Madmax, what kind of amplifier would be used? What other parts?

 

speaking in general terms.

 

i think we need a write up.

 

I'm just givin ya ----.

 

http://megasquirt.sourceforge.net/extra/egt.html

Supposedly works well. It very well may be close in price to the premade option when all is said and done though.

 

Actually those amps are pretty good. They have temp compensation for the amp junction.

 

Okay, got a good amp, now does it matter what kind of type K thermocouple is used, are some better than others? Do traditional gauges, like an autometer egt, take 0-5v and is 0v=0C, 5v=1000C ideal?

 

Traditional EGT gauges are meant to connect directly to the thermocouple and read those low voltages. The conversion to 0-5v is for interfacing them with an ECU or LM-1 for datalogging purposes.

The only real difference between K-type probes is the amount of heat shielding and probe length. Heat shielding makes them handle higher temps, but have slower response times.
Aircraft spruce has a pretty good selection of probes, and they are pretty reasonably priced.
http://aircraftspruce.com/menus/in/p...nders_egt.html

 

So what makes EGT gauge and sensor combos typically so expensive ($150+)? A thermocouple is $30-60 and a guage to pick up the low voltage reading should be $75ish.
edit: Maybe it's just autometer gauges that are so expensive... the aircraft ones on that website are decently priced.

 

AutoSHIT guages. I've had no luck with accuracy of their boost guages, neither has any of my local friends. They all will show 1-2 psi with the engine off. My friends autoshit EGT on his cummins truck sticks occasionally. Don't buy autoshit.