Hi all:

I'll be installing about 6 gauges in my car which all needs 12+ volt, switched 12+, ground, dim connection....

I'm wondering if I can source each group from one source, or should I be splitting them in 2 groups?

Since I'll be tapping on existing wire, should I change the old fuse to a bigger one?

thanks

///Gilbert

 

I would run the constant 12+ volt directly to the battery through a fused wire, and the rest of the wires should be fine wherever you tap them in, they are mainly signal wires and draw little current!

 

Instead of splicing into wires, you might want to look into add a fuse to the fuse box, preventing any tapping into wires and for a cleaner look. Your guages should not draw a lot of current and should be fine hooking them all up to one source. What type of guages are you installing? I would look into tapping into a source that is not used much in the mini and has about 15A or 20A on that circut. Does anyone know if i tap the power for the lights of the guages into the fuse for the car lights, that it will turn on and off with the light switch and auto lights on feature?

Garrett

 

Yup, I'm going the "add-a-fuse" route.. I have no problems w/ the switched power, but I wasn't sure where to get the constant 12+ from.. And for the light/dim connection, I'll just be tapping it from either the cigarette lighter or from the tachometer...

I'll be using Defi gauges, so I guess it will be taking all the power from the 12+ line that the switched 12+ is only being used for a relay

As far as tapping in the fuse for car lights, I don't think that will work if you need it to only come one w/ the lights on.. That fuse box is a connection for either 12+ or switched 12+..... Tap into your radio dim/cigarette lighter dim/or tachometer dim for that source..

///Gilbert

 

For the constant I would just run a wire from the battery and place a fuse between the source for protection. I am also going to install Defi guages in my car, so we will be doing the same thing. Please let us know how it all works out and take some pictures of the setup! If i grap the power for the light on the tach dim or radio dim, will that allow me to turn the lights on and off from the dimmer/power switch?

Garrett

 

Yup JBMCS06 suggested the constant straight from the battery. Actually I will take this constant with a fuse from the "jumpstart bolt" under the bonnet since I will me running wires through my firewall anyways..

As far as allowing you to turn your lights off/on and the dimming of it, YES... it should allow you to do that.. That's how my Miata is setup although I'm using different gauges (dakotadigital) but they do dim w/ my dimmer switch...

///Gilbert

 

Ill have to take a test light and try it out. As the mini electrical system is a little different then others. Yes I was thinking of the jump start bolt as well. Its much better to run the wire from the firewall then from the back of the car to the front! I wish you the best of luck.


Garrett

 

Just an update...

Halfway done on my install on my gauges (Defi Boost/Defi Oil Pressure/Autometer Water Temp/Autometer Oil Temp)

For my Defi, since they are sitting besides the TACH, I tapped into the grey/red wire going to the tach for dim.. Using Add-a-fuse, I tapped into Fuse 5 for 12+ AND Fuse 35 for switched 12+... For the ground, I found a bolt after you take out the knee bolster...

All the gauges have working lights... My oil pressure/oil temp are done and working... I was about to do my boost, but realized that I may need to take out the whole intercooler/intercooler connector to get to the vaccuum source, so I opted to save it for another day... For my Water Temp, I am still trying to figure out where to tap my sender...

So far no problems w/ my taps, and didn't blow a fuse, yet

///Gilbert

 

Please post pictures! How did you mount the guages near the tach?

Garrett

 

I'll post some pictures later on today.. I mounted the gauges using the Autometer Carbon Fiber Cups.. I did have to remove the tach and the part that the tach is installed on to do my installation, since I had to bolt it down...

These DEFI gauges are beautiful.. only reason I had to go with this expensive route is while doing my oil cooler installation, I realized that my oil pressure sender (Autometer) was a bit too big.. But all in all, I'm a happy camper

///Gilbert

 

I will be going the DEFI route but I will only have a guage or two. Most likely just a boost guage. What is the clearance like for the defi guages mounted near the tach and towards the dash? Can you move the steering wheel or just it have to be in a certain position. I can not wait to see your pictures, would like to see how you mounted all of them!

Garrett

 

Here are the pictures of my DEFI gauges..

///Gilbert

 

Just curious why you didn't use the Alta etc gauge pod panel that they make that bolts onto the back of the tachometer....a little cleaner dont you think...considereing you spent what 400 on gauges I would think you would want to make it as clean as possible. No? Just curious

Steve

 

I actually have already bought the ALTA gauge pod, but it turns out it doesn't fit/works with 2 1/16 gauges.. I prefer these smaller gauges...

So I have the ALTA gauge pod up for sale in the marketplace

///Gilbert

 

Is it still forsale? I am still interested in buying the alta pod from you. Please let me know!

Garrett

 

I noticed your using the D series from DeFi. I didnt know they had amber as their backlite. I was going to use their BF series, but I was hating on the $$. This looks like it will do the samething w/out all the other silly stuff & still look great. A question though, on these gauges, do they include everything you need for hookup? I am getting the boost,oil pressure, h2o temp, & egt. Just curious, as I have scoured their site & I cant come up with what is packaged with the gauges.

Thanks!

 

For their prices.. they better come w/ everything ...

Yup.. everything that you need should come in the box..except for things where your trying to tee the OEM sensor and their sensor.. (i.e. oil pressure).. If you're trying to TEE in their oil pressure to the OEM location and have the OEM sensor be plugged in at the same time, you would have to buy that part that tees them together (hope that made sense)..

for the boost, it comes w/ the vacuum line... h2o temp, it will come w/ the temp sensor also.. I'm sure for their EGT, it will come w/ the probe.. For the H20 and EGT, I'm using autometer and PLX respectively...

I bought my gauges from www.egauges.com.. Prices are very reasonable..took a about 1 week and half to get to me though...

///Gilbert

 

Thanks, I understood what you said, and with that being said, where do you get the t adapter to tap into the stock fuel pressure?

 

That I don't know, since I didn't install my oil pressure sensor where everyone has it installed....

If you do a search for "oil pressure" installations... the guys that did the Autometer way should have done it that way...

///Gilbert

 

thanks....

So how DID u install yours?

 

I added an oil cooler... The plate that replaces the OEM oil cooler comes w/ a place where you can mount an oil pressure and oil temp sensor..

///Gilbert