4 Channel Temperature Display

[MearCat]

The 4 Channel Temperature Displays have been fabricaated and are now available...

Over the last 6-12 months, I have been building an In-Car temperature display for myself that displays multiple (4) temperatures in real time. I have recently decided to redesign this unit which I intend to make available as an actual kit for your car.

Pics can be found at http://www.mearcat.com.au.

It has the following features ...

- Displays temperatures of up to 200 degC for 3 of the temperatures

- Displays temperature of up to 1000degC for fourth temperature (for EGT values).

- Twin turbo option - which displays 2 temperatures up to 1000degC

- Accuracy of +/- 1-2degC over small range and +/- 10degC over large range

- Fast temperature response; Updates the values several times per second

- Large numbers in a backlit LCD (easy to read at night)

- Fits into standard DIN slot (underneath stereo) and uses Nissan and Toyota mounting holes for fitting

- Peak temperature value display for all 4 temperatures

- Peak values can also be reset on-the-go

- Configurable alarms limits for two of the four temperatures. Can turn alarms off or set their alarm limits

- Ultra-bright (4000mcd) 10mm Red LED and buzzer activated when alarm limits reached or exceeded

- All configuration via 3 menu/function buttons on front display facia

- Utilises standard K-Type thermocouples (K-Type ONLY) screwed into the back of unit

- Powered from 12V from car

- Professionally fabricated circuit board & metal case (NOT a backyard job)

- 6 Month Warranty included

Note - This unit is designed to display temperatures ONLY and I do not intend on modifying it to display other parameters eg. boost levels, voltages, injector duty cycles etc

What you wish to measure is only up to thermocouple mounting possibilities (Ambient, Intake, Before/After intercooler, coolant, oil, turbo, exhaust gas, fuel, head/block, engine bay)

Work necessary after receiving the kit :

Since the front of the stereo/DIN slots are slightly different sizes in some cars, the front facia (made of thin 0.6mm sheet metal) will need to be trimmed down to the size of your cars DIN slot face before attaching to the main bracket. For some cars it does not have to be trimmed as it sits neatly behind the plastic dash cover. An adhesive label for the fascia will be provided to your requirements (text labels, pictures, logos, watermarks etc).

I have has this display installed in my car (during & after developing the kit) since February 2006 and I find it much more useful and subtle than analog gauges sitting on the dash/A-Pillar

Price is $450 for the FULL kit (with thermocouple probes). - Compare that to the price of four quality gauges!

I supply low temperature (up to 200degC) and high temperature (up to 1000degC) K-Type thermocouple probes with 2.5m 304SS stainless steel braided cable for $25ea (retail price is normally $40+) and brass compression mounting glands for $3ea for anyone that requires them. Also, if there is enough interest, I may be able to supply washer thermocouples for mounting to eg mounting onto turbo flange bolts/oil sump plugs for around the same price.

Email me at [email protected] or PM me if you are interested and whether you'll need any thermocouples/glands. For more information, Download the User Manual Here .

[Bass Junky]

You know I'm in for this!

[lukits01]

Im in Perth and willing to be guinea pig ehhehe

[Husky33]

I'm in....

I want one now though....damn

[RANDY]

Hey again!

"brass compression mounting gland for $3ea". What are these for exactly? I'm looking for some way of mounting a k-type thermocouple into my intake pipe before the TB. Failing this, I might look into tapping into the rubber hose.

Also, how long is your probe? ;o)

2.5m cable length, but how big is the actual probe part? I've found that the wire type react far more quickly and accurately compared to the metal probe types. Although, i'm using cheap stuff.

Cheers!

[Ed G]

very intrested

[MearCat]

Hey again!

"brass compression mounting gland for $3ea". What are these for exactly? I'm looking for some way of mounting a k-type thermocouple into my intake pipe before the TB. Failing this, I might look into tapping into the rubber hose.

Also, how long is your probe? ;o)

2.5m cable length, but how big is the actual probe part? I've found that the wire type react far more quickly and accurately compared to the metal probe types. Although, i'm using cheap stuff.

Cheers!

The compression gland is a component that the thermocouple is mounted through and tightens to form a airtight seal to measure things like EGT and intake temperatures. Here are some pics of the compression gland and where I mounted them for my EGT and intake probes.

The probe sticks into the intake/exhaust pipe around 35mm giving it more than adequate exposure to the air streams. As for a temperature change response speed, my EGT reading (this unit of course is installed in my car) in can change from 500degC to about 650degC within a couple of seconds.

[RANDY]

Could I please get one thermo (2.5m) and one comp gland please! PM me your bank details if you're able to sell me just those parts?

What is the other end of the thermocouple? Is it bare wire, or the standard k-type plug for multimeters?

Cheers, Alan!

[Bass Junky]

Yeah, I'd like to start fitting the bits now to interface to your contollers, so PM me with the kit of four sensors.

so Airbox, turbo out, Manifold in, and Exhaust gas.

lots of air temp probes!

[MearCat]

Could I please get one thermo (2.5m) and one comp gland please! PM me your bank details if you're able to sell me just those parts?

What is the other end of the thermocouple? Is it bare wire, or the standard k-type plug for multimeters?

Cheers, Alan!

The thermocouples that will be supplied with the kit have bare tails. The tails are screwed into a header/connector on the circuit board and hence do not have the thermocouple/banana plugs attached.

I haven't actually got any of the thermocouples at the moment, I contacted my supplier today about getting a batch made. I will contact you guys with information RE: when they will be ready.

[MearCat]

So far, 7 people are interested in this LCD display. I have put together a test kit in the last week and the actual product will start being sent out to in interested parties in approx 4-5 weeks.

Any other takers?

[MearCat]

I'm just waiting on the thermocouples to be delivered. These kits will be available from ~14/8/06.

DATA LOGGING has now been added to the features of this kit. Logging of data via a serial/RS232 can be performed using some freeware software and an optional serial download cable (for $15)

[Simonster]

PM sent

[MearCat]

These kits are now available ...

The full comprehensive User/Installation Manual, price list etc can be found :

HERE - bottom of page

-Alan

[MearCat]

Update : I have now added a second option for those with Twin Turbos.

-Option 1 has the ability to display 3 x 0-200degC temps & 1 x 0-200 or 0-1000degC temp

-Option 2 of the kit has the ability to display 2 x 0-200degC temps & 2 x 0-1000degC temps

[R31 drift pig]

Im interested in one of these....

One queston... How "quick" are these? Like do they display the info on screen in "real time" for lack of a better word.... And does the info change smoothly or is it stepped up quickly, Like on a microtech hand controller?

Sorry to be a pain, was just curious.

[Edge]

I'm interested to get one with all the thermocouple and gland and sensors included, washer thermocouple for oil temp, and both air temp sensors.

Q'n if using a intake air temp sensor should I install a second sensor next to it or can I connect this and an Engine Mangement Computer to the same sensor?

[MearCat]

Im interested in one of these....

One queston... How "quick" are these? Like do they display the info on screen in "real time" for lack of a better word.... And does the info change smoothly or is it stepped up quickly, Like on a microtech hand controller?

Sorry to be a pain, was just curious.

The temperatures on the screen are updated every 500-600 milliseconds and the thermocouples provided with the kit have 3mm diameter probes so there is small but acceptable lag/delay in measuring a quick changing temperature such as EGTs. Over many hours of developing the kit, I would estimate approx a 3/4 second lag time for the thermocouples. A 6mm thermocouple response time can be up to 3 seconds which is unacceptable for this application.

Over a period of eg 5 seconds, the info will change smoothly for a temperature such as oil or coolant, but for a temperature such as Exhaust Gas, the temperature may jump in steps when the display is updated. I have seen my EGT's (this kit is of course installed in my car) from 550-700degrees in 2-3 seconds which if you are data logging at the time, you would get value of 500, 540, 590, 640 and so on. This is where the confirgurable alarms come in handy - so you don't have to be constantly monitoring the display for a high temperature situation.

I hope that answers your question.

[MearCat]

I'm interested to get one with all the thermocouple and gland and sensors included, washer thermocouple for oil temp, and both air temp sensors.

Q'n if using a intake air temp sensor should I install a second sensor next to it or can I connect this and an Engine Mangement Computer to the same sensor?

If you are using an management computer and connect the same thermocouple to my kit (assuming that the computer uses a "K" Type thermocouple as well) I cannot guarantee that the connection of one thermocouple to both units will not cause interference to either units and not cause erroneous temperatures. So yes, I recommend installing a seperate sensor for both the computer and the temperature display. For $25 for an extra thermocoupes, it's cheap insurance to guarantee no interference.

Just one warning about using a washer thermocouple for measuring oil temps - it can be drastically affected by the ambient air rushing past the sump and is not accurate. I initially had a washer thermocouple between the sump and sump plug on my car and depending on the ambient temperature and speed of the car, the operating temperature of oil displayed on the LCD was anywhere between 70 and 80 degrees. When I changed to having the oil probe installed in an oil filter sandwich plate, the displayed temps stabilised A LOT. operating temperature was actually around 95degrees, not 70-80.

If you require any more info, just email me and I will respond as quick as I can. btw, I currently have 8 of these kit ready to ship.

-Alan

[R31 drift pig]

Yeah, Thanks for that. Explained it perfectly...

Ill probably place an order in a week or two, Might see if I can drum up a bit of interest from a few mates... This could save me killing a motor!

Thanks,

Ben