Wiring gauge light to main ignition wires. How?
 

Can anyone please help?

I want to wire up a boost gauge which will be fitted to the stering column like the original Lamco gauge.

Here's the instructions for the wiring.....
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...tled-1copy.jpg



and her's a photo of the connector/wires that connect to the wires that go to the main ignition switch, there is a green, yellow, white and white with black line.....
http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e1...k/IMAG0056.jpg

Does anyone know for sure how i can wire in the gauge light to this as in the instructions, or have i got it all wrong somewhere?

Thanks
Andrew:)

Hi mate. When I do wiring on cars, (and I've done my fair share), I use a circuit tester to search for the right wire. Mine has a brass body with a sharp point on one end and a metre or so of wire terminating in a crocodile clip on the other end. The croc clip is clipped to a suitable earth, and the sharp point is used either to penetrate insulation, or just to touch onto a suspected wire/terminal, when a bulb in the brass body lights up if the wire is live. You can then try switches etc to see if you have the right wire.

For lighting wires, assuming you want it to light up with the lights on, try behind a switch that illuminates, cig-lighter etc. Pull the switch out and probe the wires until you find one that is ONLY live when the lights are on.

Here is a link to an e-bay circuit tester like mine: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AUTO-CAR-LIGHT...item19c33b84d0

Thanks mate, you've been really helpful. I've not done this kind of thing on a car before so you've given me some good common sense pointers. The gauge in question is currently in the post so i cannot report back as yet to how i've got on. Thanks for the e-bay link, have ordered ;)

Andy,
As stated I used the cigarette lighter for my gauges. It's easy to access and only works on the key.

Guys, I am in the process of wiring a boost gauge and plan to wire to the cig lighter. Am I right in thinking that the lighter has earth, live (operated by key) and live (operated by headlight stalk?)

Sorry to thread hijack!

AFAIK, the cig lighter has a permanent live, ie, NOT key operated, an earth and a lighting wire.

To find them, use a decent circuit tester, such as this one: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AUTO-CAR-LIGHT...item19c33b84d0

Cheers Alcazar, I have a fluke multimeter type thing so will buzz it out tomorrow.

The beauty of that thing I posted a link to is that it has a sharp point you can pierce wires' insulation with, without having to find a connector to probe.

You can get 'em in car shops too.

That is definitely an advantage, no chasing wiring around the dash!