Gauges - mechanical v. electrical (need info)

[misterskeetz]

How does each one work and which is recommended?

 

[snowborder714]

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/newbie-forum/22848-electrical-mechanical-gauges-merged-9-6-a.html

I would recommend getting a mechanical boost gauge and everything else electric. This way your boost gauge will never fail (since electric gauges work off of sensors and mechanical gauges work off of actual fluid/vacuum/boost/etc) and you also will not have to run any fluid into the cabin of the car - only some wires for the sensors of the electric gauges.

 

[tkelly27]

Mechanical gauges have a mechanical system inside them senses the phenomenon you are looking to measure (temperature, pressure, etc.). Electrical have a sensor that turns the mechanical action into an electrical signal which the gauge interprets.

I think most people would say mechanical boost gauge and electrical for everything else. You really don't want anything but boost routed into your cabin, so a fuel pressure, oil pressure, and all temp systems will pretty much have to be electrical. An electronic boost gauge can be nice, but not really worth the extra $$ unless you think it is, or if it comes as part of an electronic boost controller.

Digital Vs. Analog gauges, well, that's a matter of taste. There's no mistaking a digital gauge readout, but it gives the car the red/blue 80's LCD feel. Not fond of it.

BEAT ME TO IT! Darn.

 

[misterskeetz]

Is the electrical boost gauge known to be commonly inaccurate?

 

[MasterFrmMO88]

Not so much inaccurate as... can't think of the term. But using a mechanical boost gauge is like cutting out a middle man. If you have an electrical one, a sensor in the engine compartment reads the pressure/vacuum and sends it to the gauge using an electrical signal. Many things can go wrong with this, the sensor could eventually wear out, your car's electrical system could get a current spike and fry the sensor (hopefully you would have fused the gauge somehow, though) etc.

With a mechanical gauge, the gauge takes the reading directly from the boost lines itself. So you could say you are choosing between simple physics and slightly more complicated man-made electrical systems.


...plus electrical gauges are more expensive. Lol.