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12 Volt sources for gauges

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Old Mar 1, 2003 | 02:13 PM
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12 Volt sources for gauges

Okay, I am searching and reading the wiring diagram, maybe I can get a quick answer here.

I am installing an Air/Fuel gauge in a double pod on my a-pillar. Everything is in, now I need a 12 Volt (ignition switched) source for the gauge. Since the wonderful engineers at Mazda saw fit NOT to put auxillary ports on the fuse block, I am forced to tap into some line somewhere. I am not jamming spade connectors or any other sort of ghetto thing into an existing fuse holder. Thats ghetto and dangerous.

Does any one have the ID (color/location) of some switched 12v wires under the dash?

Thank you in advance,

Jarrett
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Old Mar 1, 2003 | 03:02 PM
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Spades? **** just jam bared wire behind a fuse!
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Old Mar 1, 2003 | 03:08 PM
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Use the Power Wire found at the ECU. This Is the one at the very top left. I wired In all my A/F Ratio Gauge wires from the ECU using 3 way connectors.
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Old Mar 1, 2003 | 03:36 PM
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How about one of those *stray* connectors laying about?? Like the ones for power windows or mirrors. You know what I mean. They seem to be everywhere.

Or maybe tap into one of the ignition switch wires. Like that two socket/pin connector to the ignition that has a black/white and a black wire????

Really got me. I don't do aftermarket things. Barely can keep the factory things working.

EDIT: I'll bet its not for gauges. Probably for the lights in the fuzzy dice that your going to hang from the mirror.

Last edited by HAILERS; Mar 1, 2003 at 03:44 PM.
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Old Mar 1, 2003 | 04:01 PM
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Originally posted by HAILERS
How about one of those *stray* connectors laying about?? Like the ones for power windows or mirrors. You know what I mean. They seem to be everywhere.

Or maybe tap into one of the ignition switch wires. Like that two socket/pin connector to the ignition that has a black/white and a black wire????

Really got me. I don't do aftermarket things. Barely can keep the factory things working.

EDIT: I'll bet its not for gauges. Probably for the lights in the fuzzy dice that your going to hang from the mirror.
I checked all the stray connectors with my multimeter, none of them fit my requirements... Sooo.. I got these things called fuse piggybacks, very cool things. They plug into the stock fuse location and provide you a spade connection to tap into. Very cool....

And how did you know about the fuzzy dice?

Jarrett
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Old Mar 1, 2003 | 04:32 PM
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That sounds very interesting. I'll be looking for them tomorrow at PePBoys and or Autozone.

How did I know? One of my spies saw you at Toy's R US buying the fuzzy dice and the slinky and crayola's.
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Old Mar 1, 2003 | 06:03 PM
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Originally posted by HAILERS
How did I know? One of my spies saw you at Toy's R US buying the fuzzy dice and the slinky and crayola's.
W00T!
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Old Mar 1, 2003 | 09:53 PM
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I told you Rat! Where'd you get those damned fuse piggybacks from? I could use about 50 of them!
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Old Mar 1, 2003 | 10:01 PM
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fuse piggbacks? hmm i should get some too! I will check into this. Aren't the +12v ign switched wires black/ w a yellow stripe?
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Old Mar 1, 2003 | 10:33 PM
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1REVIN7.......I was refering to the B/W wire in the connector X-02 shown in this jpg at the ignition. It feeds the ENGINE fuse that pulls in the circuit opening relay. I don't do aftermarket wiring, so there is probably ten to twelve good reasons not to tap into that wire

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/attach...postid=1398836

Last edited by HAILERS; Mar 1, 2003 at 10:35 PM.
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Old Mar 1, 2003 | 11:10 PM
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Doesn't that wire only see pwr at the on position of the ign switch?
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Old Mar 1, 2003 | 11:35 PM
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I look and see it having 12v on it when the key is ON and START, because it holds the MAIN RELAY in as long as supplying power to the circuit opening relay. I rekon I could look at the fsm, but don't think its needed for me to do that. Not right now anyway.
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Old Mar 2, 2003 | 06:51 AM
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Riiiight...
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Old Mar 2, 2003 | 07:50 AM
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Geez, you guys are making this sound like a difficult job!
It's pretty obvious that where ever you see a switch or control on the dash, behind it is a wire with switched 12V. Simply expose the wires and use a circuit test light or DMM to probe each wire. If it doesn't have power when the key if off, and it does have power when it's on, guess what...
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Old Mar 2, 2003 | 09:39 AM
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KIWIS are to be seen, not heard.
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Old Mar 2, 2003 | 03:23 PM
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From: Hood River oregon
Originally posted by HAILERS
KIWIS are to be seen, not heard.
OUCH!!!!....

Too funny!

Jarrett
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Old Mar 2, 2003 | 03:24 PM
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Originally posted by NZConvertible
Geez, you guys are making this sound like a difficult job!
It's pretty obvious that where ever you see a switch or control on the dash, behind it is a wire with switched 12V. Simply expose the wires and use a circuit test light or DMM to probe each wire. If it doesn't have power when the key if off, and it does have power when it's on, guess what...
I really dont like piggybacking on other wires. No telling what you might screw up.

Jarrett
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Old Mar 2, 2003 | 03:36 PM
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I just wired my guages into my stereo since I installed the Turbo Timer, guages, and Stereo at the same time. It was eaiser to do all the work sitting up straight and not lying on my back under the dash- PS im 6'5"....
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Old Mar 2, 2003 | 08:01 PM
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Originally posted by J-Rat
I really dont like piggybacking on other wires. No telling what you might screw up.

Jarrett
I've piggybacked the 3wires, found at the ECU, for a while now and have no problems whatsover. How do you think the S-AFC Is wired In?...piggybacked.
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Old Mar 2, 2003 | 09:54 PM
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Originally posted by J-Rat
I really dont like piggybacking on other wires. No telling what you might screw up.
Automotive wiring requires a little common sense, but it's really simple stuff. As long as you stay away from the EFI system you're basically dealing with 12V that's either there or not. Nothing could be simpler. If you look at (for example) the headlight switch, the wiper switch, the radio, the cig lighter, etc, they all have at least one wire that comes directly from the fuse box, and is switched by the key. Tapping into that wire to power gauges or other low-current stuff will make absolutely no difference to how it operates.
If you have the FSM wiring diagrams, finding a swiched 12V source becomes childs play, because they all come from the circuit lines at the top of the page.

Hailers, you're such a bitch...
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Old Mar 3, 2003 | 02:43 AM
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Originally posted by NZConvertible
Automotive wiring requires a little common sense, but it's really simple stuff. As long as you stay away from the EFI system you're basically dealing with 12V that's either there or not. Nothing could be simpler. If you look at (for example) the headlight switch, the wiper switch, the radio, the cig lighter, etc, they all have at least one wire that comes directly from the fuse box, and is switched by the key. Tapping into that wire to power gauges or other low-current stuff will make absolutely no difference to how it operates.
If you have the FSM wiring diagrams, finding a swiched 12V source becomes childs play, because they all come from the circuit lines at the top of the page.

Hailers, you're such a bitch...
I have the FSM...and as previoulsy stated, I was hoping for a quick answer.... believe me, I understand automotive wiring, as well as other types. I was just looking for some tips on what other people have done. I tapped the voltage off a piggyback on the cigarette lighter fuse... Just makes it hard to put the fuse block cover on.....

Jarrett
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Old Mar 3, 2003 | 02:48 AM
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Originally posted by silverrotor
I've piggybacked the 3wires, found at the ECU, for a while now and have no problems whatsover. How do you think the S-AFC Is wired In?...piggybacked.
thats correct...but most of the wiring for the SAFC is just modifying the existing signal... If you want to tap in to existing wiring, thats fine. but this is concerning a source for switched 12v. Nothing else....
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Old Mar 3, 2003 | 06:18 PM
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I'm refering to the A/F Ratio Gauge and was using the S-AFC as an example. How else are you going to get your Gauge to work? Whether It be through the ECU or an alternative 12v Ignition source you'll have to tap In (piggyback) to get your gauge to work.
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Old Mar 3, 2003 | 06:32 PM
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From: Hood River oregon
Originally posted by silverrotor
I'm refering to the A/F Ratio Gauge and was using the S-AFC as an example. How else are you going to get your Gauge to work? Whether It be through the ECU or an alternative 12v Ignition source you'll have to tap In (piggyback) to get your gauge to work.

Correct, but if I tap the voltage at the fuse block (I used the hot side of the cigarette lighter fuse), I am getting virtually a direct 12v signal from the battery, via the ignition switch. If the gauge fails for some reason or another, it will only blow the fuse installed inline with the gauge, nothing else... THis protects me from possibly damaging other things in the car in the unlikely event the gauge suffers a failure.

Jarrett
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