Smiths Temp Gauge

[Holden61,64]

Hi, i brought a 2nd hand electric Smiths temp gauge and i'm after a little bit of advice.
On the back it has two contact points one is stamped with a "B" the other is a "T" i'm guessing that the one with the B means i wire it to the battery/ accessaries and the one with the T means i wire it to the temp sender. Does anyone know if this is right. Will i do any damage if they get changed around while i'm trying to get it hooked up.
Cheers
Dave

[Harv]

Dave,

"B" for battery and "T" for temperature sounds about right, though I too am only guessing . One trick with wiring up new bits of kit is to test them with a car battery charger - normally they don't put out enough amps to let the smoke out of the wires if you stuff it up. Helps to temporarily wire through an inline fuse holder, and stick a very small fuse in it (5A).

The smoke is damn hard to get back into the wires once you let it out .

Cheers,
Harv.

[choppedfan]

Be careful mate I stuffed a smiths elec temp gauge running 12V instead of through a voltage reducer / regulator to 10V

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_i2e7HKldO9A/S ... gauges.gif

Mick

P.S. I've had plenty of cars / rods /street machines over the years and have always found the Smiths gauges most reliable

[Holden61,64]

Thanks Mate. That was going to be my next question.
So i definately need a voltage regulator. Is there anyway to determine if the gauge i have actually works, without one, as i brought it second hand and could be wasting my time with it anyway. It might be easier to just use a Manual Temp Gauge.
Thanks

[choppedfan]

Two schools of thought here, the capillary type which you describe as manual I prefer but are a bit harder to make look neat, the electric type like you now have are a lot easier to install neatly if you go with the hidden wiring look which I like to do.
Being Smiths they are both usually accurate

Mick

[choppedfan]

Sorry taking so long in replying, why not ask the local auto spark to test it, just say that if its ok you'll buy the voltage reducer through him. Really lucky where I am as the local auto spark lets me annoy him after his normal work day is over and as he says its good working on the old cars.

Mick