Morris Minor ShopMorris Down Under Forum Forum Index Classic Car Trader
Log in Register FAQ Memberlist Search Morris Down Under Forum Forum Index

Guages options

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Morris Down Under Forum Forum Index » Electrics, Instrumentation & Security
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Matthew B
Full Licence


Joined: 15 Apr 2009
Posts: 291
Location: Townsville, Australia

PostPosted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 9:45 am    Post subject: Guages options Reply with quote

Was tossing up options for a guages upgrade, thinking that some digital would be cool. So I bought a digital tacho for my every day runabout hack and I'm ultimately disappointed. I mounted it on the dash in front of the A pillar. It's not be best quality so maybe there is much better out there, but problems are:
It's too bright at night
the shiny face is very reflective, meaning it can be hard to see the guage sometimes
I don't like the incremental stepped revs it shows around the outside because you can't tell what revs you are actually at by that part
You have to actually read the numbers to know what revs it's doing, meaning it is hard to quickly work out how close to redline you are and need to change gears
the numbers are X10, meaning it will say 300 to mean 3000 revs
Can't see anything when the sun is shining on the guage
At night it reflects off the windscreen and the door glass, and as previously mentioned is too bright so reflections are prominant.
(I think that's all?)

There appears to be 3 options - dial guages with needles, digital and LCD. I have only recently seen the LCD advertised and they look promising. Has anyone got any experience with them?

can anyone shoot down my digital guage issues, as I'd really like to use some?

Any thoughts on comparison between these options would be appreciated. Are there any other options?


Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
bigcarle
Full Licence


Joined: 07 Nov 2007
Posts: 578
Location: lota, brisbane bayside

PostPosted: Tue Sep 03, 2013 1:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

i have found a seller called "veethree" on ebay with great analogue gauges, he may have something else or ideas


Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
The Toss
overdrive


Joined: 25 Feb 2010
Posts: 96
Location: Newcastle

PostPosted: Wed Sep 04, 2013 4:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That is the trouble with ALL digital instrumentation - it has to be read not just looked at. Your only alternative to analogue would be led bargraph


Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
grant69
moderator


Joined: 27 Jan 2004
Posts: 2796
Location: Cairns Nth Qld

PostPosted: Wed Sep 04, 2013 10:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dakota digital make some nice products. As for LCD I have a fair bit of experience in scada doing process control stuff. There are some really cool options going down this path but it is still expensive. I looked after NAVY ships that had 14in LCD displays for whole engine management system, tacho's speeds tank levels and all the rest of the systems could be displayed on the one screen. I also worked for BHP in Roxby doing SCADA looking after their process plant, its abit like basic, but uses ladder structure, its quite easy to learn. I'm hoping to integrate some functions into a 7in display for mazzy if the budget allows heres a cheap PLC starter http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Xilinx-fpga-development-board-xc3s500e-spartan-3-e-4-3-color/1255659487.html


Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Matthew B
Full Licence


Joined: 15 Apr 2009
Posts: 291
Location: Townsville, Australia

PostPosted: Thu Sep 05, 2013 9:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I remember reading a comparison of digital with analogue when digital dashes were coming into production cars, and the issue was that the time taken to read them was too great, you could not tell with just a glance where everything was. So LCD may be an option. I have seen advertised some LCD's that have an analogue type display for easy reading - has anyone seen these or had experience with them? They have a number of functions that can be scrolled through, not that you'd do that while driving along. But really, if they are hard to read while driving, there is no benefit to them. If some one has experienced them, I'm curious to know how they went with light, eg sun on them or at night because that has been one of the biggest turnoffs with the digital I put in my runabout hack.


Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
grant69
moderator


Joined: 27 Jan 2004
Posts: 2796
Location: Cairns Nth Qld

PostPosted: Thu Sep 05, 2013 9:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My Falcon has an lcd display between the gauges, I have it set show speed and distance to empty, I don't even look at the other gauges any more, its very easy to read


Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Morris Down Under Forum Forum Index » Electrics, Instrumentation & Security All times are GMT + 10 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © 2001- 2004 phpBB Group
Theme created by phpBBStyles.com | Themes Database