Where to wire in aftermarket electric gauges?
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,506
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From: Puyallup, WA
Where to wire in aftermarket electric gauges?
Got me some Auto Meter Electric temp gauges for the water and tranny. Figured out where I'm going to install the sending units, but now need to figure out the 12v wiring.
Need to wire the lights so they turn on with the head lights. Having them dim with the rest of the dash lights would be great, but is not necessary.
Can I just tap into one of the wires from the switch that gets 'hot' when you turn the lights on?
For the connection to 'power' up the gauge, it needs to turn on with the ignition, so that it's not drawing power when the motor is off.
Can I just tap into any wire that is already connected to the ignition and gets 'hot' when the key is on?
I don't think either of these draw enough amps to be too concerned with overloading an existing wire.
All the instructions say is to connect to a 12v source. Pretty generic instructions. I actually think the two gauges are exactly the same....... One just says "WATER" and the other says "TRANS".
TIA for any pointers!
Need to wire the lights so they turn on with the head lights. Having them dim with the rest of the dash lights would be great, but is not necessary.
Can I just tap into one of the wires from the switch that gets 'hot' when you turn the lights on?
For the connection to 'power' up the gauge, it needs to turn on with the ignition, so that it's not drawing power when the motor is off.
Can I just tap into any wire that is already connected to the ignition and gets 'hot' when the key is on?
I don't think either of these draw enough amps to be too concerned with overloading an existing wire.
All the instructions say is to connect to a 12v source. Pretty generic instructions. I actually think the two gauges are exactly the same....... One just says "WATER" and the other says "TRANS".
TIA for any pointers!
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 485
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From: Central Florida
To give illumination to the gauges in tandem with the headlights tap the brown wire out of the headlight switch.
To access a hot in run power supply tap the Light blue/Pink in the harness to power the gauges themselves.
If you start blowing fuses the main headlight switch (brown wire) is served by a 15A fuse in the cab, position 7. The Light blue/Pink is for DTR and Rap module, 15A fuse position 5.
Make sure you have good grounds, and use fusable links for your taps.
Good luck!!
To access a hot in run power supply tap the Light blue/Pink in the harness to power the gauges themselves.
If you start blowing fuses the main headlight switch (brown wire) is served by a 15A fuse in the cab, position 7. The Light blue/Pink is for DTR and Rap module, 15A fuse position 5.
Make sure you have good grounds, and use fusable links for your taps.
Good luck!!
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,506
Likes: 6
From: Puyallup, WA
flafonman 
Thanks man. Probably saved me an hour or more looking for wires. Now, I'll just check those ones you mention first!
I didn't think about the in-line fuses for the taps.
Nice catch and I'll do that too.
I know what I'll be doing this weekend!
Mitch
Thanks man. Probably saved me an hour or more looking for wires. Now, I'll just check those ones you mention first!
I didn't think about the in-line fuses for the taps.
Nice catch and I'll do that too.I know what I'll be doing this weekend!
Mitch
Thread Starter
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,506
Likes: 6
From: Puyallup, WA
Got it all installed. 
If you use the ELECTRICAL gauges, and tap into the heater hose for the Water temp sending unit, you have to ground the "T" fitting you use......... Yeah, yeah I know, a MECHANICAL one would not require it, but I got the electric ones.
Still need to rig up the Tranny temp sending unit, but all I have to do is attach the wire to it when I do get it done. I'm going to have to tap into the line, or the pan, unless I can figure out a "T" fitting for the upper connection to the rad.
If you use the ELECTRICAL gauges, and tap into the heater hose for the Water temp sending unit, you have to ground the "T" fitting you use......... Yeah, yeah I know, a MECHANICAL one would not require it, but I got the electric ones.Still need to rig up the Tranny temp sending unit, but all I have to do is attach the wire to it when I do get it done. I'm going to have to tap into the line, or the pan, unless I can figure out a "T" fitting for the upper connection to the rad.