Montioring System for non Electronic Engines

[luvrbus]

 Guys I installed one of these on my wife's Safari ( Sensitor) pretty neat little system and speaking with the techs they can change the setting to work on all presuures and temps   www.viprv.com they also have`a nice tire system also  



good luck  

[rv_safetyman]

Clifford, thanks for the lead.  The specific page for the monitor is:  http://www.viprv.com/sensitor/vipsensitor.html
Looks like a good unit.  I have seen similar technology, but not micro-processor based.  That makes for a very effective unit with a ton of flexibility.  

The one thing that all of these units seem to have in common is the water temperature alarms are set for gasoline engines.  The alarms he has set would allow full destruction of a two-stroke.  He said they can set the limits to other values and that would be necessary with the two-stroke.

Jim

[luvrbus]

Jim, her's is a diesel and he just asked me the brand and model of the engine came set at 210* 

good luck

[Don4107]

Jim,

Just a quick note.  The link above and the link in your CO post have a period at the end which prevents them from working until the period is removed.  Always enjoy your informative posts.

Don4107

[rv_safetyman]

Don, thanks for the solution to the link issue.  Kind of simple.  Ed Hackenbruch called me to let me know there was an issue, but I did not have the time to track it down. 

It looks like one of the moderators tried to change it (maybe not), but I had to completely remove the link and reinsert it without the period.

Clifford, glad you got the correct temperature unit.  I think he should have two options for the unit (one diesel and one gas) or at least flag it so that folks who don't know won't make a bad mistake. 

Jim

[RTS/Daytona]

Damn $649 is pretty expensive

Here's what I've used in EVERY RV I've EVER owned

http://www.digi-panel.com/     $219

He has a model for Detroit diesels with more appropriate alarm points thresholds -  (oil pressure and engine temp)
plus longer lenght cables for rear engine buses.

When I went to Calif to pickup my RTS and drive it back to Fl.
thru the desert at 110 degress - I brought this with me - RTS have no gauges other than air and volts
I installed it in 10minutes in a parking lot - ran the wires up front thru the windows - worked great

I noiw have a FULL FANCY 9 GAUGE DASH (I sell them) in my completed RTS - and still use the Digipanel so
I don't always have to look at the gauges - it has alarms

I first installed it in my Classic GMC Motorhome - cause I didn't think my wife looked at the gauges enough
but you don't tell a professional driver how to drive (she was a FEDEX driver for 20 years) - after I installed
it I had no problem sleeping on the couch while she was driving - cause I know I'd hear the alarm if something was
wrong 

CHECK IT OUT


NO I DON"T HAVE ANY VESTED INTEREST IN DIGIPANEL - I owned 3 so far

[rv_safetyman]

Pete, I am glad you mentioned that system.  I met the inventor several years ago at a show and he did not seem to be getting much attention.  The system seemed very good (with the exception of the water temperature).  I even downloaded his patent (4,890,088), as it seemed to be a good model when I was thinking about patenting my system. 

I have not seen him in the last few years, and assumed he went the way of many RV vendors

Thanks for the link.

Jim

[RTS/Daytona]

what's wrong with the Digipanel water temp ?

Oh by the way - Digipanel measures Engine temp not WATER TEMP
by placing the solid state sensor on the termostat housing - this was a
VERY VERY important feature for me - because normal water temp sensors
can easily be UNABLE to detect a broken water hose connection because the
standard type water temp sensor needs to be in the water to truely measure the temp
- a sudden loss of coolant will delay any sensor response WITH DISASTROUS results
(ask me how I know this !!!)

As I said - he has a model for Detroit Diesel Engines
that have a different oil pressure and engine temp scale

IIRC engine temp goes yellow at 190  and red at 205
and oil pressure alarms at under 5 psi rather than 15 psi

Actually - IIRC DIGIPANEL has a SPAN and OFFSET ADJUSTABE POT from each input (easily accessable under the top cover)-
You can custoize the OFFSET (starting point and The span (range)) -
then you just have to re-mark the 10 increments of the LED  display

Pete RTS/Daytona

[luvrbus]

I checked into different systems while the Sensitor does cost more I went with it I thought it more features and faster readouts it displays each change even a 1 degree change and the display changes colors also. Fwiw they are testing a system with a boost gauge and pyrometer (EGT) that should be neat watching the temps on a digital readout of exhaust temps 


good luck  

[rv_safetyman]

Pete, I did not check the latest offerings. 

When he first developed the gauge set, the water temperature was set for gasoline engines and he did not have a diesel temperature option.  Sounds like he does today.  I talked to him about it (think maybe it was his first show) and he did not seem interested in dealing with the lower temperatures.  Glad he made the option available. 

Jim

[gus]

Why not just wire in-her-face bright red lights to oil press and water temp sensors?