oil temp combo gauge bench testing, what am I doing wrong (question answered) next: calibrate the gauge Options

[malcolm2]

I have had this gauge for a while. I also found the complete taco plate, sender etc... to set it up. I decided to test it. I tested the sender a while back in hot water and remember getting various readings as the temp increased.

I pulled out my 12v powered drill battery, put 12v + on the + terminal of the gauge and the - on the - of the gauge. ( you can't see the - wire in the picture, but it is there)

The gauge moved to where it is in the picture without the sender even being connected. It did not move once the sender was connected.

Inside the temp gauge are the following #s. Far left 30, at the start of the red line 156.7 and the end of the red line 170 *C

The top of the paper is what is stamped on each face of the hex and the gauge part # has been edited to what you see in the picture.

1. why is the gauge moving at room temp with or with out the sender?
2. do I have this thing hooked up right? any alternate testing suggestions?
3. do I have a matched sender & gauge?