Bongo Fury

Am I right in thinking that originally there were two options:

-The Haydn Low Coolant alarm
-The Mason temperature alarm

Now, it appears that the TM-2 low coolant alarm combines both features and the latest even has oil pressure. There seem to be various options out there and I'm getting confused. There is even a mark 3 Haydn alarm which fits in the cig socket and has 2 extra ports. Still not sure what to go for. Any help is appreciated.

Is it cheaper/easier to fit the all-in-one system, and has anyone got one fitted - how easy was it ? Finally - do you need to buy the BMW cubby hole kit to fit the TM-2 in?

Cheers

Here is a review of my final choice

ESTC Combo (coolant/temp alarm)
http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/member ... tm#reviews

If you read through the first couple of pages of this thread there's explanations of the differences re Mason & TM2 which may help - http://www.igmaynard.co.uk/bongo/forum/ ... =1&t=34208

Hi thanks for that. I had searched the forums, but couldn't find specifics.

So it seems that the choices are:

-Buy separate Mason and Haydn alarms (£39.95 + £81) = £120.95
-Buy the TM-2 (coolant and temp combined) for £140

I can't really see the additional benefit of the Mason over the TM-2 if you have the coolant alarm fitted. Even so, buying separately seems cheaper. The Haydn is in the Bongo shop but the Mason/TM-s aren't. Is there any sort of club discount? (though I accept the price for the Mason alarm is retained to keep it in production).

Does this all sound correct? Sorry for the numerous questions !!

I wouldn't agree with you that there is no benfit of the mason over the tm2, for the reasons stated in the thread I linked to, they do a slightly different job, but that's just my opinion
No club discount for the mason alarm, personally I think it's very reasonably priced for what it does anyway.

Sorry for all the questions. I am keen to get it right for me before shelling out ££££.

I just mean that in terms of "risk" then so long as I have 1) a coolant alarm and 2) a temp alarm, then that should cover most of the bases without too much expense. I don't think I could justify another type of temp alarm on top - just my opinion of course.

I fully support the price of the Mason - well worth it I'm sure, I was just wondering why they aren't in the Bongo shop. I am keen to get a Mason due the the rave reviews on the forum, but I need to get the "least hassle" to fit option.

How do you set the Mason to alarm at a set point as it doesn't have a digital readout like the TM-2?

PS, just noticed that the Haydn Mark 1 is acutally £75 from his website, wheras the Bongo shop charge £81.???

Gripped wrote:Sorry for all the questions. I am keen to get it right for me before shelling out ££££.

I just mean that in terms of "risk" then so long as I have 1) a coolant alarm and 2) a temp alarm, then that should cover most of the bases without too much expense. I don't think I could justify another type of temp alarm on top - just my opinion of course.

I fully support the price of the Mason - well worth it I'm sure, I was just wondering why they aren't in the Bongo shop. I am keen to get a Mason due the the rave reviews on the forum, but I need to get the "least hassle" to fit option.

How do you set the Mason to alarm at a set point as it doesn't have a digital readout like the TM-2?

Personally, I have a TM2 and would not be without it. Yes, it is a bit more expensive than the Mason, but it was my choice and I'm very pleased with the instrument.
I suppose folk are going to favour the instrument they bought, probably because they are happy with it AND they don't have any experience of the alternative.
It was easy to fit, even for a Dumbo like me - and when I was a little unsure I rang Haydn and he talked me through it, so pretty good service.
The ONLY thing that puts me off a Mason (and you can check through as many posts as you like) is that the prefered scale of measurement seems to be O'clock. Call me old fashioned but I still measure temperature in degree (C or F)

For me you pays your money......... I have a mason and Hi/Lo alarms and I feel that is enough as I would stop before the needle went too far across, but that's me being "Old School"..... but if you want a more precise digi readout or your a gadget fan..... you can have the TM2.....I have nothing against any of the "tools" available.......Take your pick and pays yer money...

This is a often raised question.....there was many moons ago a proposed Fact sheet on all the available alarms (although I was never approached)
I am happy to produce a list of ALL the available gadgets and what they do.
However, before I do, I would like the approval of the MOD's in case I am accused of promoting my own interests.....What you will get is a simple list of alarms and what they do/do not do.

Gripped wrote:PS, just noticed that the Haydn Mark 1 is acutally £75 from his website, wheras the Bongo shop charge £81.???

...ths might explain why the Mason alarm isn't in the Bongo shop. Mason may have decided they can sell (he is a one-man band) as much as they can make, direct to people by word of mouth, and they can keep prices down that way too and build their own customer base.

Haydn will no doubt come on with authoritative answers, but Mk2 (ciggie lighter) is discontinued and maybe Mk3 too (I thought I read him saying he was no longer doing the LCA/HCA/TM2 combo any more but no doubt he'll clarify that).

On setting thresholds, whether it is Mason or TM2 you'd have to make your own decision on where to set it as there is no authoritative data on what temp the alarm should be set to trigger at anyway (although that may change if sufficient users fit TM2 sensors in the same place and send their data in for collation). But for now, you are looking at temp. trends on your engine and trying to spot anything unusual (with the alarm to help). The problem there is if your coolant system is already inefficient when you fit the device, you might think that was 'normal'. More (TM2) data IS needed.

Other points.

* The Mason relies on there being coolant in the system as it uses the std. Bongo coolant temp sensor (it is the std gauge undamped effectively) so will be no good if there is coolant loss. But that shouldn't matter as the LCA will have alerted you beforehand anyway.

* The Mason is v. compact, using the std temp gauge, so there need be nothing visible in the cockpit if the alarm unit is hidden. This is attractive to me as I didn't want TM2 stuck awkwardly on my panel.

I think the TM2 is probably the more useful device ESPECIALLY if/when enough peeps have them in std. sensor position and temp. data has been collated. And there is now another option, and Apole (Andy) has bought and fitted one. It is an engine block sensor just likethe TM2 but the readout unit is panel switch size and get be user switched to give you both engine block temp and battery voltage. Not sure it has an alarm though and the 2-digit display has to be interpreted. So the TM2 is still best I think if only it was more elegant to look at

PS - I see Haydn is now online so I'm sure he'll say if I've got stuff above wrong!

I think all the above just shows why we need a FACT sheet on what is and is not available and exactly what each in fact does ond how to use it, It would make a good "sticky" for all to see.

haydn callow wrote:I think all the above just shows why we need a FACT sheet on what is and is not available and exactly what each in fact does ond how to use it, It would make a good "sticky" for all to see.

...and get everyone mounting their TM2s in the (best) std position and build authoritative data so that 'normal' ranges can be quoted with increasing confidence.

Are you really doing an oil pressure gauge or is that just the TM2s other feature, using the std. sensor?

There can be no exact or authoritative setting across the board for the TM-2 or any other high temp alarm. Someone who has a 100% cooling system will need to set it lower than another who has a perfectly acceptable but older system. Also if you run with 5 passengers rather than one or if you drive at 60mph or 70mph as the norm.
So ..if I said set it for 100C this would be to high for our Bongo (wife driving at no more than 60mph) whereas Joe Bloggs who drives at 90 mph everywhere would have it constantly going off, as would we when towing the C'van..
So the advice is.....fit the sensor where recommended (so we do get some "rough" feedback).....drive around as normal and note the highest temp recorded....set the alarm 4/5 degrees above.
'fraid thats the best we can do for now.......if we were all starting out with a level field then perhaps we could be more precise (driving style would still determin where you set it though)
You could argue that we all set it at the higest acceptable temp all round.....this would give less warning that somthing was not normal for the more sedate drivers.
The TM-2 combo is and always has been available as has the HCA add on.
The Mk 2 & 3 are discontinued. Just 1 Mk 2 left.

The TM-2 has always had a oil pressure feed which taps into the Standard oil light circuit...so...whenever the oil light is on, so will the audible alarm within the TM-2, downside of connecting this is when you switch on the light/alarm beeps until you are up to pressure...bloody annoying....I put a switch in mine so I only switch this feature on once I'm up and running. Other's don't bother connecting it.

If I do a fact sheet as a WORD doc with Photos...can some Mod edit approve it and then post it ??

haydn callow wrote:There can be no exact or authoritative setting across the board for the TM-2 or any other high temp alarm. Someone who has a 100% cooling system will need to set it lower than another who has a perfectly acceptable but older system. Also if you run with 5 passengers rather than one or if you drive at 60mph or 70mph as the norm.
So ..if I said set it for 100C this would be to high for our Bongo (wife driving at no more than 60mph) whereas Joe Bloggs who drives at 90 mph everywhere would have it constantly going off, as would we when towing the C'van..
So the advice is.....fit the sensor where recommended (so we do get some "rough" feedback).....drive around as normal and note the highest temp recorded....set the alarm 4/5 degrees above.
'fraid thats the best we can do for now.......if we were all starting out with a level field then perhaps we could be more precise (driving style would still determin where you set it though)
You could argue that we all set it at the higest acceptable temp all round.....this would give less warning that somthing was not normal for the more sedate drivers.
The TM-2 combo is and always has been available as has the HCA add on.
The Mk 2 & 3 are discontinued. Just 1 Mk 2 left.

I take your point but is it really that impossible to get any 'feel' for what is usual and what is unusual? I'd have thought that if you:

1) ensure that users you gather data from all have identical TM2 sensor fitting (and make sure that position is the most stable one possible, but you've already gone through all that and know what the right position is)
2) Decide what data to gather (temp at 65mph on flat surface, standard load; temp in hilly country std load; etc. and always with a rough indication of ambient air temp)
2) gather data from enthusiastic users
3) offer data for general consumption with usual disclaimers

...then anyone who is not a complete numpty will find that data useful. We're not talking about the alarm setting here, just data that might allow an owner to say "Hmmm - thats odd, my TM2 is showing temperatures at the top of or beyond the range established from data for other equivalent users. I wonder if I should be concerned about my system." They can then look for other indicators to try and identify anything that might be (about to be) causing a problem.