indiglo guage problem
 

I just received an indiglo guage kit off of ebay similar to the one on fc3s.org. I installed it and wired it to go off of my cigarrette lighter (10a fuse). The first time I started it the guages turned on (cool!) so I turned the knob up to full brightness. About halfway up I heard a pop and the guages went out. The fuse didn't blow (my boost guage is on same circuit and it lights up) and the smaller inline fuse didn't blow either (I pulled it and checked). Do you guys have any suggestions what to check? Is the unit defective? Anyone know the power specs?

Hmmm, I thought indiglo gauges required 12V, not lower voltage as found on dimmer circuits as they had their own dimmer controls???

Doesn't your set have its own dimmer control, and hsould be wired to the parking lights not, dash lights??

Dimmer control would kill indiglo. Do you mean the +12v to your cigarrette lighter, or the light next to the cigarrette lighter. Indiglo require a constant (or at least near constant) 12v. Shouldn't ever drop below ten. Its like hooking up a dimmer switch to a TV or refridgerator. Its just important that they don't work off the same resepect of a standard lightbulb.

Funny, I just did a quick little search and found out how many people have actually installed them using their dimmer switch, though they use the incoming (always 12+) side of the dimmer switch, not the variable resisted side (outgoing). Heres a quick exerpt from a webpage:

Next you will have to find an adequate power source. The inverter for the indiglos is very sensitive. You could burn it out if the wattage is too high.
http://www.nissanperformancemag.com/.../indiglo.shtml

Hmm I think I might have blown the inverter. I hooked it directly to the fuse box which probably had too much power...

I wouldn't really think that you ran over 10amps, even if you did the fuse should have blown. Wiring the inverter to a direct power source (the outgoing of the fuse block) shouldn't have caused too much power.

Also if the power consumption of the indiglo is 20watts (i have no idea, doubt its that high) than 20/12=1.677 amps @ 12volts. Thats saying you had 12v, most my lights inside the car actally spec around 13.4 at idle (i rewired everything to and after the fuse block last year). In my case it would be something around 20/13.4=1.49amps. Either case doesn't explain why your inverter went.

I instaled some indiglos on my 93 ford probe (and again i state for defence that it has 300,000++ miles on a *mazda* stock enhine). They worked for all of two weeks before the inverter blew. I installed them step by step to the instruction manual that came with the unit (i was one of the lucky chaps tha acually recieved one.) In any case, when it was all said and done, I ended up buying the oem cluster upgrade off ebay and I've enjoyed it more than I ever did the look of indiglo. Just my two cents.

Well it doesn't look like the guy who sold it to me is responding so how can I replace the inverter? Is this something I can get from radio shack?