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Using car gauges with watercooling

S

Stray Catalyst

n00b
Joined
Nov 1, 2010
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5
I'm case molding my computer. I have an older Porsche gauge that includes a gas gauge ( sending unit is in the coolant reservoir) and a temperature gauge. Where can I find a temperature sending unit that will give me a meaningful reading (ie, a low reading at room temperature and a high one when the water is warmer)?

Stray
 
I'm not looking for super accuracy - just a quick glance "cool, warm, or hot" kind of reading. If I want accuracy I can use an infrared noncontact thermometer or similar - this is more for effect and fun. I just need to find a sending unit that will react at the lower temperatures I'm expecting to see watercooling - if I tried automotive ones, I would need my computer to run at about 260 degrees or so to reach the high end of the scale...

Stray
 
Looks neat, but not what I'm looking for. I'm looking for a 12V temperature sending unit that will interface with an automotive gage. I'll probably just have to experiment with thermistors and make my own.

Stray
 
automotive temp guages are highly "normalized" and really don't offer what you are looking for.
 
RabidRat said:
Aren't OEM temperature gauges super inaccurate?
Click to expand...

you mean like the temp gauage that according to the deal as long as its not red its ok?


but yeah they are not as accurate as the aftermarket stuff
 
Stray Catalyst said:
I'm not looking for super accuracy - just a quick glance "cool, warm, or hot" kind of reading. If I want accuracy I can use an infrared noncontact thermometer or similar - this is more for effect and fun. I just need to find a sending unit that will react at the lower temperatures I'm expecting to see watercooling - if I tried automotive ones, I would need my computer to run at about 260 degrees or so to reach the high end of the scale...

Stray
Click to expand...

Well when I say super inaccurate I mean really inaccurate though. Like +/- 50 degrees haha. They're only really meant to show at "medium" or "overheated" =p.
 
I would find the stock sending unit and have a candy thermometer and a pot of boiling water and a multimeter.

pull the resistance off the sender and find a temp probe of the same resistance to what temp you want to monitor.

Sounds like a lot of work but it shouldnt be
 
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