Gauge power source - calling the wire chief's

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Aug 12, 2007 | 10:32 PM

C5Dream2004

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Burning Brakes

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From: Hockessin Delaware

Gauge power source - calling the wire chief's

I need to power up some gauges, specifically Autometer wide-band, electric boost and fuel all C2 series. The directions are looking for constant power under a starting condition - I have an 04 which does not have the spare pigtail in the passenger foot well which I'm thinking wouldn't ever work for this??
Also I need the dash LED circuit for the gauge lighting?? I assume this would also dim the gauge LED's??

Aug 12, 2007 | 10:48 PM

noahdr

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From: New Bern NC

I know if you look in the audio forum there is a lot of helpful stuff in there about the wiring in the cab. Fuse 22 in the kick panel isn't used and only has voltage while the key is in. And there is a wire on the HVAC that you can tap into for the dimmer. I'll see if I can find you a good link.

Aug 12, 2007 | 10:59 PM

noahdr

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From: New Bern NC

Here is a good thread to start http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1117959
that HVAC wire will dim the lights when you turn on your headlights at least thats what it did for me when I put in my aftermarket radio..... That almost sounds like an oxymoron Constant power under Starting conditions. I think it just means power when the key is turned to run and that fuse 22 is what you want.

Aug 12, 2007 | 11:06 PM

C5Dream2004

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Burning Brakes

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From: Hockessin Delaware

Quote:

Originally Posted by noahdr

That almost sounds like an oxymoron Constant power under Starting conditions.

Thanks for the info, I thinking the gauges zero the calibration on first sign of power which can't be interrupted - most accessory wiring drops out when you crank over the car??

Aug 12, 2007 | 11:23 PM

noahdr

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From: New Bern NC

Yes, next time you crank up your vette watch the dash. All your lights and gauges will cut off. Its how the ignition switch is wired up. Your starter needs all the amps it can get to turn the engine over. You might have to hook it up directly to the battery and put a switch in there to turn it off and on manually. I'm not sure what all has power while you crank the engine over that would be easy and safe to tap into. You could also put in some kind of timer to turn on the gauges after a few seconds, they might have something like that at radio shack.

Last edited by noahdr; Aug 12, 2007 at 11:31 PM.

Aug 13, 2007 | 02:00 AM

SpeedyZ

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From: Southwest Virginia

You will never find clean power on an car during starting. Many time the voltage may go as low a 10V during starting, even if your hooked directly to the battery. If you gauges can handle that drop you can pickup the power at many places. I hooked my Autometer Nesus gauge controller to wire A14 in the IPC wiring harness which seemed to work fine. It is an unswitched 12VDC source right there near where you are mounting the gauges. Below is a link to the IPC plug showing the pinout, plug, and wire colors. There is also a switched wire in there too if you need one.

http://corvetteforum.shelor.net/Diag...PC_Pinout.html

Aug 13, 2007 | 10:35 AM

C5Dream2004

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Burning Brakes

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From: Hockessin Delaware

More details from autometer

What the boost gauge needs is a power source that come on with the key that does not cut out when strating - to my knowledge the dash will cut out. The gauge sets itself to zero at initial power up, if the power is interuped a starting it reads its zero piont with the engine runing IE: wacky reading from that piont on. ??