Garth Posted June 10, 2018 Share Posted June 10, 2018 My standard Caterham branded 52mm diameter fuel gauge body has split (as have most of my others!) I have Racetec mechanical gauges for oil temp etc, so looking at their fuel gauge.Does anyone know if it is a straight swap? I know the size is correct, but what about the electrical connections and the sender compatibility?ThanksGarth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted June 10, 2018 Member Share Posted June 10, 2018 Do Racetech state the compatible resistance range?Previous discussions.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garth Posted June 10, 2018 Author Share Posted June 10, 2018 Cannot see anything on their website about this but have now emailed them.Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garth Posted June 11, 2018 Author Share Posted June 11, 2018 Have read through the threads thanks Jonathan - also had a response from Racetec. They have two different senders but their resistance values are similar (difference between the two is in the flanges which I presume is the bit that bolts to the top of the tank?) They quote a resistance of 10 ohms for empty and 180 ohms for full.Am I correct in assuming that if I measure the resistance of my existing sensor (which is standard Caterham) I will be able to work out if it is compatible. Could also then work out if a resistor in parallel could 're-calibrate' it?It is a pity 'tomperkins' did not continue his thread to its conclusion! Looking at 'aerobods' resistance figures for the various levels of fuel it would appear that the Caterham sender works the opposite to the Racetec - ie high resistance at empty and low at full where Racetec is low at empty and high at full?Looks like it might be easier to just get a Caterham replacement gauge and just wait for it to fall apart again!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted June 11, 2018 Member Share Posted June 11, 2018 I can't remember the resistance of the Caterham sender, nor whether there's more one type.Am I correct in assuming that if I measure the resistance of my existing sensor (which is standard Caterham) I will be able to work out if it is compatible.Yes.Could also then work out if a resistor in parallel could 're-calibrate' it?That might work. You can also get adjuster modules that will match any sender to any gauge. And probably give a more accurate reading than the factory set-up.Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garth Posted June 11, 2018 Author Share Posted June 11, 2018 Thanks - car down with PGM for spanner check and MOT - will look at it when it is back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigCol Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 I did aerobod’s additional resistors in parallel mod and it makes a real difference... well worthwhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garth Posted June 11, 2018 Author Share Posted June 11, 2018 May come back to you about that BigCol.....! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigCol Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 Sure... just make sure you add the resistors between the correct terminals... otherwise you might need to get your tachometer repaired or replaced (ask me how I know... ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon_h Posted June 11, 2018 Share Posted June 11, 2018 You could try this adapter box of tricks?https://www.spiyda.com/fuel-gauge-wizard-mk3.htmlSays it will work to adjust pretty much any sender output to any gauge input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garth Posted June 12, 2018 Author Share Posted June 12, 2018 Looks interesting - think the Catrham sender is reversed compared to the Racetech version. Racetech's sender is not very expensive either so will check it it will fit the tank?ThanksGarth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garth Posted June 12, 2018 Author Share Posted June 12, 2018 Just searched for the Caterham Sigma fuel sender - looks like it is integral to the fuel pump. Can anyone confirm this?If so it looks like the 'little box of tricks' above is the only solution for the Racetech gauge - will probably cost about the same as a new Caterham gauge (apart from the fitting costs!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted June 12, 2018 Leadership Team Share Posted June 12, 2018 I had a similar issue trying to get a Stack gauge to work with the standard Caterham sender, the Spiyda unit that Simon's linked to might be just the solution needed. My original thread is here.From my original thread (quote: Aerobod):Here is the calibration I measured on my 2012 R400 tank sender, first column is litres in tank, second is resistance in ohms, third column is total resistance with 667 ohms in parallel (1000 and 500 ohm resistance in parallel to try to match Caerbont gauge range). Note that the sloping bottom on the tank causes the standard sender to hit the bottom with between 6 and 8 litres remaining:0 195 150 2 195 150 4 195 150 6 195 150 8 169 135 10 158 129 12 128 109 14 107 92 16 81 72 18 71 64 20 61 54 22 49 46 24 43 40 26 34 32 28 25 24 30 21 20 32 16 16 34 14 13 36 9 9Note that the total resistance added in parallel is 333 ohms not 667 as stated.Stu.ETA .... just read more of the blurb with the Spiyda unit and currently it won't work with Stack gauges! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon_h Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 Just searched for the Caterham Sigma fuel sender - looks like it is integral to the fuel pump. Can anyone confirm this?Garth, yes Sigma, and all the current cars, have sender units integral to the fuel pump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garth Posted June 12, 2018 Author Share Posted June 12, 2018 Thanks for this Stu - it is not too dissimilar to the range the Racetech gauge works to - it goes from 10 ohms when empty to 180 when full. This is the reverse of the R400 sender above - so I think the Spiyda gadget may work as it says it can reverse the signal! Am going to investigate a little more.Spiyda say they are working on the Stack gauge.Thanks for the confirmation Simon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 ...it would appear that the Caterham sender works the opposite to the Racetec - ie high resistance at empty and low at full where Racetec is low at empty and high at full?That's certainly the case with my 2008 R400D. I did quite a bit of research trying to find a way of recalibrating my hopelessly inaccurate gauge -- with little success. See this thread for details.JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garth Posted June 12, 2018 Author Share Posted June 12, 2018 Hi JohnJust read that thread - I like the bit..."Please note that we supply fuel gauges to Caterham who are an OE manufacturer and have no issue with accuracy of the gauge / sender combination."I do not know a single person who has an accurate fuel gauge in a standard Caterham! (Perhaps some will come out of the woodwork now!) So perhaps Caterham do not report back to Caerbont or are we not telling Caterham?Need to go nd do some work now! - but am going to investigate the 'Spiyda Gauge wizard'Garth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted June 12, 2018 Leadership Team Share Posted June 12, 2018 I've just ordered one of the Spiyda units to see whether I can turn my standard fuel gauge into something more useful, it reads over 3/4 when half full then drops like a brick pigeon and swings all over the place. Ideally I'd like to fit a Stack gauge but currently the Spiyda unit won't work with it.Stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garth Posted June 12, 2018 Author Share Posted June 12, 2018 Do let me know how you get on Stu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garth Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 Ordered a replacement Racetech gauge and a Spyida gauge wizard. Got hold of the wiring diagram courtesy of JK but it does not show which wires do what! Does anyone out there know before I have to start fiddling with the multimeter and guessing?ThanksGarth Caterham Fuel gauge wiring?.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted June 27, 2018 Leadership Team Share Posted June 27, 2018 Black is the earthGreen is the ignition-switched liveYellow should be the signal from the fuel level sender (I assume)The separate red/white (+ve) and black (-ve) are for the gauge illumination. I've not managed to fit my Spiyda box yet, it's still way down the list of jobs needed during my rebuild!Stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garth Posted June 27, 2018 Author Share Posted June 27, 2018 Thanks StuLooking forward to receiving my bits - will let you know how I get on - need to work out how to drain the tank etc to!CheersGarth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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