Mechanical boost gauge hold system
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 596
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From: Downers Grove,IL
Mechanical boost gauge hold system I built this little system to make my mechanical Gauge hold it's reading.
Reason being it's very difficult(
) to watch a gauge while driving under full power.
Spending 200$ on a new electronic gauge is not for me and I monitor enough stuff with a laptop already.
So I created this little setup which is simple to make and works incredibly well.
It's made from a solenoid,3 way toggle air diverter valve and wot switch.
It works like this- with the toggle straight it is normal gauge function. When you flip the air toggle valve, this diverts the boost source to the solenoid IN, while closing off the "normal" outlet on the toggle valve. The solenoid is also closed until triggered by the WOT switch. At WOT the solenoid opens and allows the boost gauge to get it's reading. The instant you let off the throttle, the pressure reading to the gauge is held indefinitely by the closed solenoid.For instance could be used to monitor exact Boost going through the traps and not just a peak recall which might have been seen in 1st gear only.
To return to normal function just flip the toggle and it releases the held pressure and bypasses the solenoid.
1/4" tubing works much better than tiny 1/8" tubing for the entire plumbing if anybody wants to make one.
Right side inlet to boost source, left side outlet to gauge->.
Steve
Reason being it's very difficult(
) to watch a gauge while driving under full power.Spending 200$ on a new electronic gauge is not for me and I monitor enough stuff with a laptop already.
So I created this little setup which is simple to make and works incredibly well.
It's made from a solenoid,3 way toggle air diverter valve and wot switch.
It works like this- with the toggle straight it is normal gauge function. When you flip the air toggle valve, this diverts the boost source to the solenoid IN, while closing off the "normal" outlet on the toggle valve. The solenoid is also closed until triggered by the WOT switch. At WOT the solenoid opens and allows the boost gauge to get it's reading. The instant you let off the throttle, the pressure reading to the gauge is held indefinitely by the closed solenoid.For instance could be used to monitor exact Boost going through the traps and not just a peak recall which might have been seen in 1st gear only.
To return to normal function just flip the toggle and it releases the held pressure and bypasses the solenoid.
1/4" tubing works much better than tiny 1/8" tubing for the entire plumbing if anybody wants to make one.
Right side inlet to boost source, left side outlet to gauge->.
Steve
Last edited by S_J_H; Apr 28, 2005 at 02:34 PM.
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 596
Likes: 0
From: Downers Grove,IL
I'm not quite enough a madman to stare at the boost gauge with this thing raging under full power.
I had been using a 1 way check valve instead of the solenoid. But it did not work well at all. It would leak down and was inaccurate because of the cracking pressure needed to open and close and only gave peak readings.
The solenoid works so well it will trap and hold less than 1psi and keep it all day long..
I had been using a 1 way check valve instead of the solenoid. But it did not work well at all. It would leak down and was inaccurate because of the cracking pressure needed to open and close and only gave peak readings.
The solenoid works so well it will trap and hold less than 1psi and keep it all day long..
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Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 596
Likes: 0
From: Downers Grove,IL
Thanks guys. I'm no engineer.I just like making stuff. I had a solenoid and wot switch already from my n20 days. I just had to buy the air toggle switch and some fittings and line.
I bought the air switch from Mcmaster. About 35$ I shelled out.
Steve
I bought the air switch from Mcmaster. About 35$ I shelled out.
Steve
