7 replies to this topic

[nigel]

I have fitted a smiths centre binnacle dash in a 93 model mini. everything is wired up and works apart from the smiths oil pressure gauge. it is the type with two electrical spade connectors on the back and NOT the oil feed pipe.

 

so my question is (as the kit came with no wiring instructions) what do i connect to the two spade conectors on the oil gauge to make it work? i'm guessing i start with a wire from the sender unit on the engine block to one of the connectors on the oil pressure gauge,

 

TIA

[Dan]

The existing sender is just a switch that turns the light on at a set pressure. You need to replace it (or preferably fit a tee piece so you can keep it as well as the guage) with a sender called a pressure transducer. Smiths classic wiring instructions are printed on the inside of the boxes, and on their website.

[cal844]

To be honest id be fitting the mechanical guage as i believe they react faster

[dklawson]

As stated above, you will need a Smiths sending unit for the oil pressure gauge to work.  If you decide to source and install the sender, the T piece Dan mentioned will allow you to run the warning light and the new gauge.  You will need to add a voltage stabilizer to the car to power this gauge.  Therefore, you may find changing to a mechanical oil pressure gauge will cost about the same as finishing the installation of the electrical gauge.  Like Cal, I prefer mechanical gauges.

[Dan]

  Unusually for Smiths gauges the oil pressure gauge and transducer don't need to run on a voltage stabiliser.  I'm not sure why.

[nigel]

hey thanks for all the above input. to be honest i've decided today to buy a mechanical gauge and use the simple oil feed pipe. this is the 4th complete centre dash conversion kit i've bought in the last 8 years and this is the first time its come with the oil gauge like this with two spade connectors on. its a nightmare copmpared to the usual way with the mechanical gauge. I'll have to see if Min- its will swap the gauge for a mechanical one.

[dklawson]

  Unusually for Smiths gauges the oil pressure gauge and transducer don't need to run on a voltage stabiliser.  I'm not sure why.

 

Thanks for that Dan.  I don't see many electric Smiths OP gauges.  The only place I know they were commonly used were on a few years of 1970s MGBs.

[Vipernoir]

https://www.merlinmo...1-8npt-cb-os-18