What the best, most cost effective(!) and cabin friendly looking way of measuring inlet temps?

I had a look at Protherm.demon.co.uk but the units look a little expensive just for a temperature guage. What have other Scoobynetter done/used?

Thanks in advance!

 

BTTT

David

 

Hi

I've got a temperature gauge (digital, with backlit blue) like the sort you'd get from Halfords.
It's normally used to measure outside temp and has a long wire from it with a sensor on the end.
I've got it fitted on my GTI-R, I just undone a juilee clip on the boost hose on the other side of the intercooler and slipped the sensor in so it dangles in the pipe (make sure it hangs mid pipe so you don't get false readings from the temp of the pipework) It gives me the intake temp of the charge air after it's gone through the intercooler and works a treat!
You can get some decent looking ones too, and cheap.
Prob do it to my Scooby soon

James

 

Thanks James!

Anybody else?

Anybody using 'K'Type Thermocouples?

 

Hi,

I'm using an LCD K-type one (around $20USD)and it is very fast on readout. I've inserted the sensor - post IC but before the throttle body - about 2cm angled towards the center of the flow, the only bummer is that the wire is about a meter long and barely reaches the meter which is mounted on the steering column. During cruise and full boost i get around 10C-20C + ambient. MY00 Forester turbo on steroids!

Regards,

George

 

Thanks george, is there any place on the internet where I can get more details?

 

Back in my racer boy R5 GT days I installed a charge temp gauge (RS electronics got loads - used digital one with external probe) and slipped the probe inside the outlet hose from the intercooler. In hindsight I don't think this is such a good way of doing it. What happens if you over-tighten the jubilee clip and it severs the cable from which it hangs? Yep probe gets sucked into the manifold!!! I think it would be much better to use a much more stable sensor mount like an interconnecting metal tube with welded-in sensor boss. This could be inserted in between the intercooler and intake manifold. Anyone else with better idea? Also read somewhere that under the throttle body there's a blanked off sensor point either on the throttle body or manifold. Can anyone confirm or correct this?

[Edited by NutterKam - 10/1/2002 1:27:24 PM]

[Edited by NutterKam - 10/1/2002 1:28:16 PM]

 

Yikes! Just been told the price for an SPA dual Temp Digital Guage, £133, plus £75 for a 'conversion box' plus £20 for the Thermocouple!

Protherm is starting to look cheap!

 

Trust Greddy Temp gauage is only 175 quid from www.specialvehicleservices.co.uk - includeds all items like probe etc.

 

Blimey - my spelling's really gone up the spout!

 

jaycar.com.au do a nice hand-held temp meter - it accepts 2 inputs and comes with 2 k-type probes. A$80 from memory (plus shipping). Buy the 14 dollar AFR kit while you're at it

Richard

 

Harryboy Hi,

I've got mine from a local electronics shop, i believe you can get one in the UK from Maplin electronics for 30-40 UKP. (look for digital thermo's)

rgds,

George

 

In fact you can get them for significantly less if you don't go for a k type thermocouple. There's no need for typeK unless you're measuring temps like EGT (ie very high). Most temperature modules with external probes have a sampling rate between 1 and 10 seconds. I'm pretty sure RS electronics (www.rswww.com) do one from the Falcon range for around 14 or 18 quid - they're backlit as well. A unit with 1s sample rate should be adequate.

 

BTTT

Thanks for all the replies so far but come on peeps! Anymore ideas out there?

So far I have narrowed it down to these:

Protherm.demon.co.uk AK014721 MTW-K; Runs on 12V, has cold junction correction for 'K' Type Thermocouples, factory calibrated, has internal relays that could be used for waterspray and accepts two probes but can't be surface mounted.

Anders-electronics.co.uk OEM035KC; Cold junction correction, factory calibrated, needs a 5v pwr supply, no backlight, only single probe. Available from RS as RS260-167

lascarelectronics.com DT995; Cold junction correction, not factory calibrated, runs on 12v, backlit, one internal sensor and one K type external


SPA and Greddy are outside bets as they are expensive and I have dismissed the cheap Halfords/Maplin ones as a) I don't like the idea of a large Pt100 sensor dangling just in front of the throttle because of airflow and breakage concerns b) the wire insulation is PVC and c) they are not designed for use in such 'harsh' environments.