Sensor upgrade for ak 900

[kamersoutdoor]

Please can someone post details on modifying the temp sensors for the AK's.
I know it has been talked about here, but I don't have the patience to scan through the 250 page digi-cool thread.
Maybe we could get some of you guys who have accomplished this deed to share on a specific thread.
Thanks

[jpsmith1cm]

What modifications, exactly, are you thinking of?

[JTCHVAC]

I got the contact cement, 2'' aluminum spring clamps from Harbor Freight, along with heat shrink tubing for marking one of the wires with red for the high side, and for the connections that needed to be soildered at each end of the wire. I used shrink tubing instead of using electrical tape. I got the 6.5'' attenuating dubbing cable from radio shack. I got the Bernzomatic butane micro flame torch from Home Depot, it was perfect for this project. For the clamps I drilled out the center of the clamp where the temp sensor is so it could be somewhat more flush mounted instead of sticking up so high, then used the contact cement to mount in place.

[knave]

I got the contact cement, 2'' aluminum spring clamps from Harbor Freight, along with heat shrink tubing for marking one of the wires with red for the high side, and for the connections that needed to be soildered at each end of the wire. I used shrink tubing instead of using electrical tape. I got the 6.5'' attenuating dubbing cable from radio shack. I got the Bernzomatic butane micro flame torch from Home Depot, it was perfect for this project. For the clamps I drilled out the center of the clamp where the temp sensor is so it could be somewhat more flush mounted instead of sticking up so high, then used the contact cement to mount in place.

Wouldn't it be possible to do this without soldering??

Just remove the sensor from the factory strap, and insert it into the Harbor Freight Clamp? I am sure there was a good reason for soldering, I just missed it.

[itsiceman]

knave Those had the old wiring and guys were going to a different wire between the clamp handle and plug so a splice needed to be made.

What are you trying to do kamersoutdoor?
Seen many different mods.
Basically.....Two wires per sensor no polarity if cutting.....limited only by your imagination.

[hvac17011]

I was thinking of getting an extra set of sensor. I was going to put female plug on ak900 side. I then could use Cooper sensors. I then was going to make a pipe clamp with male plug. Of course I would have extra sensor in case I screwed it up. I just need to buy the thing. I never buy anything unless I have it in my head it will work

[hvac17011]

Does anyone know what kind of sensor will work. If I have a ntc sensor will that work???

[knave]

Does anyone know what kind of sensor will work. If I have a ntc sensor will that work???

Cooper temp sensors work fine. It can't be a thermocouple sensor, it has to be a thermistor... and if the ohms curve matches up to digicool or coopers sensor, you should be fine. Good Luck

[jpsmith1cm]

For market dudes, CPC sensors work

[kamersoutdoor]

knave Those had the old wiring and guys were going to a different wire between the clamp handle and plug so a splice needed to be made.

What are you trying to do kamersoutdoor?
Seen many different mods.
Basically.....Two wires per sensor no polarity if cutting.....limited only by your imagination.

Would like to maybe go with the headphone plug style and a more durable wire. I guess I'm just trying to figure out what has worked for others.

[kamersoutdoor]

Will these work?

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/ELI...ZY4?Pid=search

I know nothing here, so please bare with me.
What are the ohm ratings for digi's sensors.

[itsiceman]

No those are PTC Thermistors
You are looking for 10,000 Ω NTC Thermistors

[kamersoutdoor]

Thanks Ice

[JTCHVAC]

Wouldn't it be possible to do this without soldering??

Just remove the sensor from the factory strap, and insert it into the Harbor Freight Clamp? I am sure there was a good reason for soldering, I just missed it.

I dont see how it would be possable to not solder the connections. Soldering the conncections is the best thing to do.

Yes remove the sensor from the factory strap and insert it into the clamp after moding the clamp so the sensor is more flush mounted. I replaced the wired because I thought the original wire was not strong enough, so I used those headphone style wires that had a piece of insulation around them all ready for strength.

[JTCHVAC]

I was thinking of getting an extra set of sensor. I was going to put female plug on ak900 side. I then could use Cooper sensors. I then was going to make a pipe clamp with male plug. Of course I would have extra sensor in case I screwed it up. I just need to buy the thing. I never buy anything unless I have it in my head it will work

My first try at this mod was male to female 3.5mm plug connections. This did not work out at all. When I had it hooked up this way all the sensor info was MIA. When I removed the male to female connctions it worked fine again. Someone was telling me about how those connctions are noise cancling connections or when put together ground out in a way. This is how I understood it anyway. Also fould out from another thread this only has an impact on the AK-900, and not the 1250. If anyone finds a way to do male to female connections please post pics so I cant follow.

[hvac17011]

Are you saying you cannot use the Cooper 1/8 male mono plug and install a female plug close to ak900

[JTCHVAC]

Are you saying you cannot use the Cooper 1/8 male mono plug and install a female plug close to ak900

Im just saying that when I used what I have in the pic below it didnt work. I had the female out of the manifold then male plugging into that, then a 6ft piece of wire, and at the end of the wire was the stock sensor.

[dcoolair]

What about the panel mount jacks at radio shack. They shouldn't have any circuitry inside to cause that problem. You would just have to be willing to drill a hole in the digicool to mount them. Put it on the bottom so rain doesnt have a place to enter.

I dont know if it would work for sure but Id rather have the jacks on the bottom. One on each side. Seems like it would be less strain on the wires.

USB jacks might work too but probably harder to mount the female to the digicool.

[hvac17011]

I don't even have a ak900 yet but I had Brenda send me a spare plug. I wanted to come out of plug. I then was going to install 1/8" female plugs. I then could plug my coopers in. I then was going to come up with a clamp and install male plugs.It doesnt sound like that would work.I guess I should just buy it first

[dcoolair]

You saying they sell spare plugs for the ak900? That s**it ticks me off. I wouldnt have taken the plug off of my velcro straps had I known that. Starting to feel like a circus.