Outside Air Temp.Gauge

[4shorts]

Well I've learned a valuable lesson. Yep. If your going to buy a gauge of any kind, find a reputable US or Canadian company that manufactures them. The Chinese just can't make them to last.

I bought a digital one from an American vendor that lost one of the sectors on the display about four months into having it. The company said it was a bad batch and sent me another one and a year later it did the same thing so I said enough is enough so I set out to find a company that made quality gauges and I'm happy to report I was successful doing so.

The company is in NV, USA and is called TelTek. They have a web site Teltek USA, High Accuracy Digital Guages! They have been in business since 1984 and build all there own gauges. They even give a lifetime warranty on the gauges so that should tell you how confident they are in the product.

When we called to order the outside air gauge the owner told my wife to make sure it wasn't one of there's because there was a lifetime warranty on the ones they make. I thought that was pretty honest of him to tell us that just in case we didn't know he didn't want us paying for another one. We went on to explain it was a Chinese gauge we were replacing.

We placed the order and received the gauge and sensor in no time and you could see the quality the moment we opened the box. I liked the way the sensor wire plugged into the back of the gauge.

I removed the old unit and set out to install the new set up. This gauge can be set up in Fahrenheit or Celsius with a simple paper clip to push a small switch on the face of the gauge.

I had the old sensor out on the rear light but this sensor came with a shorter 10' wiring harness so I installed it on the right mirror this time by fabricating a mounting bracket out of 1/2 inch aluminum pipe and after a little bending and tig welding I got it installed. I ran the wiring through the firewall grommet and up through the cab channel and installed a grommet to exit out to the pipe. I also installed grommets on both ends of the pipe to hold the sensor and that wire and gave it a cleaner look.

I'm more than pleased with the gauge and service from TelTek. I'll be getting all my gauges from them from now on. Check out there site. Interesting stuff on there. Here's a few pics of the process.

Old gauge is to the left.

 

[4shorts]

The completed project.

 

[PILOON]

My outside air gauges were designed to monitor the temps inside of freezers.
They have 24" probes and the gauge is 1" X 2" LCD display.
About $2.00 each from china (shipping included)
I hang it outside my window with display on the sill so that I know what to wear that day.
Bought 3 and now need to install one in the tractor.

 

[mjncad]

As usual Paul...too cool for school! :thumbsup: I like the look of the TelTek gauges. They aren't cheap; but what good is cheap Chink crap if it's constantly failing and/or inaccurate.

I see they use a standard phone jack for the sensor cable. My weather station instruments are like that.

Now I have to kid you my friend...are you going to paint the aluminum tube you made black? :laughing:

 

[4shorts]

As usual Paul...too cool for school! :thumbsup: I like the look of the TelTek gauges. They aren't cheap; but what good is cheap Chink crap if it's constantly failing and/or inaccurate.

I see they use a standard phone jack for the sensor cable. My weather station instruments are like that.

Now I have to kid you my friend...are you going to paint the aluminum tube you made black? :laughing:

Thanks Matt. I paid over $40. For a garbage Chinise one that crapped out twice so this one is a real deal considering the quality. It's actuate +- 1 degree. I like the idea of the phone type connection as well.
I thought about painting it black. I had to install the sun visor on my truck that I had painted eariler this week so I really ran out of time but I did polish the aluminum. If I get tired of the shine I'll paint it black. Thanks for commenting :thumbsup:

 

[mjncad]

Having $40 cheap Chi-Com crap conk out constantly can add up real quickly.

 

[varmint]

As is normal for your projects: first class, mil. spec and aviation grade. It occured to me that the polished alum. tube might actually be a better choice- a black finish could heat up in the sun and give you a false reading??

 

[4shorts]

As is normal for your projects: first class, mil. spec and aviation grade. It occured to me that the polished alum. tube might actually be a better choice- a black finish could heat up in the sun and give you a false reading??

Thank you my friend. As for the painting it black you made a very good point and one which I haven't thought of. Very good observation :thumbsup:

 

[brewdog]

4shorts,
Nice work! I'd like to use your idea on my setup. I have an air temp gauge on my Harley that is handy. The camera system you did turned out super too.

 

[4shorts]

4shorts,
Nice work! I'd like to use your idea on my setup. I have an air temp gauge on my Harley that is handy. The camera system you did turned out super too.

Thanks brewdog. My GoldWing came with an outside air temp gauge as well. They are pretty handy for sure. That camera has saved me a few time now with vehicles sneaking up on me and poles jumping in behind me :laughing: Glad you enjoyed seeing this stuff. Thanks for posting :thumbsup: Seasons Greeting.

 

[flyingcow]

excellent install job. Teltek is the brand I see at alot of commercial truck dealers, good units.

 

[4shorts]

excellent install job. Teltek is the brand I see at alot of commercial truck dealers, good units.

Thanks flyingcow (would love to hear the story behind that handle):laughing:

Like yourself I've seen the name Teltek on many commercial vehicles. Great company to deal with and they are truly a made in the USA built product.

Thanks for commenting :thumbsup:

 

[flyingcow]

Thanks flyingcow (would love to hear the story behind that handle):laughing:

Like yourself I've seen the name Teltek on many commercial vehicles. Great company to deal with and they are truly a made in the USA built product.

Thanks for commenting :thumbsup:

I am in the milk hauling business. Only a 1 truck operation. I go around to dairy farms and pick up the raw milk. I incorporated, The Flying Cow, Inc. I haul for a couple of big out of state Co-ops. Name recognition is not a problem when I call.

 

[4shorts]

I am in the milk hauling business. Only a 1 truck operation. I go around to dairy farms and pick up the raw milk. I incorporated, The Flying Cow, Inc. I haul for a couple of big out of state Co-ops. Name recognition is not a problem when I call.

:laughing: I knew there had to be a story there :laughing: Good one too :thumbsup:

My last name is Short and there's 4 of us In the family hence the name 4shorts :laughing: I'm known on other sites as "Wildfire" as well.

 

[mjncad]

I hope Teltek updates their web site to provide more information on their products (e.g. installation manuals, etc). Otherwise they look to make a good product.

 

[srs]

:laughing: I knew there had to be a story there :laughing: Good one too :thumbsup:

My last name is Short and there's 4 of us In the family hence the name 4shorts :laughing: I'm known on other sites as "Wildfire" as well.

Ok Paul, I understand 4shorts (which is cool by the way!) but why "Wildfire", or perhaps I shouldn't ask????? Ha!

 

[4shorts]

I hope Teltek updates their web site to provide more information on their products (e.g. installation manuals, etc). Otherwise they look to make a good product.

Ya I know what you mean Matt. I've email them and never an answer but can always get them on the phone. Maybe using the Internet isn't there strong point and may explain why the Lack of info on there site. I'm not say'en I'm just say'en. :laughing:

Ok Paul, I understand 4shorts (which is cool by the way!) but why "Wildfire", or perhaps I shouldn't ask????? Ha!

Oh man you had to ask didn't ya :laughing: Well years ago I was working on a snowmobile ( today they call them sleds)

Anyway I had the thing lifted up on the back replacing the track and it was in the air for over an hour. This was in the month of January and it was really cold outside but I had the heat in the shop up on bust and I was comfortable.

My buddy was in the shop with me and the shop I had at the time was just a one bay with a pit in it. The sled was hung just above the pit but the cover was on it.

We didn't realize it at the time but the sleds carbs were leaking gas because of the way I had it lifted up. The gas was going down between the boards of the pit and I didn't know it. We did smell gas but we were in the shop and didn't really realize who much there was.

Well when I got the sled finished we put it out and closed the door again and turned the furnace up on bust. I had four prices of square tubing to weld and said to my buddy that I was going to make four tacks and call it a night and reminded him not to look as I struck the arc. He lit a smoke and looked out the garage door window and I proceeded to do the welding.

I welded the first three parts easily but on the forth weld I was kneeling down and the last weld was right on the crack in the cover of the pit and with my welding hood on I started to weld and heard a "puff" sound and felt cold. I pushed up on my hood and noticed the door was up so I said " Tom, close the door man I'm cold". He looked at me as white as a sheet and said " The door just went down the driveway"

I looked around and sure enough the door was gone, the outside wall was pushed out two full feet and the pink insulation that was in the attic was pulled down between the ceiling and the wall. There wasn't a thing left on the benches or the wall. I was completely surrounded by tools that went airborne during the explosion. In shock I asked Tom, what happened? He replied " man I don't know, I was looking out the window when I heard a noise then the door was gone and a pile of fire went over my head and then a Hugh blast of wind".

As all my buddies found out about what happened I got pegged with the name "Wildfire" and it still sticks to this day.

Thinking back. We were lucky we wern't killed 26 years ago when that happened.

Sorry to have had it so long winded

You just had to ask didn't you? :laughing:

 

[srs]

You just had to ask didn't you? :laughing:

Now we know, thanks. Great story and Merry Christmas! Stanley

 

[4shorts]

Now we know, thanks. Great story and Merry Christmas! Stanley

Glad you enjoyed it sir. Merry Christmas to you and yours and everyone here at TBN.

 

[mjncad]

Please see red interspersed comments.

Ya I know what you mean Matt. I've email them and never an answer but can always get them on the phone. Maybe using the Internet isn't there strong point and may explain why the Lack of info on there site. I'm not say'en I'm just say'en. :laughing:

A lot of good small companies have yet to get on-board with the INTERNET and email regarding their products. I've encountered this with a lot of things over the years, with doctors being one of the last bunch to get a clue about the net.

I looked around and sure enough the door was gone, the outside wall was pushed out two full feet and the pink insulation that was in the attic was pulled down between the ceiling and the wall. There wasn't a thing left on the benches or the wall. I was completely surrounded by tools that went airborne during the explosion. In shock I asked Tom, what happened? He replied " man I don't know, I was looking out the window when I heard a noise then the door was gone and a pile of fire went over my head and then a Hugh blast of wind".

Sorry to have had it so long winded

I've lit a few farts in my lifetime; but none like that! :laughing: