| 1) |
How difficult is it to install?
Anyone with a reasonable amount of
mechanical skills can install the Digi-Panel in 2 - 3
hours. There are no coolant or transmission fluids to drain. The most
difficult parts is removing the factory oil pressure sender, using a T,
nipple, and if needed, reducer bushing to install the Digi-Panel's new
sender.
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| 2) |
Does the unit affect my factory
gauges or computer?
The Digi-Panel is totally independent
and redundant of a rig's systems. It is designed to provide audible and
visual alarms, higher accuracy and speed for better driver awareness and
protection.
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| 3) |
How accurate is the Digi-Panel?
The temperature gauges are calibrated using
a standard accurate to +/- 1 degree F, the voltmeter using a digital voltmeter
accurate to +/- 0.05%, etc. See "Needle Gauges"
for more information.
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| 4) |
How does the heat on hot sunny day
affect the unit if it's mounted on top of the dash?
The Digi-Panel has an anodized
aluminum case, rather that cheap plastic, and uses all CMOS integrated
circuits to eliminate any problems related to ambient heat.
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| 5) |
How do I turn it on?
The Digi-Panel's +12V lead is
typically connected to a line that is "hot" when the
ignition is turned on, so it comes on automatically.
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| 6) |
What can I do for an old 24 volt
bus conversion?
All 24 volt systems have a 12 volt
sub-system for radios and other accessories. Connecting the Digi-Panel
to one of those lines will in effect monitor the 24 volt system, ie: @
half scale. As the 24 volt alternator output goes up and down, the 12 volt
line changes proportionally.
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| 7) |
My oil pressure gauge is very
slow. How fast is this unit?
The oil pressure sender supplied with the Digi-Panel
is guaranteed to go from 80 psi to 0 within 1 second. The Digi-Panel
itself is basically instantaneous.
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| 8) |
Why does my oil pressure gauge
read almost the same all the time?
Some manufacturers use a simple pressure
switch that typically operates @ 7 psi connected to a gauge so anything
over 7 psi gives a
"normal" reading, but it's equivalent to an idiot light. The
smaller variations you see is caused by the changes in the charging
system output. Oil pressures normally have large fluctuations as a
function of engine rpm, temperature, mileage on the engine, etc.
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| 9) |
Why doesn't the Digi-Panel
measure engine coolant directly?
The number 1 reason is that by measuring at
the thermostat housing, what is actually being measured is metal
temperature. This normally varies somewhat around coolant temperature, but
if a radiator or heater hose is ruptured, we still sense engine
temperature. Coolant sensors cannot sense without the coolant and the
engine is destroyed. Number 2 is that it makes for an easy installation.
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| 10) |
Why does my voltmeter show 2
digits lit much of the time?
All the gauges are designed to
"roll" from one digit to the next to increase resolution.
However, the voltmeter measures alternator output. Alternators are
actually 3-phase AC generators with diodes to convert to DC voltage. They
produce pulses, most of which are filtered out by the battery. The
remaining pulsations often causes a 2nd digit to light up. The Digi-Panel
was designed with limited filtering so if, for example, one of the phases
was lost, most commonly because a diode failed, the additional noise will
cause 3 digits to light up all at the same time. This gives an advance
warning before complete alternator failure. |
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