Engine gauge supplier

[Nightcap]

I'm fitting all new gauges and senders to a landing craft (22 gauges and senders in all) Can anyone recommend a good (cheap) place to supply VDO or similar quality gear that will also export to Vanuatu.
Thanks in advance

 

[Ski in NC]

Try egauges.com. In Michigan, USA. That's where I get a lot of VDO stuff. Ask them about exporting.

 

[Nightcap]

Thanks, their prices look pretty good. I'll contact them, meanwhile, anyone closer to the western seaboard? Not that I guess it will make much difference if they ship UPS.

 

[FF]

VDO may require a number of gauges returned under guarentee, be sure to arrange in advance for all the inop units return.

Have had very poor results with VDO in the past decade.

 

[Shoalwaters]

VDO may require a number of gauges returned under guarentee .......... ..Have had very poor results with VDO in the past decade.

Interesting statement Fred. Anyone else with similar experience?

 

[Datenight]

I put new VDO gauges in the lower and upper stations with no problems.

Rob

 

[millennium]

VDO problems here also.

I have the "quad": Oil, temp. fuel, volts in one gauge. There seems to be a bad connections internally. Indications will be way off, hitting the gauge with my knuckles moves the needles(sometimes) to the correct readings.

They're 15 years old, past warrantee.

 

[Datenight]

Mine were single gauges, tach, oil, water temp and amps. That might be the difference.

Would be 12 years old now. Still going strong acording to the new owner
Rob

 

[Nightcap]

Will try to get some sort of warrantee but suppliers usually just laugh when you say you are in Vanuatu.

 

[tpbrady]

Would an analog to NMEA 2000 setup be a possibility using the Actisense EMU-1 or Noland RS11? Once that is done, than gauges become logical components on a network and not task specific.

Tom

 

[Nightcap]

Good point, I installed an n2k backbone on this vessel a while back for fitting fuel computers. Will look into it further.

 

[dimer2]

Seasmart is another (albeit more expensive at $499) but allows 8 inputs. It can be 0183, wifi or Enet.

NMEA Compatible Wi-Fi Wireless Marine Networking by Chetco Digital Instruments

 

[Nightcap]

Only problem with those gateways is they only have 6 inputs plus tachometer so I will have to get one for each engine as we measure 6 values per engine. Still, with a garmin GMI20 display still looks cost effective against analogue and will allow electronic data logging through ship's PC.

 

[HenryD]

What engine are you pulling the data from?

 

[Nightcap]

N14 Cummins with ZF boxes behind

 

[tpbrady]

Another option would be the Lowrance LMF400. It's not as capable as the Garmin gauge, but about 1/2 the price. Maretron just changed their pricing structure on N2K View so it may be a candidate. Look for the recent article on that change on Panbo: The Marine Electronics Hub.

Tom

 

[Nightcap]

As we'll only require two displays, one for engine room and one for bridge, the extra cost is not really too much of an issue and the Garmin can display a whole lot more info which is what we need.