$20 monitoring of air/fuel ratios from std wideband sensor

[Julian Edgar]

It works very well - no updates are needed! I use the display every day I drive the car.

[theunchosen]

Yes if you hook up a voltmeter to your O2 it will display something other than .45 volts if its running lean. I think it will read as a higher voltage if its lean? I can't recall. . .

I usually just shove a diagnostic unit into the ECU and let it tell me ^_^

[LeanBurninating]

Glad to hear it! Can we trouble you for some pictures? Are you using a case or enclosure?

Right now I am checking out some generic voltmeter gauges, but most of them measure about 8-18 volts... too high for this purpose... no?

Gauges, Individual, Gauges & Accessories - summitracing.com

I really want to go through with this! But what are the alternatives for a voltmeter gauge that reads 0-5 volts or so?

I have been looking at analog panel meters.. but its hard to find a cheap one that is even 0-10volts. Any other ideas?

Thanks!!

[theunchosen]

A DMM can read the right voltage(Digital Multi meter). They are a little more expensive but they are also alot more useful as they can measure AC DC voltage current and resistance.

I wouldn't look for gauges online. . .way too much effort. There are tons of gauge manufacturers. Just go to radioshack, walmart, or maybe best buy or circuit city and check out their gauges I'm sure they should have something pretty cheap to measure votlage either digital or analog.

[tasdrouille]

Hey Julian, I would like to thank you for everything you did at autospeed. I really liked the blog posts a lot, I'm already missing that. I wish you the best in all your new ventures.

[Nevyn]

Go to Harbor Freight for DMM's on the cheap - they have 'em for 5 bucks! I use them for electronics work and have NEVER had an issue. The new ones are orange backlit, too!

[LeanBurninating]

thanks for the tip!

I would most prefer to have something like this

10 VDC PANEL METER | AllElectronics.com

because... all I have to do is ground it and plug it into the right wire. If I could find a 5 volt meter that would be even better. The only drawback is that there is no backlight. So either I jimmy one up or only use it in daylight.

A digital one is cool, but I would rather not have to supply power to one if it could be avoided, and what if it uses a 9v battery? How can you get 9v to something in the car?

I wish there was an automotive voltmeter that had a range other than 8-18 volts.

Thanks for the help.

[Funny]

Subscribed, going to have to read this one after work....

[LeanBurninating]

Actually I am not sure that an analog one will work any more... from this page:

Browser Warning

"Note: you must always use a digital multimeter to measure oxygen sensor signals – never an old fashioned analog meter! The older meter will draw too much current from the circuit, loading-down the reading and potentially damaging the sensor. If you use a high impedance digital multimeter, there will be no problems."

hmm...

Perhaps I'll be getting that kit after all!

[oldertech]

Is the Universal Bargraph kit available anywhere in the US or do we need to get them from AU? I'm ready to try this idea!

Scott