dimming wire for gauge install

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Aug 23, 2011 | 12:17 PM

91dx

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From: NorCal

dimming wire for gauge install

I've tried searching different combinations of keywords and I've come up with nothing.

I'm looking for which wire I can tap into to dim my gauges when my headlights are on. Can anybody help me out? And how do I power gauges from an empty slot in the fuse box?

Aug 23, 2011 | 01:02 PM

MattStarr

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What year is your SC?

Aug 23, 2011 | 01:03 PM

6SOARER

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From: SoCal

Basically you can use any parking light circuit. I tapped into the cigarette lighter light cause my gauges now sit in that space.

Im not sure about power from an empty slot in the fuse box.

Aug 23, 2011 | 03:22 PM

91dx

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Quote:

Originally Posted by MattStarr

What year is your SC?

97.

Ok, I'm pretty clueless when it comes to wiring. So what do you mean by "parking light circuit" and where can I find one? cigarette lighter?

Aug 24, 2011 | 01:01 PM

6SOARER

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From: SoCal

Quote:

Originally Posted by 91dx

Ok, I'm pretty clueless when it comes to wiring. So what do you mean by "parking light circuit" and where can I find one? cigarette lighter?

When you turn your lights ON, theres 3 positions on the light wand. OFF, Parking Lights and Headlights. Since you have a 97 you may have a 4th, DRL-Daytime Running Lights.

I re-read your post. U wanted to wire it to the headlights, you have to find a wire diagram for the headlight circuit. What I did was easier.

All I did was hooked up my DVOM(ground the black and the red goes to testing wire) to the cigarette lighters circuit. I beleive theres 3 wires to this circuit-Ground, Power to Lighter and Illumination Light. Turn the Parking Lights ON and check for Voltage(should read 5V IIRC, turn OFF parking lights the voltage should be near zero/0.

You found your light source to your gauges. You use the cars Light dimmer to dim the gauges.

Aug 27, 2011 | 06:06 PM

91dx

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it looks like I should go out and get a volt meter. Any ideas where I can get a constant power from?

Aug 28, 2011 | 10:13 AM

6SOARER

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From: SoCal

You want to use a 12V switch for this, hence "Parking Lights". If you use a constant 12V your gauges will be lit constantly unless you hook up a switch which is a waste of time and a switch.

Here are some pics of how I did mine, I have a Boost gauge and Oil pressure gauge mounted where the cigarette lighter was.

Theres a 4 wire blue plug for the cigarette lighter, I only used 2 wires from this-Blue/Red and Green/Orange

I used the Green/Orange wire for the White wires from to the Gauges bulbs. The Blue/Red wire went to my oil pressure Gauges "I" prong-theres 3 prongs in back of this gauge-Ground, signal and "I".