What's The Difference between mechanical and electrical gauges?
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Southeast Texas
Whats The Difference, Please Help... What is the difference between mechanical and electrical gauges for the pillar pods, i am looking on JEGS trying to get my boyfriend some 2 1/16'' gauges for the pillar pod i bought, and i might sound stupid or it might be a stupid question but please can someone help me out on what the difference is!!! Thank you.....
oh and which would be better and more accurate, thanks!!!
and why are the fuel pressure gauges so much more expensive!
oh and which would be better and more accurate, thanks!!!
and why are the fuel pressure gauges so much more expensive!
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Friendswood,TX
Re: Whats The Difference, Please Help... A mechanical gauge gets its reading by actually taking a measurement of whatever is being measured AT THE GAUGE itself. For example, if you are using a mechanical oil pressure gauge, a tube runs from your engine to the back of the gauge. This tube fills with oil and gives the gauge a pressure reading. The same is true for a mechanical oil temperature gauge. Using mechanical gauges, as you can tell, involves running tubes through your firewall and to the engine or whatever is being monitored. It is for this reason that there are no mechanical Fuel Pressure gauges - it would be pretty stupid to have a tube of gasoline running into your dashboard! Electrical gauges, on the other hand, use an electrical sending unit at the source of whatever is being measured and send a signal across an electrical wire to a processor in the gauge, that converts the signal to a reading. Usually an electrical sender uses differences in resistance (ohms) to send the signal to the gauge. Installing an electrical gauge involves installing a sender at the source (like oil pressure) and snaking an 18 gauge wire through the firewall to the back of the gauge. Electrical gauges also require tapping into your car's 12 volt power to "power" the gauge processor. There are also various grounds that might be necessary to ensure a clean, closed signal.
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Southeast Texas
Re: Whats The Difference, Please Help... so i should probably get them installed professionally then.... dont want to **** anything up!!!
so i am definatly going to get him electrical...... anybody know of any white face gauges that are digital???
i need white faces and digital reading, that would be sharp as hell!
thanks toxic for the info!!
so i am definatly going to get him electrical...... anybody know of any white face gauges that are digital???
i need white faces and digital reading, that would be sharp as hell!
thanks toxic for the info!!
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,423
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From: Friendswood,TX
Re: Whats The Difference, Please Help... Here ya go. 
You can buy me a set while your at it. 
http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...mp;prmenbr=361
http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...mp;prmenbr=361
You can buy me a set while your at it. http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...mp;prmenbr=361
http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...mp;prmenbr=361
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Verdad Gallardo TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Friendswood,TX
Re: Whats The Difference, Please Help... http://www.dakotadigital.com/products.cfm?Category=131
I can't find white face digital gauges. I think you need a black background for digital gauges.
I can't find white face digital gauges. I think you need a black background for digital gauges.
Thread Starter
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Joined: May 2003
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From: Southeast Texas
Re: Whats The Difference, Please Help... ok well tell me some other things (inexpensive) that i can get for him
cleaning supplies
oil and other liquids (bla bla bla)
cheap stuff nothing like headers and that
thanks!!!! keeping you busy!!
cleaning supplies
oil and other liquids (bla bla bla)
cheap stuff nothing like headers and that
thanks!!!! keeping you busy!!
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,423
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From: Friendswood,TX
Re: Whats The Difference, Please Help... http://www.clay-magic.com/ and a good wax. I use 
Get him a bunch of Mobil 1 and filters. A ported TB. New TSP carbon fiber lid.......
Get him a bunch of Mobil 1 and filters. A ported TB. New TSP carbon fiber lid.......
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Columbus, OH
Re: Whats The Difference, Please Help... I know I've seen a white faced A/F ratio gauge... but as far as mech gauges go, there are mechanical fuel gauges. It just involves a diaghragm in the line that transfers the fuel pressure into a line of anti-freeze/water that then goes to the gauge. If I can find that white faced digital A/F guage, I'll post up a link... it definately looks 
Thread Starter
TECH Fanatic
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,445
Likes: 0
From: Southeast Texas
Re: Whats The Difference, Please Help... http://www.clay-magic.com/ and a good wax. I use
Get him a bunch of Mobil 1 and filters. A ported TB. New TSP carbon fiber lid.......
Get him a bunch of Mobil 1 and filters. A ported TB. New TSP carbon fiber lid.......
