Looking at buying new gauges....

[nhagar]

ok Guys so I have an older boat. 1972 Caravelle with a 165 HP inboard mercruiser.

The main dash panel has the ignition key with a 2'' trim gauge, 2'' oil PSI, 2" AMPS,2" water Temp and a 3 1/4" RPM.
then on the left side of dash panel It has a stand mounted Spedometer and the fuel gauge is behind that in the plastic dash area.

I know not very helpful describing I will try and get a pic of it this evening. ok tried to add pic sorry if I failed.

but anyways older boat and majority of the gauges do not work. Spedometer, Tach, Fuel, and Oil PSI.
I want to get them all working again.

first off i know very little about boats so talk slow Cause I am from Oklahoma lol.

Anyways I assume I can buy gauges off bass pro and just wire the original wiring under dash into new gauges but that sounds too easy so I want to know from someone else if true or not before spending a bunch of money on guages.

I assume there are some sort of sending units that tell the gauge what to read are they interchangeable or do I have to have corresponding gauges to sending units?
reason I ask is I have found sets of gauges by Faria and Teleflex on ebay for cheaper than bass pro.
and would like to save the some money on them if I can. any help is greatly appreciated thanks nathan

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Looking at buying new gauges....

No you can't. AMP gauges are the reason why. They have not been used for decades and most folks don't know what they mean anyway. Most gauge packages have VOLTMETERS which are wired very differently. Yes, you can buy gauges nearly anywhere including right here on IBoats. Fuel, trim, oil pressure gauges require a sender that matches the gauge you choose. Speedometer does not have a sender nor does a voltmeter. Tachometers must be able to be adjusted for the engine you have. You need to buy an I/O - INBOARD gauge package -- not an OUTBOARD set. There is a difference. Look at the stickies at the very top fo this forum (not this page) for a Generic Wiring Diagram. Gauge wiring is included in that diagram.

 

[nhagar]

Re: Looking at buying new gauges....

Ok found the wiring diagrams that is nice so that will makes sense to me.

Now I have a new question. If I buy new gauges at Bass Pro which would be voltmeters. can I use the power wire unde the dash and wire in using it or should I run a new wire from the battery to a new fuse panel/breaker and then to new gauges?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Looking at buying new gauges....

You follow the diagram posted in the sticky. Every gauge is powered from the "A" (accessory) terminal on the ignition switch. They just get jumpered from one gauge to the next as shown in the diagram. You will NOT use the wires that currently go to the AMMETER. Maybe this diagram will help understand this.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Looking at buying new gauges....

Don't the two wires that currently go the the ammeter need to get spliced together and insulated? There will be an open circuit otherwise??

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Looking at buying new gauges....

Don't the two wires that currently go the the ammeter need to get spliced together and insulated? There will be an open circuit otherwise??

Yes and No. 1) Tie them together and deal with the long runs and resultant voltage drop, or 2) eliminate the long runs and reconnect at the engine.