what gas gauge do i need

[crazygn]

i have a larson senza 1989 and need a 2" gas gauge. I dont know what ohm the stock sender is to match up a gas gauge. Anyone know

 

[Chris1956]

Re: what gas gauge do i need

Normally gas gauges are universal, and can take universal senders. What brand is the gauge?

 

[crazygn]

Re: what gas gauge do i need

i'am not sure what gauge to get yet because i dont know what the stock fuel sender is to match em up.

 

[seabob4]

Re: what gas gauge do i need

Marine senders are typically 30-240 OHMs. Any fuel gauge here available on iboats will work...

 

[crazygn]

Re: what gas gauge do i need

when i checked today the ohms are 260's and thats with about 3 gals of gas so its dead out of gas.

My brother has a new gauge i tried and it didnt work, stayed on full and never moved at all.

 

[crazygn]

Re: what gas gauge do i need

do they make another ohm gas gauge other then the 33-240 . I can find any other or nothing thats 260's on E

 

[Fed]

Re: what gas gauge do i need

FWIW Crazy I don't think they're all that universal, I changed a sender once only to find the gauge then read backwards.

After trying to get it right by swapping wires every which way I called my local Merc dealer & he explained they come in 2 types, one increaes resistance with a rise in level and the other type decreases resistance with a rise in level.
That sounds like it might be your problem too.

 

[NHGuy]

Re: what gas gauge do i need

Before you change the gauge look up how it is tested. You'd be surprised how often electrical components get blamed when it's not their fault.
If you have a Mercruiser there is all the info in the world available in the sticky post at the top of the section. I'm not familiar with other brands but I bet they are similar.
On mine I tested the gauge, it was good, I tested the sender it was bad. After I changed the sender I still had a ground fault. After I fixed my grounds everything worked. My guess is the ground fault may have contributed to the demise of my sending unit.
On the other hand, if you already know the gauge is junk, can you remove the sender from the boat and check it with an ohm meter? Or can you inspect the sender for any marks? It could have an ohms rating value stamped or printed right on there.

You are being smart to figure out what you need ahead of time. Good luck!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: what gas gauge do i need

You are not understanding the logic with this issue. The difference between 240 ohms (empty) and 260 ohms is negligible (less than 10% error). So for a known good gauge to peg when the sender is empty says either the wire running from the sender to the gauge is at ground or the "S" terminal at the gauge is at ground. You did measure the resistance at the sender with the sender wire disconnected??????? The next test is to disconnect the sender wire at both the gauge end and at the sender. Then from either end, measure the resistance between the wire and ground. If you get any reading, that wire has a problem. If it reads open circuit (infinity) the wire is ok. What does the gauge read when you have the key on and the wire disconnected at the sender???. What does the gauge read when you have the wire disconnected at the gauge????

 

[crazygn]

Re: what gas gauge do i need

Sorry guys didnt get chance to test it today. I ran new grounds and wires to the gauge so the only wires that are old are maybe 1ft of wire that comes off the sender. That is what i tested from not right at the sender. Bad part is my buddy built a seat over the tank so its gonna be fun to get to.

by the way its a 1989 larson senza

 

[crazygn]

Re: what gas gauge do i need

I checked the gauge with power on, and with the sender wire off with power on. Whatever i do it stays stuck over full. Gauge must be bad. My brother bought it new and he said it did the same on his boat so he hooked up his old gauge . I guess i'll see if i can find someone else with a known working gauge to try.