help for select a Guage>>

[larlarsa]

i have my year 90, Evinrude 50HP on my 14' starcraft holiday.i want to have a speedometer on my console,what max speed range should i select?do you guys think 35MPH is enough?Thank's

 

[Silvertip]

Re: help for select a Guage>>

Your boat should go slightly faster than 35 but it is really not important what range the speedometer covers as they are about the same price. A 50 MPH speedo would be just fine.

 

[ziggy]

Re: help for select a Guage>>

why do you want a speedo? appearance? are you aware that most mechanical speedos are generally inaccurate at best. they also don't compenste for current.

my boat don't have one either. not having one don't bother me in the least. i do have a tach though. that i wouldn't live w/o.
myself, if i really gotta know how fast i'm going, i use a gps.. you can get a indash gps speedo too. they may not even have a range. i don't know..
silvertips likely right on though if ya really want a mechanical one.

 

[larlarsa]

Re: help for select a Guage>>

Thank's for all the quick reply, i know the speedo is not that accurate,but my console already have the hole,just for fancy,i will have speedo,voltmeter,and battery indicator .so,is 55MPH enough??

 

[Silvertip]

Re: help for select a Guage>>

You won't go faster than 55 with that engine. But then there is another question. Why do you want a battery gauge AND a voltmeter. They tell you the same thing. A battery gauge is nothing more than a voltmeter with a different scale. Makes no sense to have both. If your voltmeter reads more than 12.6 volts under way the charging system is working. If it reads less than 12.6 volts with the engine off it says the battery is partially discharged. Spend the money on a more useful gauge like a temp or water pressure gauge (or both).

 

[ken52]

Re: help for select a Guage>>

Skip spedo if using gps, there more accurate. Like silvertip said both volt & battery are redunant. You can get some 1/4" starboard and make a really nice console for the gauges you need us. Use your old console for template then layout your holes, cut real easy with dremmel or rotozip tool. Seems like spedos allways colg up and stop or work erratic.

 

[larlarsa]

Re: help for select a Guage>>

Thank's Silvertip, my motor is an outboard,i don't need a temp or water pressure gauge,i have two battery on board,i want the voltmeter to tell me the charging system is working or not, the other indicator is show me how much juice left for my trolling battery,or is it any way to use one gauge to monitor two battery?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: help for select a Guage>>

Your tach will tell you if your charging system is working as it reads the stator pulses.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: help for select a Guage>>

You can install a double throw switch and use the same gauge on both batteries. You can then use the hole for the second battery gauge for an OB water pressure gauge.

Just my .02

 

[Silvertip]

Re: help for select a Guage>>

Again, the two gauges tell you the same thing. If the voltmeter reads less than 12 volts you have a battery that will not likely start the motor. Yes, you can use a single gauge to monitor two batteries. Here is a diagram.

Temperature and water pressure gauges are just as necessary on an outboard than they are for an I/O. Just because you see a tell tale stream from the engine does not mean it is cooling properly. It only means the water pump si working. Stuck thermostats or bypass valves can also cause overheating even though the water pump is working.

 

[ken52]

Re: help for select a Guage>>

Silvertip, thanks for the diagram showing how to monitor your batteries with one gauge and a switch. Very nice.

 

[larlarsa]

Re: help for select a Guage>>

is it a normal ON/OFF/ON switch ?what size of wire(AWG)?