help on installing gauges

[NOMIEZVR4]

i just purchased an oil pressure gauge and a oil temp gauge. i have installed the senders but is there a vfaq on installing the gauges and wires. i am kidna of confused on the instructions i had gotten. i got 3a racing gauges. any help....thanks

 

[DSMbish90]

for the oil prs....mechanical guage, or electric?

 

[NOMIEZVR4]

its electric

 

[DSMbish90]

darn, well i wish i could help u.. sorry.

 

[NOMIEZVR4]

how would i install the gauges if they wre mechanical??

 

[hoffman]

theres 3 prongs on the back of the guages right? 1 for power (12v), 1 for ground, and one from the sending unit. there maybe 2 more wires for the lightbulb (if it has one).

i run the power to all my guages off the 12v source to the cigarette lighter. i also use the ground from there too. the sending wire should be a no brainer.

good luck

 

[NOMIEZVR4]

what kind of line do i lead from the senders to the gauge itself?

 

[Enigma_Man]

It shouldn't be that difficult... You need a place to put the gauges: a gauge pod or something.

You have power, ground, and signal wires coming out of the back of the gauges. The power wire goes to power obviously, the ground wire goes to ground obviously, and the signal wire goes to the sender.

I wired up my gauge off of the stock gauge lighting power. That way, if I dim the interior lights, my aftermarket gauges also dim.

I have no idea what kind of car you have, but if you have a 1G anyway, pull off the fascia from around the gauges, and you'll see the wires coming out of the back of the lights dimmer. Tap the power/ground from there. You can either cut the wires and solder them back together, or use crimpers, or a "vampire" connection, which doesn't require cutting.

You can use any kind of wire really, as long as it's reasonable size. I use "appliance wiring" wire from Radio Shack. Somewhere on the order of 20 gauge should be just fine. Do yourself a favor, and get a cheap multimeter while you're at the Rad-Shack, so you can figure out which wires to use (If you don't have one already).

Hope that helps some,
-Jesse

 

[NOMIEZVR4]

thanxs alot....THATS EXACTLY WHAT I NEEDED!!