Where are your gauges power to?

BlownStangGT

REPEAT

Founding Member

Jan 22, 2002

3,860

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58

Lancaster, PA

Dec 19, 2004

#1

• Dec 19, 2004

• #1

Ok, I have some autometer gauges in my car. Before I ran all the power wires to different fuses. It was a total mess, I just stuck the wire in the fuse socket and pluged the fuse in Anyways, I have pulled all the wiring for gauges/shiftlight, etc out of my car and I want to rewire it all so it is correctly done. I want to know where did you run the power wires for the gauges (lights) to? Thanks

 

M

mackey

Active Member

Jan 25, 2003

1,284

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38

Beverly, Massachusetts

Dec 19, 2004

#2

• Dec 19, 2004

• #2

Stereo for the 12V constant
For the Lunar light gauge they go to the dimmer. I am able to dim my autometers.

 

BlownStangGT

REPEAT

Founding Member

Jan 22, 2002

3,860

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58

Lancaster, PA

Dec 19, 2004

#3

• Dec 19, 2004

• #3

yeah my gauges dimmed to...but I guess what im looking for is like a place to tap into so it looks cleaner and i dont have wires going EVERYWHERE down there

 

Jkstang78

Founding Member

Oct 14, 2002

1,510

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38

long island N.Y.

Dec 19, 2004

#4

• Dec 19, 2004

• #4

I hooked my tach and fuel psi gauge to the light switch, and the rest of the gauges to a switch in the car. This way I could turn those on when I wanted.

 

Black1987Stang

Active Member

Aug 22, 2004

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Jersey Shore

Dec 19, 2004

#5

• Dec 19, 2004

• #5

My oil pressure and water temp are hooked up to the dimmer and my tachlight is hooked to the headlight switch. And the tach power is to the 12v source from the key like mine or you can use the one for the radio.

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

31,179

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Dec 19, 2004

#6

• Dec 19, 2004

• #6

one can choose one fuse and tap power off the back of the fuse block, on the switched side of the fuse (the dead side). run this one wire up to the gauges and then connect the power wires up accordingly (to that one power wire). i would put a fuse on this feed wire (1-3 amp).

as said, people have tapped into the dimmer circuit at the HVAC lighting or headlight switch. one can get key on hot from under the column, the stereo, etc. just check the ratings on whatever circuit you use to ensure you wont overload the circuit (esp if anything else is on the circuit that is not oem).

good luck.

 

M

MusPuppis

New Member

Nov 8, 2004

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Lexington, Ky.

Dec 19, 2004

#7

• Dec 19, 2004

• #7

I have mine spliced into the stereo lead.

If your intending on running several I wouldnt really go that route if you have an aftermarket stereo hooked up though. As Hissin said it can overload the circuit. I only have one gauge hooked up and I run a high end Alpine head unit with no trouble. Those little bulbs dont take much to run but several together could cause you problems.

 

PNY PWR

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Jul 23, 2004

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Wichita, KS

Dec 19, 2004

#8

• Dec 19, 2004

• #8

I just stuck the wire in the fuse socket and pluged the fuse in

Click to expand...

LOL, I do that too

I am able to dim my autometers.

Click to expand...

I use the one fuse for the cluster lights that dims, my boost gauge dims too. It was quicker than getting into the dash to go straight to the switch.

It'd be nice if there were connections in the fuse panel. I know on some older vehicles (like a 78 Chevy p/u I had) there were several male spade connections in the fuse panel.

One could install another fuse panel in the car somewhere for accessory connections I'd think and run it's main power to the solenoid.

 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

15 Year Member

Nov 29, 1999

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Dec 19, 2004

#9

• Dec 19, 2004

• #9

PNY PWR said:

LOL, I do that too

I use the one fuse for the cluster lights that dims, my boost gauge dims too. It was quicker than getting into the dash to go straight to the switch.

It'd be nice if there were connections in the fuse panel. I know on some older vehicles (like a 78 Chevy p/u I had) there were several male spade connections in the fuse panel.

One could install another fuse panel in the car somewhere for accessory connections I'd think and run it's main power to the solenoid.

Click to expand...

yep one could. i think i would rather run the solenoid power through the common terminal in a SPDT relay so the power is switched.

if not mentioned, one can get dimmer function by tapping into the ISO fuse (13, as i recall).

good luck.

 

J

jerry beach

Founding Member

May 20, 2002

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Ocala,FL

Dec 19, 2004

#10

• Dec 19, 2004

• #10

I laid in the floor and was able to access the back of the dimmer switch plug without a problem. I located the correct color and verified it was the dimmer with my test light. Then I deformed a male blade connector on a 14 ga wire and pushed it into the back of the plug beside that teminal. I cable tied it in place so it cant move, and hooked my 2 guage lights to that wire with a wire nut and cable ties. They have never flickered once in years and if I ever removed it for any reason, it would look as if I never worked on it. when I add another guage, all I need to do is remove that wire nut.

 

PNY PWR

New Member

Jul 23, 2004

522

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Wichita, KS

Dec 19, 2004

#11

• Dec 19, 2004

• #11

Best way to splice into a factory wire I have found is these... http://www.tessco.com/products/displaySkus.do?groupId=620&subgroupId=24


Here's some fuse blocks http://www.wiringproducts.com/?target=dept_44.html

 

J

jerry beach

Founding Member

May 20, 2002

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46

Ocala,FL

Dec 19, 2004

#12

• Dec 19, 2004

• #12

PNY PWR said:

Best way to splice into a factory wire I have found is these... http://www.tessco.com/products/displaySkus.do?groupId=620&subgroupId=24


Here's some fuse blocks http://www.wiringproducts.com/?target=dept_44.html

Click to expand...

Those connectors are the most unreliable things I have used. Short of soldering and heat shrink, I like a wire nut and cable tie to keep it from moving, then I wrap it with elec. tape to seal it. Its like a gorilla, ugly but strong.