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Voltmeter connections.
mattandmike - 17/5/07 at 07:10 PM

Another wiring question! I have a Triumph volt meter from a Dolomite that I want to connect up & use in our Locost. I am using an Escort Mk2 loom. Could somebody tell me how to do this? Never did understand electrics too well, but I am learning!


flak monkey - 17/5/07 at 07:16 PM

+ to a switched live from ignition switch (they are usually black with a coloured strip on), dont connect it to a permanent one.

- to earth (those are all brown wires)

If theres a 'backlight' then it needs a feed from the rest of the instrument lights (think they were grey wires on the escort loom).

David

David


rusty - 17/5/07 at 07:17 PM

You should have 2, 3 or 4 wires out of the gauge it all depend if the gauge has a light which I would guess it has.

One wire will be the live, this needs to connect to a live feed in the car that switches on with the ignition, somthing like the live feed to the oil pressure light or fual gauge.

One or two wires will be the ground or negative, these need to connect to a common ground point or a gound of another gauge.

If there is a light you will also have a wire for this which needs to go live when the light are on, if your other gauges have light then connect it in with the light supply to one of these.

I know this is only a general guide but I hope it gives you a strating point.

PS have assumed negative earth


mattandmike - 17/5/07 at 08:06 PM

Thanks people, that is great, much appreciated.


02GF74 - 18/5/07 at 08:15 AM

quote:
Originally posted by rusty


One wire will be the live, this needs to connect to a live feed in the car that switches on with the ignition, somthing like the live feed to the oil pressure light or fual gauge.




No!! fuel guage may be fed off a regulator so voltmeter will not show true live voltage - if it is mechanicla regulator, the voltmeter needle would be flickering as the voltage is switched.

In my land rover gauge is wired to it only registers when the engine is running i,e, alternator charging - I need to check this as I cannot for the moment with more thinking figure out how that is done.