What gauges to buy?

[RCSConstruction]

Hello everyone.
My boats gauges are all whacked out. Fuel always shows half full and then drops when I am empty, my trim gauge never reads properly (just had sensor done) and amp gauge is whacky as well.
I see faria (sp?) gauges on ebay but none have sensors, I see other brands as well, so it's hard for me to make a choice.
Will most of these gauges work with my senders? How do I tell what gauges will match my senders and do you suggest I get new senders anyway?
Thank you

 

[Silvertip]

Re: What gauges to buy?

The only gauge that requires a sender is fuel gauge and it's in the tank. If the gauge registers something, chances are the sender is bad, the float is adjusted wrong, the float is fuel soaked and therefore heavy and therefore needs to be replaced. It's resistance range is typically 0 - 240 ohms. The speedometer is pitot driven, the tach has no sender, neither does the voltmeter. If you have a water pressure gauge it does not have one either. If you have a temperature gauge, it definitely needs a matching sender.

 

[RCSConstruction]

Re: What gauges to buy?

Thanks silvertip. Are the fuel sensors hard to find, specific to tank or just find one that is similar with matching ohms?
The trim sender gauge is what really irks me. The shop said they adjusted the sensor but within one hour of boating it started to not read correctly. I take it I just need a sender for the sx drive? Any words of advice there?
The speedo is dead-on, gps verified and the tach is dead-on verified through my timing light. My amp gauge always shows 12, shouldn't it show around 14? It also always dips to under 10 when I have the radio on and the battery is brand spankin new and fully charged.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: What gauges to buy?

You have a voltmeter -- not an amp meter. Big difference there. Yes -- if the voltmeter never reads higher than 12 volts, you have a charging system issue. The trim sender appears to be an issue as well. Pull the fuel sender and measure the resistance with the float lever up and down. It should measure 0 - 240 ohms. Remove the float and see if it floats. If not, replace it with any fuel resistant cork or ?????. Make sure the float arm is not hanging up which would prevent consistent fuel readings.

 

[Sig_Mech]

Re: What gauges to buy?

Just a quick thought here RCS, Check the ground lead from your gauges. If all your gauges are wacky and they share a common ground (negative) line the possibility exists that you have a loose or bad connection to ground.

 

[drewpster]

Re: What gauges to buy?

Another possibility is the key switch. My gauges were goofy until I tracked down a resistance problem in the switch. The boat would start and run fine but the gauges acted up until I replaced the switch, especially the fuel level.