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How do you wire your gauges?
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2003 7:59 pm
by lgyee4
I'm looking for a solution to this problem. Does anyone know how to wire a boost gauge light so that it dims along with the dash light?
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2003 8:11 pm
by NuwanD
depends on where you mount it.... i mounted mine infront of the shifter... there is a small light there that turns on when the dash lights are on and also dims with the dash lights. Just wire in your gauge to that. It works out well cause there is a quick connector for the light so it will be easy to connect you gauge bulb to it.
there's a pic of my gauge location here:
http://www.angelfire.com/on4/nuwanscar/mycarpics
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2003 8:42 pm
by ciper
So a standard 12 volt bulb will dim when connected to the dash lights?
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2003 9:02 pm
by Legacy777
This depends on how your gauge is setup.
All will have a negative/ground lead.
Some will have just a 12v source lead.
Others may have two 12v leads (one accessory, and one illumination).
On the gauges that just have one 12v source lead, you normally tie that into a positive lead for your parking lamps....or possibly just a 12v switched lead.
If you tie this lead to an illumination lead, the light in the gauge should dim along with the rest of the lights. I believe all the illumination lights are 12v, so you should be fine in doing this.
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2003 9:22 pm
by vrg3
I thought our cars' illumination dimming system was backwards, meaning that the bulbs in the dash have to terminals, one of which is hooked to +12v and the other of which is hooked to a variable voltage dimming line...
I'm pretty sure that's how newer Subarus do it, anyway.
If I am correct, then the system is easy to interface with a gauge that has two separate wires for the illumination, but not for one that uses the chassis as ground.
Building a little circuit to "invert" the voltage would be pretty easy, though...
Hm. I should try this. It'd be cool if my boost gauge dimmed.
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2003 1:06 am
by Legacy777
I guess one of use needs to use a volt meter and take some readings and figure it out.
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2003 4:07 am
by vrg3
I had a little bit of rare free time this evening, so I checked it out... I was right about the above. It turned out it wasn't hard to adapt the signal though. Now my boost gauge dims with my dash lights! It's way cool.
http://www.graphics.cornell.edu/~v/dimmer/
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2003 1:51 pm
by magicmike
DAMN, this guy is good folks
Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2003 2:37 am
by vrg3
Igyee4, if you want one of these circuits I can send it to you for parts plus shipping... Drop me a PM if you'd like it.
Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2003 3:24 am
by 91White-T
I just wired the boost gauge light inot one of the dash lights and it definitely dims...
still having troubles
Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2003 7:11 am
by lgyee4
Which wire did you tap into? what kind of gauge are you using? I'm still having trouble with mine. I have an Autometer gauge.
lgyee4
Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2003 3:37 pm
by 91White-T
I have an Autometer too, I tapped into the bulb above the ashtray, but any one of the dash lights should work just fine.