All gauge items are obtained directly from the engine and transmission,
and are digitally accurate. In general, the VMS is much more reliable and
accurate than the
conventional dash gauges.
Most gauges are self-explanatory. Some, such as Accelerator Position,
are useful only in certain troubleshooting situations. Some duplicate the dash
gauges, but are more accurate and precise than the conventional gauge.
Others are truly unique, such as Torque.
Engine Coolant Temperature
When driving in hot weather and wor ing the engine hard, we
recommend using this gauge in Graphic Mode. Most engine experts agree that
you should start “managing” your temperature when it reaches about 210
degrees. From that point on your goal should be to stabilize the temperature
before it reaches 225 or higher. In Graphic mode, a flat histogram indicates the
temperature is stable. (Engines models vary somewhat in their tolerance for
heat. Chec your engine manual for details on your engine.)
Horsepower and Torque
These gauges show the calculated engine output. The VMS cannot
compensate for fans, belts, and other parasitic loads on the engine, and this
value may be thrown off by a malfunction in the engine. But it does provide an
effective indicator of engine performance. Of the two, Torque is more indicative
of motive force and efficiency. When wor ing the engine, try to maximize your
torque output. At very low RPMS these values cannot be accurately calculated.
Under these conditions both of these gauges will read zero.
Rolling MPG, Instantaneous MPG, Recent MPG, and Power Factor
Instantaneous MPG indicates the fuel economy calculated on a
moment-by-moment basis. It generally fluctuates too rapidly to be useful for
guiding your driving, so the VMS calculates a Rolling MPG. Rolling MPG
considers fuel consumption over roughly a one minute time interval, while
ignoring very low speed driving and idling. It provides a very good indication of
your current fuel economy, and is a useful tool for adjusting your driving to get
the best fuel economy. Recent MPG calculates mileage over the course of
approximately 20 minutes giving a better overall picture of trip progress. Power
Factor indicates the efficiency with which the engine is converting fuel to power.
Although it is a good indicator of pure engine efficiency, it is generally not
correlated to overall vehicle efficiency, since it does not consider air resistance,
rolling resistance, and parasitic loads.
Unsupported Gauges and Zero Readings
Not all engines support all gauges, and some gauges require additional
sensors or accessories that may be available as aftermar et installations.
These gauges will show a reading of Zero all the time. These gauges can be
removed by using the Scan Preference Screen (described on page 12), and
setting them to “Hide”. Rarely a bug in the engine ECM may cause a zero
reading in an important gauge such as Turbo Boost Pressure. This can
generally be fixed by an engine technician. Consult your engine manufacturer
or SilverLeaf Electronics if you have any questions about whether your engine
supports a particular gauge.
Programming Screens
Clock Set Screen
Press the PROG twice to activate
the Cloc Set Screen. This screen allows
you to set the date and time, and set and
activate the alarm cloc .
To set the time, turn the KNOB
until “TIME” is highlighted. Press the
KNOB, then turn the KNOB to adjust the hour. Press the KNOB, then
turn it to adjust the minute. Then press it and turn it to adjust the AM/PM value.
Press the KNOB a final time to return to the “TIME” position.
Setting the date follows exactly the same process, as does setting the
alarm cloc . To use the alarm cloc you must set the alarm time and also set
the “ALARM SET” value to “SET”.
The alarm cloc will sound at the appropriate time, but obviously the
VMS must be on at that moment. If the VMS is turned off and on again, the
alarm cloc will remember its status and will sound at its appointed time. The
alarm will sound until any ey is pressed on the VMS. After sounding, the Alarm
Set value will return to OFF.
VMS Preferences Screen
Press PROG once to activate the
VMS Preferences Screen. Here is where a
variety of parameters can be adjusted to
match your coach configuration and
personal preferences.
Use the KNOB to adjust each
item. Turn the nob to highlight the
parameter name, press the KNOB, and turn the KNOB again to adjust the
value. Press the KNOB again to return to the parameter name and the setting
is complete.
Scanning Speed
This is the number of seconds that the Scan Screen will spend on
each gauge when in Scan Mode. A lower number will ma e it scan faster.
Brightness - High and Low
Press the BRIGHT button to adjust brightness on the screen. There are
4 different brightness settings.
Palettes
This switches the bac ground color for better viewing in different
conditions.
