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07-06-2014, 06:26 AM | #1 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3
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Dash gauges don't work
Hey, just joined the forum. I have a 48 f1 that i converted to 12 volt with an alternator. Kept my old gauges but none of them work. Any ideas for what i can do to get them working?
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07-06-2014, 06:51 AM | #2 |
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Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 150
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Re: Dash gauges don't work
If you didn't install a voltage dropping resistor you probably fried your gauges
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07-06-2014, 12:57 PM | #3 |
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Overland Park, Ks
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Re: Dash gauges don't work
You can check out your gauges by putting 6 volts to them, see if there is a polarity change.If they work on 6 volts they are ok, if not you will replace the gauge.
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07-06-2014, 01:28 PM | #4 |
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Location: Columbia, SC
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Re: Dash gauges don't work
Hope you changed the head and tail light bulbs to 12v. The 6v gauge lights may be fried, too.
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07-06-2014, 03:11 PM | #5 |
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Re: Dash gauges don't work
You may be lucky, many's the time guys have 12V jumped a 6V system unknowingly and the gauges still worked. Buy the Voltage lowering resisters and 12V bulbs for all lights and try again. You have better than a 50 50 chance the gauges will work. If not then replace the gauge or gauges that are fried. Try first though.
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07-06-2014, 04:21 PM | #6 | |
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Re: Dash gauges don't work
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07-06-2014, 06:26 PM | #7 |
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Location: Nine Mile Falls,WA
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Re: Dash gauges don't work
When changing to 12 volts did you change out all the bulbs. what you need is a voltage reducer like this one. http://dennis-carpenter.com/voltage-.../48TR-D-10800/
I did this on my 48 Fq and it works fine.
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07-06-2014, 06:40 PM | #8 |
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Location: Newington, Connecticut
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Re: Dash gauges don't work
37Coop- There are no repo gauges out there. You have to look for NOS gauges. Best place to look is Ebay. Is your truck 6v or 12v? Have you tested the gauges by removing the wire off each corresponding sender and touching that wire to a good ground with the key on? If it reacts and pegs the needle, then the sending unit is bad, not the gauge. If no movement, bad gauge. Same thing applies to 12v, but you need the voltage reducer on a 12V system. All USA Ford gauges were meant to operate on 6 volts up until 1986.
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07-07-2014, 06:45 AM | #9 |
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Re: Dash gauges don't work
Hey Don-wi. I put a voltage reducer in the line for my gas gauge but not the others. I was told it was only needed for the gas gauge. Thanks.
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07-07-2014, 11:49 AM | #10 |
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Location: Coral Springs FL
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Re: Dash gauges don't work
dutch, Here's a wiring diagram for 48 Ford truck. It shows an ammeter instead of a volt meter. Is this what you have? If you currently have an ammeter consider replacing it with a volt meter as it is much safer. The key word here is "REPLACING" not "CONVERTING" the ammeter to a volt meter. I hope others with more electrical expertise on how to rewire your electrical system for this "replacing" will chime in as I am not an expert.
http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/t...I hope.730942/ http://www.auto-wiring-diagram.com/w...ord-trucks.jpg Last edited by 19Fordy; 07-07-2014 at 12:27 PM. |
07-07-2014, 12:19 PM | #11 |
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Re: Dash gauges don't work
Here's the wiring diagram.
The reducer is needed for everything but the ammeter. Either individual Runtz-type reducers for each gauge or a single Instrument Voltage Regulator from a '57 - '86 Ford car or truck.
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'52 F-1, EAB flathead |
07-07-2014, 12:32 PM | #12 |
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Re: Dash gauges don't work
Ross, Would it be possible to install the Voltage regulator as you suggested and also install a Voltmeter WITHOUT making any changes to the ammeter wiring?
Or, does the ammeter have to disconnected and the wires feeding it soldered together? |
07-07-2014, 12:36 PM | #13 |
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Re: Dash gauges don't work
The ammeter on these is an inductive type, with a loop that the battery feed wire passes thru. The only thing needed to do to "disconnect" it is to remove the end of the battery feed off the circuit breaker nearby, pull it back thru the loop, and reconnect it. There are people who have adapted an '80's Ford truck voltmeter to fit into the ammeter casing and into the dash, it's surprisingly easy if you get the right one.
Edit: '87-'89 Ford van and F-series voltmeters are an excellent fit.
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'52 F-1, EAB flathead |
07-07-2014, 01:31 PM | #14 | |
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Re: Dash gauges don't work
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07-07-2014, 10:03 PM | #15 |
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Re: Dash gauges don't work
I like the Runtz voltage regulators because they are small and bolt onto the back of the gauges. Just converted my 52 panel to 12v using flathead sending units on my 289 engine and the runtz regulators on the gauges. Works very well. I plan to add a diode off the starter solenoid to absorb the voltage spikes to protect the runtz.
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07-07-2014, 10:08 PM | #16 |
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Re: Dash gauges don't work
Are you running a generator, Gearhead? Why would there be voltage spikes?
I'm using one of these, 3+ years without any issues: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ford-Instrum...item417f9ccd3e (When I bought mine, they didn't even have a case, just a bare circuit board)
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'52 F-1, EAB flathead |
07-07-2014, 10:18 PM | #17 |
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Re: Dash gauges don't work
No running an alternator. The collapsing magentic field of the coil in the starter solenoid induces a large spike on the power line that can kill electronics. If running the pertronics ignition or have other electronics you need a diode to suppress the spikes. If you look on newer ford solenoids they are stamped diode suppressed indicating a diode inside. Need one on all devices with a coil of wire like heater, wipers, horn, relays. Use a simple 1n4005 diode from radio shack. In theory should only need one on the main power line but they are cheap and the starter solenoid is the worst culprit so start there.
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07-07-2014, 10:32 PM | #18 | |
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Re: Dash gauges don't work
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07-07-2014, 10:59 PM | #19 |
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Re: Dash gauges don't work
I don't know why they call it a 5v regulator; they sell the same one as a 6v and various other voltages for specific makes. Its output is adjustable (brass screw visible in one pic) and I run mine at 7.2v. The gauges don't really seem to be that particular about voltage anyway.
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'52 F-1, EAB flathead |
07-08-2014, 03:55 PM | #20 | |
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Re: Dash gauges don't work
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