boost gauge sender?

[steveo3002]

just bought a vdo boost gauge for my car off geman ebay , i didnt translate well and now find its the type that needs a boost sender to work

genuine vdo senders are big money, just wondered if anyone has any experiance with these and knows if theres a cheaper alternative

 

[hareng]

Not familiar with the VDO but may have similar in mine.

Is it just electrical connections in to the back?

 

[Pete.]

Does the gauge just use a 0-5V input? If so you could wire it up to a simple MAP sensor with perhaps a basic circuit to fine-tune.

 

[rich r]

My experience of gauges is that they all use different sensors, so you have to use the correct VDO sensor for that gauge. Some gauges are purely resistive (so it's a current being measured), some produce a voltage output, and some are even digital output.

 

[steveo3002]

Not familiar with the VDO but may have similar in mine.

Is it just electrical connections in to the back?

yes 12v + /- and one marked s (for signal i guess)

the genuine senders are 60£ so i might as well sell it on and buy one that takes the hose on the back

cant really find any specs online its marked 350 040 001 c

 

[MattF]

the genuine senders are 60£ so i might as well sell it on and buy one that takes the hose on the back

That's your best option. You'll likely have no or incorrect readings if you try hooking the existing meter upto just anything bar it's specific sender unit.

 

[anto]

For the amount of boost gauges on ebay (good ones at that) you may as well sell it and put the money to it for a decent mechanical gauge.
I picked up a HKS egt & boost gauge for £45.

 

[steveo3002]

yeah gona try and sell it

thing is most of the modern ones are a bit chavy , i wanted vdo to match my original dash

 

[anto]

The hks gauges i got are just black face, white writing, red pointer and normal light.
Old skool cool....