Low Oil Presure Buzzer

[Roscoe]

Back then I was writing articles for Kit Car Mag. I wrote one on the Tri-Alert but it did not get published. I had a small garage fire on my bench that ruined part of the housing for the Tri-Alert I had. Autometer sent me a new one. I do have the old one and it appears to be fine except for the housing. If anyone wants it just pay shipping. You could probably get or build a housing for it.

The damage is isolated to the cover and one end of the housing but the guts and wiring look fine.

Large pic at http://www.priveye.com/images/TriAlert.jpg

Roscoe

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Wbulk

Now I am looking at a product called an Audio Oil Presure Alert Relay.
Wayne

Like this one from www.briggsmade.com ??

[trularin]

Should have figured Pat would have one.

[Wbulk]

Yes, but I don't like the .5 second buzzer/horn activation every time you start the engine. That's what I'm trying to get away from.

[Roscoe]

Why don't you use a light?

[Wbulk]

I am, but in the bright light of day I may not see it.

[Roscoe]

I have a dash light and one of these on top of the dash pointing at me

[Wbulk]

I guess you wouldn't miss that.
I'm going back and looking at what GAS64, (Gary) said. I'm looking at the "I" terminal on the valtage regulartor. It was used as a charge warning light. I pulled out my old Motors manuals from the sixties when I was in High Schools and was looking at diagrams. Brought back memories from auto shop. Man I'm getting old!
Wayne

[Wbulk]

Update:
Did some research today. I believe Gaz64 (Gary) is on the right track. I found a U.S. patent issued to Susuki Motors in 1993 using a sophisticated circuit off the S terminal to active a very accurate oil pressure warning light. It has several diodes and tranisters that I can't duplicate. I do think Gary's option is viable.

Gary, I have a old style aternator with a separate voltage regulator. I didn't intend on wiring the "I" terminal with a warning light. Is this the terminal you suggested tying in the Buzzer to? I could run a wire with a 15 omh resister if needed fron the ignition switch to the "I" terminal. More detail please.
Wayne

[Gaz64]

Wayne,

I'm not sure on your application since I haven't experimented with external regs.

All of my cars run internal regs, my current Datsun project car is external reg but will be converted to internal reg.

The relay I operated via the alternator warning lamp wire was my design some 15 years ago
when I told one of my pesky neighbours I was going to make my car start remotely.

The look on his face was priceless.

Even had neutral safety as stick shift gearbox via the neutral switch.

And handbrake cutout if somebody else thought they could drive it off.

[trularin]

Gary, think about that for a moment. 15 Years isn't that long ago, Are you sure it wasn't 25 years ago? That might have impressed your neighbor. Just a bit of humor.

Wayne, you might want to do a little experiment with the alternator as you could get a loud buzzer for oil and charging failures if you work it right. You do not want it buzzing if you are at low idle.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by trularin

Wayne, you might want to do a little experiment with the alternator as you could get a loud buzzer for oil and charging failures if you work it right. You do not want it buzzing if you are at low idle.

That $30 3-second 12v relay is starting to look pretty good.

[Wbulk]

Gary, thanks for the update.

Patrickt, you may be right in the end, but I want to pursue this avenue for now. When I read that Susuki patent I realized it really solves a lot of the problems. This may have to wait for awhile as I am still early in my build. Just trying to think ahead.
I would think Cobra owners would want a buzzer as a warning for low oil pressure. A lot of boats and all planes have them because peoples lives are on the line. If an owner ruins an old rare engine and the wife finds out, I would suppose their life may be on the line to. Thanks.
Wayne

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Wbulk

I would think Cobra owners would want a buzzer as a warning for low oil pressure.

Wayne, to be honest with you, the only thing that would really save me would be an AccuSump (which I don't have) plus buzzer and light. I look at my gauges from time to time while I'm driving, but if all of a sudden I lost oil pressure (maybe some sort of pump failure) I would not see it on the gauge, and I don't think I would hear a buzzer over my pipes -- and if I did, I couldn't think fast enough to do something to save my engine anyway. I know me; if I heard that buzzer go off I would first think "Now what the hell is that? Oh yeah, it's my oil pressure buzzer -- WTF? My oil pressure gauge says zero! I better pull off." By that time my brain connected with my foot and fingers I will have probaby fried my engine.

[RedBarchetta]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I know me; if I heard that buzzer go off I would first think "Now what the hell is that? Oh yeah, it's my oil pressure buzzer -- WTF? My oil pressure gauge says zero! I better pull off." By that time my brain connected with my foot and fingers I will have probaby fried my engine.

The same principle holds true with a radar detector. Half the time I hear an X or K band (very common and usually caused by automatic door openers at shopping centers), I typically find myself looking at the display before thinking about braking. KA band on the highway (CHP)? QUICK BRAKES or it's too late...you have to instinctively react or you're toast. Same holds true with any audible device to warn you about low oil pressure. But I suppose something is better than nothing.

-Dean

[Wbulk]

Good points gentlemen. It really is all about time. I believe the more notice you have the more time to react, which increases the odds of less damage done. I ran a shop rears ago and an employee failed to refill an almost new Crown Vic with oil. He drove it about 1 1/2 miles and burnt up the engine. He never saw the red light on the dash until the engine was making noise.
For me it's about knowing sooner than later. Is the damage just to the rod bearings or is there a rod through the block. The buzzer I have is pretty loud and annoying.
Wayne

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RedBarchetta

...you have to instinctively react or you're toast.

There are only a few things that I do well instinctively... and reacting to a low pressure oil buzzer ain't one of them.

[Wbulk]

I am wiring my car now so I just wanted to report what I decided. Gas64 (Gary) had a really good idea with hooking the buzzer to the "I" terminal on the voltage regulator but I believe there would be times the buzzer would sound for a just a second or two until oil pressure built up.
I decided to go with a device called a "delay on make timer" by Amperite. You can adjust the time delay from .1-30 seconds and it will flow 2 amps. This will allow me to start the car and give enough time to build oil pressure before the buzzer sounds. Then pressure is built and the oil pressure switch opens (no ground no buzzer). When driving if I lose oil pressure the buzzer will sound after a few seconds. I will then add a switch under the dask to shut the buzzer off if I am working on the car with key on.

[Gunner]

There's no need for an expensive delay relay or anything as complex as a timer circuit. There is a much simpler way to add a delay to a buzzer (or light), needing only a handful of parts costing a few dollars. It would be about the size and shape of an inline fuse holder. If you're not already committed to one of the above solutions, I can post a diagram.

[RedBarchetta]

Originally Posted by Wbulk

When driving if I lose oil pressure the buzzer will sound after a few seconds.

Then what's the point? A few seconds is enough to say sayonara to your bearings. If it's instant-on then it might help you when cornering and oil slosh causes the issue. But any delay, IMHO, defeats the purpose of having a warning system.

-Dean