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Troubleshoot Voltage gauge
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Author:  PDACPA [ Mon May 02, 2011 1:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Troubleshoot Voltage gauge
My voltage gauge is pegged down and not providing any reading. I have two batteries (add the second myself) wired to a perko switch.

The gauge shows fuel, oil, voltage, and temp and the others work. How does the gauge get the battery level? Is there a sender that might have gone bad?
Author:  aguyindallas [ Mon May 02, 2011 3:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Troubleshoot Voltage gauge
First.....is this one of the VDO Gauge clusters? If so....search, there is a lot of info with troubleshooting and such, but the jist is that the whole thing USUALLY has to be replaced. If its a single gauge setup, the first thing I would check are all of the grounds. Does it matter which position the perko switch is in or do you get the same reading regardless? Does it change if the engine is on or off?
Author:  PDACPA [ Mon May 02, 2011 3:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Troubleshoot Voltage gauge
I am not sure of the brand of gauge (I have read about the VDO ones). Has the Four Winns symbol and I think the Faria gauges have their name on them.

It has 4 readout's in the gauge itself (temp, oil, fuel, battery). It is the first gauge on the left in the picture.

It does not matter (ALL, 1 only, 2 only), the gauge does not read. I do not think it is the gauge itself.

Image
Author:  aguyindallas [ Mon May 02, 2011 3:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Troubleshoot Voltage gauge
Those are not the VDO gauges, thankfully. First thing I would do is check all connections on the back of the gauge cluster. Maybe one has vibrated loose. Also, check your battery grounds and make sure there is no corrosion on the terminals or wires.
Author:  ridepate [ Mon May 02, 2011 8:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Troubleshoot Voltage gauge
I'd agree, got to be a connection problem. But , it's a boat right?? :D
Author:  cabwizard [ Mon May 02, 2011 9:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Troubleshoot Voltage gauge
Hi, Gotta love it, great sense of humour and you sure need it when theres a problem p***ing you off... Good luck with the electrics, only had my boat a year well I say a year 2 1/2 months 100hrs then winter came :cry: I have it all to come I know,,
Cheers Ray
Author:  firecadet613 [ Mon May 02, 2011 11:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Troubleshoot Voltage gauge
FWIW, the new chartplotter you picked up can be set to display voltage on one of the data bars. Look at the cruising bar options.
Author:  Paul I. [ Mon May 02, 2011 11:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Troubleshoot Voltage gauge
What comes to mind, when you say "pegged down". Now the gauge is wired backwards some how. I would take a volt meter and take reading right from the back of the gauge. If you lost a ground, I would think you would have no readings. I "think" something shorted out. Say the lamp, to light up the gauge at night. Just a thought, sense it seams to be reading backwards.

Please let us know what you find!!
Author:  PDACPA [ Tue May 03, 2011 8:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Troubleshoot Voltage gauge
Thanks for all the info guys. The ground on the battery I know it went out last summer and it might have been when I wired up my second battery. I attached an old picture (I cleaned this all up, but the black negative cable is the ground you are suggesting I check?

Image

Paul - "pegged down" in that it sits on a reading of "10." All the lights on the gauges work (just had out on a little cruise around Tampa bay and had some dinner at Rick's on the river and headed home at dusk) but will double check the connections. Maybe some bulbs are out, but not all.

Firecadet-How does my 546s pick up the voltage? Just by being connected to my fuse box? Worked great Saturday, but there are a ton of settings on that device. I need to make a way to power it when sitting on my couch so I can get the settings just how I like them (damn water temp elude's me).

aguyindallas-which gauges are mine? There is no marking on the face and I have only pulled them out once and do not recall seeing a name on them.
Author:  firecadet613 [ Tue May 03, 2011 8:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Troubleshoot Voltage gauge
PDACPA wrote:
Firecadet-How does my 546s pick up the voltage? Just by being connected to my fuse box? Worked great Saturday, but there are a ton of settings on that device. I need to make a way to power it when sitting on my couch so I can get the settings just how I like them (damn water temp elude's me).


When you have the chart display up, select menus, then data bars, then cruising bar info. Thats all from memory. Mines on the boat. Play with it, you'll be amazed what you can display and where to display it on the bars.

I powered mine up in the house by wiring it to a 12V battery. If you've already wired it to the boat, you'll need another power/data cord in order to do that though.
Author:  PDACPA [ Tue May 03, 2011 9:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Troubleshoot Voltage gauge
How does it get your battery reading? If through its own power, then I guess it would read the battery I was connected to (1 or 2) or both if I was on the "all" switch?
Author:  firecadet613 [ Tue May 03, 2011 9:10 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Troubleshoot Voltage gauge
Correct, through its power source.
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