Joined
·
9,497 Posts
Finally had a chance to run the SSR tonight with the tire pressure monitoring system installed.
Note: If you're installing the system using stock wheels, the tires need to come off to install the sensors into the wheels. Make sure you mount all four sensors in the same spot, and are aware of the location. Otherwise, the sensors can be damaged by the bead breaker when dismounting a tire. The instructions recommend installing within 3" of the valve, and that seems to be an industry standard - that way, you'll know the location. I went at 180 from the valve, and that probably wasn't a good idea - cost me a $70 sensor when we were trying to solve the vibration problem.
Installation using the auxiliary gauge set is very easy and convenient. The Dakota gauge is very shallow, and by cutting back the mounting studs, I was able to replace the GPH gauge, and leave the other two intact. I tested the system first with the GPH gauge removed, and the voltage and trans temp gauges continued to operate. That was a good sign - I wasn't sure if the three were somehow interconnected on the circuit board.
I then installed the new gauge is the center spot. I tapped into the 12 v supply to the auxiliary gauges, (can't tap the positive stud on a gauge - the circuit board lowers the voltage to approx 8.6 volts. I used one of the gauge negative studs for the ground. The Dakota system uses a 12 v input from the automatic headlight system for their dimmer circuit. Discovered that the gray wire which controls gauge lights works perfectly for that job. So- no outside wiring required. Anyone installing the system in an SSR without the auxiliary gauges would not be so lucky - unless they cut into the carpet to find the gauge harness, and tapped into that. Otherwise, it means locating the required positive and dimmer connections somwhere in a jungle of wires.
Dakota uses the Smartire receiver and sensors, and their own brainbox to link the Smartire system to their display. I had the sensors installed by Newstalgia when they put the new tire and wheel combo together. Otherwise, installing the sensors would require a dismount and remounting of the tires.
Once the display, computer and receiver are wired and installed, the next step is to have the receiver learn sender positions (that step can be eliminated if the sensors are installed in specific wheels according to the color code provided. Unfortunately, Newstalgia forgot to mark the wheels.) No big deal - reprogramming takes about 10 - 15 minutes, best in a couple of installments - the system stays in fill mode for 15 minutes after shut down. The gauge is programmable, and by following the rather sparse instructions, I was able to get it right after a couple of tries.
The procedure is to press the button on the gauge, then turn the key on. The system goes into learn mode, you specify which corner to learn, the proceed to take a few pounds out of the tire. That activates the sensor. The gauge indicates the system has learned the sender position. Do that four times, and all four corners are programmed. Best to add air to the tires at that time, so you may want to do it at a tire store, unless you have access to your own compressor.
Once you're on the road, the display comes on at a relatively low speed, and indicates tire pressure for each corner. Pressing the button toggles the gauge to display to temperature or pressure. You can program in a low pressure threshhold (ie 27 lbs on a tire inflated to 30 lb)and a high temperature setting. If the tire goes down to that pressure or up to the preset temperature , the display for that tire starts to flash, and if you' ve wired in an alarm, the alarm will sound. The computer can handle a 250 ma alarm without a relay - I used a piezo buzzer from a boat alarm - takes a whole 3 ma to operate.
I like the system - gives me an extra sense of security knowing that I should have an early warning of a tire going down, well before the tire starts getting damaged.
Boy - it would have been wild to see all four corners flashing when Houtex nailed that railway tie
If anyone has any additional questions about the system, I'd be glad to answer them.
Photo 1 is the bottom side of the auxiliary gauge set with the new gauge installed in the center position.
Photo 2 is the Dakota computer box, Smartire receiver and piezo buzzer. I hid them in behind the ashtray using velcro.
Photo 3 is the shot taken tonight on the first test run. All the tires started at 30 lbs, and 3 had warmed up to 31 lbs after about a 15 minute run.
Kit is $399 from Dakota - couldn't find stock at any of the listed Dakota distributors, so ordered it directly from them.
Ray
Note: If you're installing the system using stock wheels, the tires need to come off to install the sensors into the wheels. Make sure you mount all four sensors in the same spot, and are aware of the location. Otherwise, the sensors can be damaged by the bead breaker when dismounting a tire. The instructions recommend installing within 3" of the valve, and that seems to be an industry standard - that way, you'll know the location. I went at 180 from the valve, and that probably wasn't a good idea - cost me a $70 sensor when we were trying to solve the vibration problem.
Installation using the auxiliary gauge set is very easy and convenient. The Dakota gauge is very shallow, and by cutting back the mounting studs, I was able to replace the GPH gauge, and leave the other two intact. I tested the system first with the GPH gauge removed, and the voltage and trans temp gauges continued to operate. That was a good sign - I wasn't sure if the three were somehow interconnected on the circuit board.
I then installed the new gauge is the center spot. I tapped into the 12 v supply to the auxiliary gauges, (can't tap the positive stud on a gauge - the circuit board lowers the voltage to approx 8.6 volts. I used one of the gauge negative studs for the ground. The Dakota system uses a 12 v input from the automatic headlight system for their dimmer circuit. Discovered that the gray wire which controls gauge lights works perfectly for that job. So- no outside wiring required. Anyone installing the system in an SSR without the auxiliary gauges would not be so lucky - unless they cut into the carpet to find the gauge harness, and tapped into that. Otherwise, it means locating the required positive and dimmer connections somwhere in a jungle of wires.
Dakota uses the Smartire receiver and sensors, and their own brainbox to link the Smartire system to their display. I had the sensors installed by Newstalgia when they put the new tire and wheel combo together. Otherwise, installing the sensors would require a dismount and remounting of the tires.
Once the display, computer and receiver are wired and installed, the next step is to have the receiver learn sender positions (that step can be eliminated if the sensors are installed in specific wheels according to the color code provided. Unfortunately, Newstalgia forgot to mark the wheels.) No big deal - reprogramming takes about 10 - 15 minutes, best in a couple of installments - the system stays in fill mode for 15 minutes after shut down. The gauge is programmable, and by following the rather sparse instructions, I was able to get it right after a couple of tries.
The procedure is to press the button on the gauge, then turn the key on. The system goes into learn mode, you specify which corner to learn, the proceed to take a few pounds out of the tire. That activates the sensor. The gauge indicates the system has learned the sender position. Do that four times, and all four corners are programmed. Best to add air to the tires at that time, so you may want to do it at a tire store, unless you have access to your own compressor.
Once you're on the road, the display comes on at a relatively low speed, and indicates tire pressure for each corner. Pressing the button toggles the gauge to display to temperature or pressure. You can program in a low pressure threshhold (ie 27 lbs on a tire inflated to 30 lb)and a high temperature setting. If the tire goes down to that pressure or up to the preset temperature , the display for that tire starts to flash, and if you' ve wired in an alarm, the alarm will sound. The computer can handle a 250 ma alarm without a relay - I used a piezo buzzer from a boat alarm - takes a whole 3 ma to operate.
I like the system - gives me an extra sense of security knowing that I should have an early warning of a tire going down, well before the tire starts getting damaged.
Boy - it would have been wild to see all four corners flashing when Houtex nailed that railway tie
If anyone has any additional questions about the system, I'd be glad to answer them.
Photo 1 is the bottom side of the auxiliary gauge set with the new gauge installed in the center position.
Photo 2 is the Dakota computer box, Smartire receiver and piezo buzzer. I hid them in behind the ashtray using velcro.
Photo 3 is the shot taken tonight on the first test run. All the tires started at 30 lbs, and 3 had warmed up to 31 lbs after about a 15 minute run.
Kit is $399 from Dakota - couldn't find stock at any of the listed Dakota distributors, so ordered it directly from them.
Ray
Attachments
-
50.7 KB Views: 1,629
-
73.7 KB Views: 975
-
62.3 KB Views: 2,092