Installing oil and water presure gauges

[Shariff]

Dear all, I am thinking of installing additional oil and water pressure gauges for my engines Volvo Penta D2-55a, currently I have warning lights on the control panels. I have seen some on Ebay and relatively cheap. Have anyone installed these if so, what is the best way to go about. Rgds

 

[vyv_cox]

Don't know about water pressure, what's that for? I have replaced a warning light on a BMC engine using parts supplied by ASAP. You need to know the thread size of the existing warning light switch, replace it with a transducer for the gauge, then buy the gauge. Alternatively you can fit a T allowing both the gauge and light to operate.

 

[scottie]

Have a look to see if the senders are already on the engine
The wiring will be

 

[pvb]

Don't know about water pressure, what's that for? I have replaced a warning light on a BMC engine using parts supplied by ASAP. You need to know the thread size of the existing warning light switch, replace it with a transducer for the gauge, then buy the gauge. Alternatively you can fit a T allowing both the gauge and light to operate.

I think it would be essential to fit both a sensor and a switch, otherwise the Volvo instrument panel probably wouldn't work properly.

Like you, I don't understand what a water pressure gauge will do.

 

[PCUK]

As said, you'll need the gauge and sender to match each other. I'm sure you meant oil pressure and water temperature.

 

[VicS]

Dear all, I am thinking of installing additional oil and water pressure gauges for my engines Volvo Penta D2-55a, currently I have warning lights on the control panels. I have seen some on Ebay and relatively cheap. Have anyone installed these if so, what is the best way to go about. Rgds

I guess you mean water temperature gauge, not water pressure

The deluxe instrument panel includes these, and a voltmeter, in addition to the tachometer

I think you will therefore find positions exist on the engine to accommodate the relevant sensors whilst retaining the existing warning light sensors. BUT VP may fit dual sensors when the additional gauges are fitted ... not sure

Before rushing to buy the first cheap junk you see from ebay you should check the exact provisions on the engine for accommodating the additional sensors ( the oil pressure gauge sensor may require a T piece etc rather than have its own separate position... not sure about that) then ensure that the instruments you buy have suitable sensors to fit your engine.

Be sure you know what you are buying before you order it or you will be back here saying, "I've spent £xx on this that and the other, can someone tell me how to fit it all"

Remember you will need to make a suitable panel for the extra gauges and install the appropriate power supplies and wiring to the sensors.

 

[lw395]

I did this years ago on a Yanmar 3GM-30, there were convenient tappings to use.
I got the guages and senders from Merlin motorsport, who cater for rally cars and such.
I don't recall any trouble getting adaptors, these days I'd look on ebay.

 

[Yngmar]

On my Volvo MD22, the sensors are all there already - they simply have dual outputs. So the oil pressure sensor has 3 pins, ground, an on/off one for the warning light and one with resistance against ground varying with pressure. The boat has the "simple" panel, without oil pressure gauge, only with warning light, so there's a good chance your D2 engine is already equipped and you just need to add the right gauges. Most of these will be VDO, and documentation can be found on Google. This documentation is essential in finding a matching gauge. Just buying some random ones on eBay that don't match your sensors will not get you there.

See this thread on the Bavaria forums for more details: http://www.bavariayacht.info/forum/index.php/topic,962.msg5377.html#msg5377

 

[VicS]

On my Volvo MD22, the sensors are all there already - they simply have dual outputs.

Good point but still not sure whats on the D2-55.

This diagram , from one of the on line manuals, should help at least to locate the sensors, but there may be variations between different versions of the engine

 

[scottie]

We used to convert the std panel to deluxe by changing the basic panel contents to the deluxe plastic and as I recall there was a kit containing the gauges but that was then and this is now

 

[pvb]

We used to convert the std panel to deluxe by changing the basic panel contents to the deluxe plastic and as I recall there was a kit containing the gauges but that was then and this is now

It's very helpful to know that this was possible.