well i just bought a few gauges, but i want to know what the best way to wire them up is. i want them to come on and go off when i turn the car on so i think im looking for a switched source, what would the best switched source in our car be?

 

well, power windows, mirrors, sunroof.....any B+ circuit that comes on with the key on, and powers down with the key off.

 

the best is the "spare" in the fusebox

 

sunroof. fuel pump fuse. theres a bunch in the fuse box. stick your meter in there and see what goes on when you use ignition and what goes off

 

yea basically anything with ignition. if you go to the how-to guide one of the top theads is how to wire in an electrical oil pressure guage for a 2.2. it should be pretty much the same for the 2.4, that might help you out.

 

ok i checked that thread and basically he went off the ignition fuse? said something about adding fuses in? this wiring stuff is kinda confusing to me

 

the add a fuse thing is something you buy that basically lets you plug two fuses into one. the add a fuse plugs into where the original fuse was, then you plug the orginal fuse plus the fuse your adding into the add a fuse. you can get them at any autozone, pepboys etc. for a couple bucks. that was probably a confusing explanation but its not too complicated once your actually looking at the stuff haha.

 

i understand that...from what i read though its a bad idea to use an IGN fuse because if it shorts out the ignition is gone...im so confused

 

i tapped my sunroof fuse...

 

Thats what I used to power my relay for the neons and amp. pic is worth a 1000 words though http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showd...number=071-580 and when checking the circuits make sure the drivers door isn't closed

X2 sunroof fuse

 

yea i forget what i wired my system to, either radio or windshield wipers or something like that. if your worried about the IGN fuse id just go to one of those.
yea thats another good one. i think most of those type of fuses are in the fusebox thats inside the car as well so thats one less wire to run through the fire wall lol.

haha yea i guess i should of thought of getting a picture, that does make it alot easier to understand lol. thats how i did my neons and amp as well.

 

can i tap multiple gauges to use that? and wheres it located in the fuse box?...did you use the add a fuse?

 

Thats because great minds think alike....

 

Hey if you use the sunroof fuse, thats a15 amp fuse. should you also put another 15 amp in the add a fuse? (x2)

 

It depends on the amps. If you are going to pull a lot of amps get a relay. The relay is basically a switch that turns on electronically. Normal pos and negative hook up and then you have Normally closed, normally open, and common (when not energized). You run straight battery power to common, and then connect all of your stuff to normally open. When you turn on the car the power from your fuse box tap turns on the relay and makes it close passing power to you gauges.

 

i think everyone answerd that one..sunroof fuse..ftw!

 

Of course you will have your inline fuses that came with the gauges in there.... I also have one near the battery

 

wow thats confusing....basically i plan on hooking up a mechanical boost gauge, and electric full sweep oil pressure gauge and a wideband, what sm y best route to go?

 

you can pull 30 amps through 1 circuit in the fuse box, 15 for the sunroof and 15 for everything you add to the add a fuse. Your gauges shouldn't pull anywhere near that, but it will tell you how many amps they pull in the spec sheet that came with them.

 

do you have a picture of this relay?

what would i hook each of the gauges to...like which fuses in the fuse box?

 

The relay would only get switched power from the factory fuse panel, you gauges would be using battery power. Read the first part of this and if you still have questions we will go from there.
http://www.r1200gs.info/howto/relay.html

I know the example is for a bmw motorcycle but same difference

Next week we will cover initiating two way communication, triggering a pc software program to send out a wireless pager alert and lighting a hospital hallway dome light and a buzzer all by pushing 1 button...... then maybe a Job installing Nurse call systems in hospitals and nursing homes.....

 

thats a really good explanation. lol i cant wait for next weeks lesson

 

ok i understand what the realy does now....which relay would be the best to go with?

 

the bosch that Scot used in his write up is a good one, any local auto parts store will have them, it is a must for fog light installs. Look in the electrical section by the fuses, brand doesn't really matter, the bosch one is just smaller. The upside to doing it this way is that you will not have to tamper with the factory wiring, preserving your electrical warranty, if you have an electrical issue just pull the add a fuse before you take it to the dealer.

 

ok so basically all i need to do with that relay is have a ground, a 12 volt source(comming directly off the positive battery terminal?) and a 20amp fuse? and then the accessories wire is for all the gauges? how do i connect all the gauges to one wire? make splices?