Csefiroth0

okay i searched for a few hours and ive learned that the best place to tap for a 12V constant source is the headlight circuit or stereo. Since I lost the removal key to my stereo, i cannot tap it. I took off the steering wheel cover and I found a group of 3 wires running into the headlight switch... when I probe each wire with my test light this is what happens: red wire: lights up and down, green wire: lights on, and black wire: nothing. Not one of the 3 wires causes the test light to glow.

So basically I am stuck and I do not know which wire i need to tap into. Please don't flame me for being dumb.

WaLieN

Tap it into the ash tray light. Look up "ash tray gauge" and you should come up with a lot of stuff.

maxcooper

Ash tray light is good for dimmable illumination (be sure to connect BOTH wires from gauge to BOTH wires from ash tray light). But if you need a switched 12v for gauge electronics (as opposed to the illumination), you'll have to use something else. I am pretty sure I have some stuff connected to some wires in the driver's footwell, but I don't remember exactly which ones I used.

-Max

jeffrored92

When I put my gauges in I also did a fan mod. While I was doing the fan mod I spliced into the 12V power for the fan relays (the thin control wire, not the one that carries high amperage to the fans when they are on). I then ran this wire to the gauges with all my other gauge wires and vacuum line.

It's switched 12V (ie: 0V when the car is off) and I used it to power my water temp gauge.

I spliced into the ashtray light to provide the illumination for my gauges.

Csefiroth0

okay i found the stereo key so im using it for the 12V constant..

i have another question though. would it be okay to also use the stereo as a 12V ignition source or should i use the cig lighter. if i use the cig lighter, there are two tiny black wires going into a harness... do i use those two?

WaLieN

Don't use the stereo source, it will not be dimmable.

Csefiroth0

huh? i used the ash tray light as a light source... why would using the stereo 12V constant affect dimmability? i just want to know if it's okay to use the stereo as a source for both 12V constant and 12V ignition.... and which wire on the cig lighter to use if i can't.

sonnguyenrx7

do you have a turbo timer?you can get power from there

maxcooper

Lets all be clear that you might need two different types of power for a gauge:
1. dimmable for illumination
2. full 12v, not dimmable (or your gauge probably wouldn't work) for gauge electronics (some gauges have internal electronics that need a full 12v)

I think these two different requirements are being confused in this thread, and I'm still not 100% sure which type (or both) Csefiroth0 needs, but the first post sounds like a need for type 2.

-Max

sonnguyenrx7

get the full 12v from the red wire(it's the big wire),the blue wire for the ignition wire and the rest is easy
sonny