that! I have the problem also when I try to dim them to just above being off. Hmmm, I wonder if there is a filter/rectifier we could put in............
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,096
Likes: 27
From: Mesa AZ
I just installed my Isspro EV2 pryometer, and I have a small(hopefully) issue here. I used the same light blue wire with red trace that Diesel Manor is showing in their install pics, but when I turn my lights on the backlighting the gauge just flickers. I can get it to stop flickering by turning it all the way up, but then that is just entirely too bright. If i turn it down, the light starts to flicker, then just goes out at about 2/3 of full bright on the dimmer switch. Do I have a bad connection, need to use a different wire, to tap into? Just looking for a little direction at the moment. Otherwise the gauge appears to work just fine. Thanks in advance.
My other 2 gauges remain lit and dim with the dash like normal.
EDIT: Upon further inspection....2 of the 3 EV2 gauges actually say "Performax" on the faceplate but I didn't get the processor for the Performax system. Could this be the issue? I thought I ordered the regular EV2 gauges....
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,993
Likes: 2
From: Bend, OR
My gauges do the same thing. I keep my dimmer on the brightest setting anyway, so it really isn't an issue for me. I actually have a total of 5 gauges now, 3 of them are EV2, one is an EV (EV1?) and another is the gauge that came with my Airlift kit. They all are tapped into the same wire from the dimmer switch. If I turn the dimmer down then my EV2 gauges start to flicker...down a little more and they go black.
My other 2 gauges remain lit and dim with the dash like normal.
EDIT: Upon further inspection....2 of the 3 EV2 gauges actually say "Performax" on the faceplate but I didn't get the processor for the Performax system. Could this be the issue? I thought I ordered the regular EV2 gauges....
My other 2 gauges remain lit and dim with the dash like normal.
EDIT: Upon further inspection....2 of the 3 EV2 gauges actually say "Performax" on the faceplate but I didn't get the processor for the Performax system. Could this be the issue? I thought I ordered the regular EV2 gauges....
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,096
Likes: 27
From: Mesa AZ
I have a side bar question...but I'll pm that to you if you don't mind. (I don't want to add any confusion to this thread...)
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,993
Likes: 2
From: Bend, OR
Its rather weird that you guys are experancing this... I have been running performax and EV2 gauges for about 4 years, and have never had this on the EV2, but did on the performax... I'll take a video tonight of my EV2 gauges and see what comes up.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
Mine pulse as well without the engine running. The engine wasn't running when I first powered up the gauge, and it was doing it then. Actually, most, if not all of my voltmeter readings have been taken with engine off. I did notice this evening though that the pulse frequency seems to change with the position of the dimmer switch. Right before it goes black, its pulsing pretty quick, and it slows down as you turn it back up until you don't notice it anymore. The dimmer switch is surely just a potentiometer ins't it? I mean, there is no way that the dimmer switch is putting out some kind of pulse signal, is there? That's just be dumb. Maybe this wouldn't be such a problem if I didn't like to run my interior lights just bright enough to read the dash, but I don't like washing out my vision at night with bright interior lights.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,993
Likes: 2
From: Bend, OR
Mine pulse as well without the engine running. The engine wasn't running when I first powered up the gauge, and it was doing it then. Actually, most, if not all of my voltmeter readings have been taken with engine off. I did notice this evening though that the pulse frequency seems to change with the position of the dimmer switch. Right before it goes black, its pulsing pretty quick, and it slows down as you turn it back up until you don't notice it anymore. The dimmer switch is surely just a potentiometer ins't it? I mean, there is no way that the dimmer switch is putting out some kind of pulse signal, is there? That's just be dumb. Maybe this wouldn't be such a problem if I didn't like to run my interior lights just bright enough to read the dash, but I don't like washing out my vision at night with bright interior lights.
Soon as it gets dark I will take a video of mine and see...
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,993
Likes: 2
From: Bend, OR
YouTube - Gauge flicker
Michael and I will have to look this one over. I never run with my gauges that low so I have never seen it. Its only at that point where the LED's want to turn off and the PWM of the Ford dimmer is causing interference and surging.
Michael and I will have to look this one over. I never run with my gauges that low so I have never seen it. Its only at that point where the LED's want to turn off and the PWM of the Ford dimmer is causing interference and surging.
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
Joe, it appears that your gauges go a lot lower than mine do before they shut off. Mine will go completely black at 60 or 70% of full bright. I didn't realize that Ford uses a PWM signal to dim the dash. That could explain it I guess. Anybody got an idea of what size capacitor it would take to maybe smooth this out? I'm willing to stick one in there and give it a shot.