Temperature switch 1966 galaxie

[Hipopinto]

Hey all

I have a simple question

I am going to get my galaxie rewired this fall and I have a painless wiring harness for it along with a Dakota digital replacement dash cluster

My FE does not have the factory temperature switch installed but I’m thinking to use it

My question is “how does it work?”

On my dash I have a “red” window that says “Hot” And a “blue” window that says “cold”

If I use that switch I’m assuming it will read cold u til the engine is up to operating temperature but is there a “dead” space between cold and hot? Meaning it’s cold until it’s up to temp but cold will go off and then read hot when it’s overheating?

I have never used these and I’m only thinking about using them because the wiring harness has provisions for them

Thanks guys
Dave

[jayb]

My 67 Galaxie beater had one of those setups, with both the HOT and COLD lights.  There was certainly a dead band between those two indications; in fact here in Minnesota, the only time I saw the COLD light come one was when the temperature was below zero.  I don't know anything about how those are wired, but running normally neither one of those lights would come on.

[cjshaker]

in fact here in Minnesota, the only time I saw the COLD light come one was when the temperature was below zero.  I don't know anything about how those are wired, but running normally neither one of those lights would come on.

My '65 has the "cold" light, and it comes on every time I start it. It stays on for a few minutes, then goes out. I've not looked into how they operate or how they're wired though. It seems to me that the smart thing to do is to ignore it 

I kept the factory idiot lights and just ran a simple aftermarket 2 gauge setup with water temp and oil pressure.

[GerryP]

The magic is in the temperature sender.  The sender is a two-post design.  One post for hot, one for cold.  It operates just like every other temperature sender that operates a light.  I have one in my '67 Fairlane.  I can't say for sure what the calibration is on the sender, but the "cold" light will illuminate on mine even in the summer.  It lasts for only a minute or so in the summer temps, so just guessing roughly that it extinguishes around 100 degrees or so.

[jayb]

Probably mine wasn't working right, based on what you guys are saying.  Of course, I only paid $75 for the car... 

[Falcon67]

I'm working on getting a data acq system for my race car - not sure what might be in the Dakota Digital offering, but I would be looking to possibly implement that in software if at all possible.  Usually these digital systems can trigger relay outputs based on certain parameters.  If the dash management system offers that, that would be the way to do it. 

[Hipopinto]

Man I love the board!

Thanks guys my questions are answered!

Dave