Performance & Maintenance Engine, forced induction, intakes, exhausts, torque converters, transmissions, etc.

tapping power for gauges

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 06-18-07, 09:24 PM
  #1  
blknfury
Driver
Thread Starter
 
blknfury's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: nc
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default tapping power for gauges

what power wire should i use for my wideband. was told to use ignition wire but have no clue what that looks like cause i cant get to it?
Old 06-19-07, 07:58 PM
  #2  
sc300gte
Lead Lap
 
sc300gte's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SoCal baby
Posts: 544
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

cigarette lighter
Old 06-19-07, 09:42 PM
  #3  
blknfury
Driver
Thread Starter
 
blknfury's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: nc
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

but isnt the cigrette lighter a constant 12v source and the gauge will stay on?
Old 06-19-07, 09:46 PM
  #4  
JspecSC3
Lexus Champion
iTrader: (4)
 
JspecSC3's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: N/A
Posts: 4,908
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

What you need is a switched 12v source. You can try looking around the ignition key hole area.
Old 06-19-07, 10:13 PM
  #5  
DasBach
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (7)
 
DasBach's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: AZ
Posts: 922
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

I personally run things off the same wire as the Cigarette Lighter, gauges included. Never had any trouble.
Old 06-19-07, 11:34 PM
  #6  
SCoupe
Lexus Test Driver

 
SCoupe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: California
Posts: 887
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Drivers side foot well has a small fuse box with some available fused links to work with. It is about the height of a clutch pedal if you have it and is on along the left hand side about 6-8 inches in front of the door hinge.
Old 06-20-07, 01:53 PM
  #7  
Blk97SC300
Lead Lap
iTrader: (4)
 
Blk97SC300's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: CA
Posts: 755
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by YumaSC300
I personally run things off the same wire as the Cigarette Lighter, gauges included. Never had any trouble.
same here- no problems at all. Either that, or wrap a wire around a fuse and shove the fuse back in.

Allen
Old 06-20-07, 05:24 PM
  #8  
got_trd
Lexus Champion
 
got_trd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Tampa, FL
Posts: 3,070
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

I use the 12v source from the ecu.
Old 06-20-07, 06:18 PM
  #9  
blknfury
Driver
Thread Starter
 
blknfury's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: nc
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

i guess cigrette lighter it is
Old 06-20-07, 06:47 PM
  #10  
DasBach
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (7)
 
DasBach's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: AZ
Posts: 922
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by blknfury
i guess cigrette lighter it is
Always works for me
Old 06-20-07, 07:11 PM
  #11  
SCoupe
Lexus Test Driver

 
SCoupe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: California
Posts: 887
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

The masses scream cigarette lighter and I'm not saying it won't provide power, but it's Mickey Mouse wiring and you guys are missing the easy and imho best way to do this. The fuse box in the footwell allows you to put in an entirely new circuit with a fuse more appropriate for the tiny power consumption of guage vs. the bigger juice the lighter fuse provides.

This is the right way to do this. I wired my Supra fuel pump relay switch from this box when I did the 12v mod.
Attached Thumbnails tapping power for gauges-fuses-in-footwellrz.jpg  
Old 06-20-07, 08:23 PM
  #12  
blknfury
Driver
Thread Starter
 
blknfury's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: nc
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

but when you use the cigrette lighter for power, you are more protected from some kind of short circuit i guess right? where as if you go to the fuse box and just connect it you bypass the circuit from the fuse.
Old 11-27-07, 06:33 PM
  #13  
SCoupe
Lexus Test Driver

 
SCoupe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: California
Posts: 887
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by blknfury
but when you use the cigrette lighter for power, you are more protected from some kind of short circuit i guess right? where as if you go to the fuse box and just connect it you bypass the circuit from the fuse.
No, absolutely not !!, the cigarette lighter carries a much higher amp fuse than what you'd normally use for a tiny light in a guage or the power to something like an SAFC. Those small devices need only a 7.5amp fuse instead of like 15-20amp for a cigarrete lighter. You'd fry the electronics much quicker in those low draw devices if they had to blow a 20amp vs 7.5 amp fuse !!
Old 11-29-07, 11:00 AM
  #14  
Gunnar
Lexus Champion
 
Gunnar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Kansas City
Posts: 1,626
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 6 Posts
Default

For my UEGO I tapped into the key-on power wire in the hazards button on the center console. For the SAFC I tapped into the ECU harness obviously.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
IneednSC
SC- 1st Gen (1992-2000)
6
02-19-14 02:01 PM
kjcole
SC430 - 2nd Gen (2001-2010)
2
11-02-11 06:23 AM
TomLee
GS - 2nd Gen (1998-2005)
8
08-13-07 09:08 AM
JWS3
GX - 1st Gen (2004-2009)
24
05-18-06 03:20 PM



Quick Reply: tapping power for gauges



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 11:23 PM.