Have you added secondary oil and alternator warning lights?

chrisp · 08-14-2001, 05:51 AM

If so, I have a question. Is it as simple as splicing into the wires of the back of the current warning lights.

I am going to mount two larger lights (easier to see) in the current clock mounting location. I have pulled the preesure/temp guage (current lights location) and see the wires behind it. I was planning on splicing into those and just running enough wire to get my new lights hooked up.

Any other suggestions?? Thanks.

Rot 911 · 08-14-2001, 06:24 AM

I just have to ask why you would do such a thing????? No light is more accurate than the oil gauge. Idiot lights are just that, an alarm for people too stupid to read a gauge. They warn you when things have gone past the point of saying "hey you might have a problem here" to "hey idiot, you are one step away from your engine being toast!" If you want to know more about what is going on with your alternator install an amp meter or voltage meter, not another light.

Kurt V
72 911E

cds72911 · 08-14-2001, 07:04 AM

I know those bigger "idiot lights" come in handy on a race car. Sometimes you do not have the time to look at and interpret a small guage. The big light lets you know in time to save the engine from catastrophic damage.

Charlie
(I had idiot lights on my rally car and probably saved an engine beacuse of it at the Maine Forest Rally in 1999.)

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 08-14-2001, 07:16 AM

We have what you call idiot lights all over the cockpits of sophisticated jet aircraft, but I guess that's because we pilots are so stupid.

STephan

chrisp · 08-14-2001, 07:19 AM

Sorry I guess I assumed that you were aware of why I wanted to do this eventhough I didn't ask if you liked my idea I was simply looking for suggestions from the hundred's (yes hundred's) of you who have done the same thing. Basically you can't look at your guages all of the time. You have a couple of points per lap when you remind yourself to look at the guages...."everytime over start/finish I'll look at my guages"....etc. It's best to know if you have lost pressure or your fan is not working cause the belt broke the moment it happens....not even 20 seconds later. It's always best to shut the car down as close to the moment it happens as possible. The lights don't replace the guages (or I would have put the lights in their place) but rather supplement what's there.
Thanks for your level headed, open minded, and clearly thought-out response to my message.

Rot 911 · 08-14-2001, 07:25 AM

I agree that in racing, or flying situations, idiot lights are necessary. But as I stated above they inform you of a problem once it has reached a very serious stage, whereas a gauge can give you a continuous readout of how things are going. Hmmm, maybe that's why on planes the primary gauges are right in front of you. In every day driving situations, with a small number of gauges to look at, I would take a gauge over an idiot light every time. And Stephan, lighten up. And to all other pilots in the world, mea culpa! mea culpa!

Kurt V
72 911E
Oh, and former rotary wing pilot.

Superman · 08-14-2001, 07:33 AM

Most oil pressure lights remain off until oil pressure dips to just a few pounds. I would prefer some system that warns you a little before that, like say at 20 psi. If an oil pressure light comes on at 6 psi, I figure it's a "Your engine has just been ruined" light.

------------------
'83 SC

chrisp · 08-14-2001, 08:40 AM

I appreciate all of the comments. I have been thinking about your ideas regarding a "low" pressure light versus the standard "no" pressure light. It's an awesome idea but as I thought about it, I have a couple questions that may prove to make it no more or less effective.

Assume you have to choose a pressure setting that's just under where idle pressure would be becuase you don't want a false light at idle. I can't remember but I think it's like 2 bar (29 psi). If the system loses pressure wouldn't it happen pretty quickly as opposed to over a minute or so? Would the system go from 2 bar to almost zero so fast that a "low" light would be as effective as the "no" light? If the difference between the two is only seconds than maybe it's not worth it but if it's many seconds then it would be worth it.

The question is....How quickly does a motor like ours lose pressure?