quick question

[POPEYE]

Quick might not be the right word as it's snail slow here but-- could I use an oil pressure gauge to read air pressure,? obviously sticking a small "air" decal over the word oil, cant find a decent backlit air gauge for the comp tank on the truck, (it works the side step) got a gauge on there but its an oil filled non lit one and doesn't match the others at all, saw some but as bloody usual they are in the USA arm and a leg and VAT to get one here
Ta ever so much

[JUDWAK]

got some air gauges off an air tank but they dont light up
dont know about oil ones ethers but i do know its dead slow on here your right there buddy
aint got much time my self

[Tankerman]

Air pressure gauge.

Perhaps an air gauge from a truck might do the job. Even if it came from a 24v system you would only have to change the bulb as it's the only electric part. The older trucks have separate gauges, newer ones tend to have everything in one unit. Worth a look in a commercial breakers or even evil bay.

[POPEYE]

Faster replys than I expected, cheer's, yes a truck one would do I guess, in fact there are quite a lot on offer but all of em in the USA, for air suspension ,(the custom car marke) cost too much to ship here tho), but sod all here, plenty of air gauges but every one I have seen is the useual air tank air line type ones, no lighting and plain white face, the one I have is a panel mount (air pipe connection at the back)
just wondered if an oil one would read out the same "true" pressure for oil or air or anything else that's pressurised, or are they calibrated different?
if all fails i'll fit the one.

[NiftyNev]

As long as it's a Bourdon type gauge it will work fine.

Nev.

[POPEYE]

Thanks Nev, that's great, (I'd ask what a Bourdon type is but I'm too embarrassed so i'll google it instead)

[POPEYE]

Right! googled it and I now know what you mean, cresent shaped Bourdon tube (I'm guessing ) flexes and moves a toothed cog that turns the gauge needle, basicly, i'll take my oil gauge apart and see, thanks again mate

mainly worried that it may blow apart and as it's mounted on the dash top you could get a face full of bits, (if I use the wrong one)

just to add that I never crank up the air pressure more that about 20-30psi as the step ram works fine at low pressures, albeit I have to do it manually as the cut out on the small air tank never cut it out even when I test ran it to over 100psi, need an adjustable cut out

[Bogus]

Most auto gauges are electrical, not mechanical, there will be a mechanical sender , bourdon tube, spring, something like that, which moves a lever or paddle and changes resistance into a pressure reading. Lets face it, you dont want oil piped directly to the cab. So Im sure any pressure sender will work just fine whether its water, oil or air, and therefore the gauge will read just fine. Forbthis reason a 24v one from a bus would not work as its not just powering a bulb.
And just to add that as the gauge will be electrical, theres nothing in the dash to blow apart as all the pressure components arein the sender. Only blowing might be a fuse if you wire it up badly. Worst case scenario is a fire, but with Popeyes wiring skills ( youve seen his NASA inspired dash ) thats a non issue.

[POPEYE]

Aye thanks Alex, that make it clearer, so if I fit the new gauge sender to the air tank or in line somewhere that will work ok,

speaking of oil in the cab I remember an old Smiths gauge I put in my first car, a 1060 Vauxhall Velox PA (poor mans Cresta) that had the Bourdon tube and a capillary to the engine oil way, it come off the back of the gauge and leaked oil into the cab had to change the carpet and it took ages for the smell to go,

[Bogus]

Im sure it will work just fine Ian.

[POPEYE]

Cheer's Alex, just ordered a oil press gauge, i'll wait till it arrives then I can see what threaded adaptor if any i'll need, BTW that Velox date should be 1960 not 1060 I aint that old

[Bogus]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/OIL-PRESSU...cAAOSwdU1W8oFc

Something like this will do, comes complete with sender. Cheaper if you go the china route.

[POPEYE]

Got this one, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1514207164...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

because it matches an oil temp one I bought from the same guy as I found the front of my old gauge broken when I stripped them out, hope the senders ok (it is the china route)

[Tankerman]

Pressure gauge.

That's why I mentioned the older gauges, no electrics apart from the bulb!

[POPEYE]

Thanks David, (looking at your profile I have to say I am with you on most of what you say there, especially battling against age and all the joys that brings)
yeah the older gauges would suit but they are thin on the ground, like the old Smiths one I mentioned, Electronics have come a long way since the 60's if I'd only thought I could have lifted some from the coach section when I was at Caetano's (or the buses, cant remember if they were part of the main instrument cluster or a separate gauge) still running a 24v water pump (I bought from them) it's still running albeit at half speed after near10 years, anyway this one I ordered should be fine,
Next thing on the list is a "adjustable pressure cut-out for the air system, needs ot cut out at approximately 20-30psi but be adjustable to higher setting for tyres etc,