Wiring in Calibra Volt and Oil Pressure Gauges.
Moderator: Robsey
Wiring in Calibra Volt and Oil Pressure Gauges.
I am looking into the installation of the voltage and oil pressure gauges as fitted to Calibras.
The purpose being to provide a better indication of the state of your car, rather than relying on red warning lights on the instrument panel to tell you that you have a problem.
For my car, this may appear to be a bit of a nonsense, because I have a digi-dash with gauges built in.
But I have often written about how vague these bar graph displays are.
Very pretty... but very vague.
So first off the gauges.
These are a tatty set that I bought ages ago, but never fitted.
From the Front.
From the back
From above.
And if you are really lucky, the original connector with some loom.
The purpose being to provide a better indication of the state of your car, rather than relying on red warning lights on the instrument panel to tell you that you have a problem.
For my car, this may appear to be a bit of a nonsense, because I have a digi-dash with gauges built in.
But I have often written about how vague these bar graph displays are.
Very pretty... but very vague.
So first off the gauges.
These are a tatty set that I bought ages ago, but never fitted.
From the Front.
From the back
From above.
And if you are really lucky, the original connector with some loom.
Re: Wiring in Calibra Volt and Oil Pressure Gauges.
So as you see,
The Oil Pressure Gauge goes from 0 to 5 bar (70 psi).
The Volt Meter goes from 8 to 16 Volts.
It is a shame that they do not do gauges to match most instrument clusters.
The gauges always have pale backgrounds.
So unless you retro-fit pale backgrounds to your instruments, they do not match.
Illumination is via two standard 1.2 watt capless bulbs mounted in black twist in bases. (296 bulbs).
There are none in this panel, because the originals were mis-matched coloured t5 led back lights.
The Oil Pressure Gauge goes from 0 to 5 bar (70 psi).
The Volt Meter goes from 8 to 16 Volts.
It is a shame that they do not do gauges to match most instrument clusters.
The gauges always have pale backgrounds.
So unless you retro-fit pale backgrounds to your instruments, they do not match.
Illumination is via two standard 1.2 watt capless bulbs mounted in black twist in bases. (296 bulbs).
There are none in this panel, because the originals were mis-matched coloured t5 led back lights.
Re: Wiring in Calibra Volt and Oil Pressure Gauges.
Okay - to the wiring.
There are only 4 wires.
Pin 1 - Blue / Yellow to the oil pressure sender.
You can fit Calibra, Astra GTE, Cavalier Mk2 SRi or Frontera combined oil pressure sender and switch units.
Note however that there were many faulty Frontera senders knocking about.
I think I had a couple giving low oil pressure readings.
If you have not got a sensor connected to the gauge (open circuit), the needle will flick over to full deflection, with potential to damage the gauge mechanism.
If this is the case, short the blue/yellow wire to earth / ground, as this will hold the gauge at zero bar. (The needle will not move, and thus damage is avoided)
Pin 2 - Black to an Ignition live supply.
Many people cheat, and wire to the cigarette lighter wiring.
Suitability of this depends on what you plug into your lighter socket.
USB chargers, digital video recorders or even the cigarette lighter itself.
From memory, the fuse for this is rated at 15 amps.
Note also that the heated front seats are wired to the same fuse, and draw approx 5 amps between them.
Pin 3 - Grey / Black to an illumination supply.
On my Cavalier, the ash tray light is powered by an ignition live supply.
So we cannot tap into this, unless you want the gauges lit up whenever the car is running... just like the heater panel does.
If you want light switch controlled illumination, then you will need to tap into a switch illumination wire.
These are grey with a black stripe.
If you want dimmable illumination, then you will need to tap into a grey wire with a green stripe from the fuel computer, instrument panel or the light switch rheostat.
Pin 4 - Brown wire to any good ground or earthing point.
Again, many people cheat and wire directly to the cigarette lighter connector.
Same considerations for currant loading apply as mentioned for the ignition live supply on pin 2
If you do not have an original Calibra connector, you can use a small 4 pin connector from a personal computer.
They do fit.
There are only 4 wires.
Pin 1 - Blue / Yellow to the oil pressure sender.
You can fit Calibra, Astra GTE, Cavalier Mk2 SRi or Frontera combined oil pressure sender and switch units.
Note however that there were many faulty Frontera senders knocking about.
I think I had a couple giving low oil pressure readings.
If you have not got a sensor connected to the gauge (open circuit), the needle will flick over to full deflection, with potential to damage the gauge mechanism.
If this is the case, short the blue/yellow wire to earth / ground, as this will hold the gauge at zero bar. (The needle will not move, and thus damage is avoided)
Pin 2 - Black to an Ignition live supply.
Many people cheat, and wire to the cigarette lighter wiring.
Suitability of this depends on what you plug into your lighter socket.
USB chargers, digital video recorders or even the cigarette lighter itself.
From memory, the fuse for this is rated at 15 amps.
Note also that the heated front seats are wired to the same fuse, and draw approx 5 amps between them.
Pin 3 - Grey / Black to an illumination supply.
On my Cavalier, the ash tray light is powered by an ignition live supply.
So we cannot tap into this, unless you want the gauges lit up whenever the car is running... just like the heater panel does.
If you want light switch controlled illumination, then you will need to tap into a switch illumination wire.
These are grey with a black stripe.
If you want dimmable illumination, then you will need to tap into a grey wire with a green stripe from the fuel computer, instrument panel or the light switch rheostat.
Pin 4 - Brown wire to any good ground or earthing point.
Again, many people cheat and wire directly to the cigarette lighter connector.
Same considerations for currant loading apply as mentioned for the ignition live supply on pin 2
If you do not have an original Calibra connector, you can use a small 4 pin connector from a personal computer.
They do fit.
Re: Wiring in Calibra Volt and Oil Pressure Gauges.
It will be obvious to most, but the gauges bezel clips into the cubby hole aperture below the radio.
There is a closure box at the back and sides of the cubby hole.
This can be unclipped and removed to allow easy access for the gauge wiring.
Not forgetting to remove the rubber mat also in the cubby hole.
There is a closure box at the back and sides of the cubby hole.
This can be unclipped and removed to allow easy access for the gauge wiring.
Not forgetting to remove the rubber mat also in the cubby hole.
Re: Wiring in Calibra Volt and Oil Pressure Gauges.
Great article and well documented!!
There’s a slight difference between lh and rh drive vehicles but not easy to spot. I’ve got both sets (somewhere in the garage).
These gauges came in white, silvery grey and if you’re lucky .. black ones but these are extremely rare find (same as the digital dash)
I’ve only seen a couple and do look much better (goes well with the colour theme)
Lockwood done some replacement back covers, but I thought they were a bit ott.
To add the pin connector is the same as that you find on the floppy drive cables.
There’s a slight difference between lh and rh drive vehicles but not easy to spot. I’ve got both sets (somewhere in the garage).
These gauges came in white, silvery grey and if you’re lucky .. black ones but these are extremely rare find (same as the digital dash)
I’ve only seen a couple and do look much better (goes well with the colour theme)
Lockwood done some replacement back covers, but I thought they were a bit ott.
To add the pin connector is the same as that you find on the floppy drive cables.
Re: Wiring in Calibra Volt and Oil Pressure Gauges.
You can still buy the dual output senders new I paid under £30 for a Intermotor one & I've also used a Facet one as well, The Intermotor one went faulty after about a month but the supplier replaced it under warranty, which is still working OK.
Re: Wiring in Calibra Volt and Oil Pressure Gauges.
I have painted the bezel, and fitted yellow bulbs to the gauges, to go with the "off yellow" of the standard switch illumination.
Here we go - tested using a computer power supply, and the oil gauge shorted to earth.
And how it looks in my car...
Hmm, not really sure...
I am sure that I could get these to fit...
Although the rest of the car is digital, maybe needle gauges won't fit in...
Here we go - tested using a computer power supply, and the oil gauge shorted to earth.
And how it looks in my car...
Hmm, not really sure...
I am sure that I could get these to fit...
Although the rest of the car is digital, maybe needle gauges won't fit in...
- ilovedmymantas
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Re: Wiring in Calibra Volt and Oil Pressure Gauges.
Those gauges look very 1960's styled to me and I think they may look a bit out of place with your dash.Robsey wrote:I am sure that I could get these to fit...
This got me thinking so I did the usual bit of compulsive searching .
After looking at some terrible examples of digital gauges. e.g. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Multifunctio ... 0008.m2219, I thought I'd found a decent one in the style of the digi-dash.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5In1-LCD-Dig ... SwPmVcAfH0
It also repeats most dash functions, so not ideal.
Since you've got the bezel these would tempt me as replacements a bit more in keeping with your dashRobsey wrote:Although the rest of the car is digital, maybe needle gauges won't fit in...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/333033886686
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-52mm-LED-P ... 0005.m1851
" It's not rust. It's age-related patina "
1980 vauxhall cavalier MK1 1.6L, 1982 opel manta berlinetta 1.8s, 1985 opel manta 2.0 gte, 1990 cavalier 2.0 gl ,1994 cavalier sri x20xev
-1995 cdx x20xev
---------------
Matt
1980 vauxhall cavalier MK1 1.6L, 1982 opel manta berlinetta 1.8s, 1985 opel manta 2.0 gte, 1990 cavalier 2.0 gl ,1994 cavalier sri x20xev
-1995 cdx x20xev
---------------
Matt
Re: Wiring in Calibra Volt and Oil Pressure Gauges.
I seem to remember Humbucker modifying a set to accept black gauges on one of his cars.
Found it page 9 of this thread
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=6806&start=200&hil ... ure+gauges
Found it page 9 of this thread
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=6806&start=200&hil ... ure+gauges