Boost gauge wiring

[bomper04]

I know there has been numerous posts about boost gauges and intalls but the gauge I got has three wires to be connected. red, orange and black. one goes to the 12v lighting, the other, ground and one goes to 12v ignition..that's the part I don't get. where do I tap in for the 12v ignition, and is that even necessary because if there's already 12v power running to power the lights on the gauge, what's the need for the 12v ignition..I'm a bit retarded about electrical and explanations/comments would be more than helpful

 

[cruisintalonawd]

What gauge do you have......and if it was new didn't it come with instructions?????

 

[nfernotalon]

I just wired mine in to my stereo and works fine, one is so it turns on when you turn your car on and the other is the power to it from the battery..

 

[bomper04]

it did come with directions but it didn't tell me where to tap in for my sources.

 

[bomper04]

nfernotalon-you don't happen to have pics do you? did you solder or just use crimp caps to do the connections..

 

[nfernotalon]

No I dont have pics but its easy theres two wires that are thicker then the rest and then just your ground, if the gauge stays on when you shut your car off and take the key out, switch the two wires, I just wrapped mine with electrical tape nice and tight..

 

[snowborder714]

Which specific gauge did you get?

If you need a 12v ignition source, use either the radio or cigarette lighter. Use a multimeter set to volts and see which plug in the back of the cigarette lighter (I believe it'll be the one in the center) or which pin in the radio harness gives 0v with the key out/in the off position and then 12v with the key in the On position.

Then you can either use a constant 12v light source for the lighting or tap into the dimmer so it'll be controlled with the factory dimmer switch. And make sure you have a good ground.

Solder all connections and cover with heat shrink and/or electrical tape. Don't use crimps.

 

[Calan]

There should or be one or two unused slots in your lower driver's side fuse block that have ignition power. You can use a spade terminal and easily tap in there. Not sure where I saw the diagram, but it's floating around somewhere. Search for ignition power.

The "lighting" wire usually just taps into the dash light circuit, so that your gauge illumination can be dimmed along with your factory gauges. But as Brian said... if you don't care if it dims or not, you can run it off of 12 volts. (probably the same line as the power wire, but not sure if it would load down the gauge or not. I always hook it into the dimmer).

Maybe you should contact the manufacturer to be safe, if you are unsure

 

[hsk8te2006]

The easiest 12v "ignition" source (the least cutting/stripping wires, etc.), is to tap into the blue wire behind your radio. It sees current whenever the key is in the acc or on position.

Most gauges will have their illumination turn on and off based on when your parking or headlights are on. If you want one dimmed, tap into a wire for any switch or dimmed light (I THINK the cigarette lighter is dimmed). If you want one that is not dimmed, tap into the light for the ashtray.

In addition, I recommend you place a switch in the "ignition" power line so you can quickly kill any gauges you may have installed if you get pulled over (trust me... you don't want an afetrmarket gauge glaring in an officer's face). One of the easiest places to mount a switch that can be reached without having to lean down (a cop would spot this and be suspicious) is literally on top of, or in frot of, the lever for the tilt steering release. Just go with a push-button DC toggle switch from home depot, and you can just reach down, press the button and it'll turn the gauge off right away.

 

[kenamond]

There's a 2g tech article for wiring the gauge light to the dimmer. If you follow it, you don't have to run wires all the way to the center console to get power that's on the dimmer circuit. I don't know about the ignition wire, but you might just be able to twist that one together with the red so that it comes on whenever you turn the lights on (someone with more electrical knowledge should correct me if I'm wrong on that).

And then you can use the dimmer knob to the left of the steering wheel to kill all dash lights if you're worried about a cop seeing it.

I followed that tech article and had absolutely no problems doing mine (but mine only had 2 wires).

Another thing to keep in mind is that if you plan on running more gauges, keep the wires you add long enough to just yank them back into reach and splice in the other gauge lights (I have the spare wire coiled and zip-tied under the dash so that they're out of the way).

 

[burbage2001]

I used the cigarette lighter and it works great and it was an easy install.

 

[hondab16]

i also wired mine into my ignition switch causing it to turn on when the keys turned

 

[93laser1g]

i wouldnt connect to the dimmer. it made the switch go out so i replaced it with a brand new switch and it burnt it out again so i disconnected the wires and got another switch from a junkyard this time and it has been okay every since. try the cigarette lighter like the op said my works fine like this

 

[zcoh2gdsm]

connect the 12v to the radio, ground anywhere metal and illumination to the headlight fuse.

 

[airmail96]

The wiring sounds like a Prosport Gauge, I actually have the same gauge my wiring was made easy since the power had already been tapped for a different boost gauge, but I got power from a spare slot on the fuse panel.

 

[renovatdkitchen]

connect the 12v to the radio, ground anywhere metal and illumination to the headlight fuse.

Hi,
How would one connect it to the headlight fuse? (just wondering). Would the cigarette lighter illuminator not work? (or any other center console light)

 

[LiquidX]

By using a fuse tap.
Cooper Bussmann/ATM fuse tap converts one into two fusible circuits - 10 Amps maximum on added circuit (BP-HHH-RP) | Fuse and Accessories | AutoZone.com

 

[renovatdkitchen]

Ah. Gotcha! I remember looking up the fuse taps, but until now didn't get them. Sounds perfect. Thank you very much