Redarc Gauges product test

I had been looking to fit a range of gauges to my Nissan Patrol and had been surfing the net when Redarc launched its comprehensive range of white-faced gauges onto the Australian market. What timing!

I’m a bit of a fan of Redarc gear; it’s Aussie-designed and manufactured in South Australia and has a great reputation, so what’s not to like?

There are about a dozen gauges in the line-up and I ordered two units (each with three different readouts) plus the extra accessories to get them to work, including an Enhanced Lighting Controller to dim or brighten the gauges for night driving.

5

The Redarc gauges arrive ready for plug ’n’ play.

The gauges included a Redarc dual voltage gauge, which constantly monitors the main battery and the auxiliary battery. It also gives a digital readout of the output amperage of the alternator. For this to work you require an (optional) hall effect current sensor.

The second Redarc gauge I had fitted, by the crew at Outback 4WD in Bayswater, Victoria, monitors the turbo with a boost readout and exhaust gas temperature (EGT) display. This kit comes with everything that’s required, including probes, control units and connectors. A digital readout of engine oil pressure on the same gauge completes the display, though it requires an optional oil gauge sender.

Both gauges are mounted in a pillar pod, keeping them out of the way but still easily readable.

5

Wiring to volt gauge connects easily.

While wiring these two units is a relatively undemanding job, it can be fiddly and very time-consuming as the wiring has to be run from the batteries, the alternator and the sensors, back through the firewall to the pillar pod.

The mounting of the EGT probe in the engine exhaust can demand some specialist gear and experience. Not to mention welding; we had to replace the EGT probe-mounting nut on the exhaust with the one supplied. After a few unsuccessful phone calls to all known suppliers there was nothing more we could do other than remove the old mounting nut and replace it.

5

The big job was running all the wiring from engine bay to dash.

If you do the installation yourself, it’s best to lay out all your gauge kits and wiring and then read the instructions carefully. Then work methodically through the process. At times you will have wires seemingly running everywhere. A second pair of hands comes in handy to run wiring through the firewall, not to mention a second pair of eyes to keep track of everything.

We’ve had these gauges fitted for a few months now and they’ve worked splendidly well with absolutely no issues. It’s great to have a continuous and accurate readout of battery voltage and alternator current, as well as EGT, turbo boost and engine oil pressure. I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how cool EGT temps are in a wide range of ambient temperatures and operating conditions. I also never realised how much oil pressure fluctuated. You live and learn!

5

EGT probe when mounted.

For peace of mind, you can’t go past a set of good gauges, and these are as good as vehicle-monitoring gauges get. The range from Redarc also includes various temperature, oil pressure, boost, voltage and combination gauges – some of them come with a programmable warning (an audible beep and the backlight colour changing to red).

Just the thing to alert you to high coolant or exhaust gas temps, or low oil pressure. The backlighting is programmable to 13 different colours so you can select one that best suits your vehicle’s OE lighting.

RATED
We say: Excellent product; well made, reliable and easy to read.
RRP: From $170 to $407 each; depending on gauge, readouts and options.
Info: www.redarc.com.au