autometer cluster Wiring

[76bonanza]

I am wiring my new autometer gauges and have a few questions. First what guage wire should I use. And with all the grounds and guage light wires How is the best way to collect them into one feed wire? (some kind of distrubution block or just thee pigtails?)

Thanks for any tips I will be using a Pin connector plug for all the senders and stuff.

[Southedisto]

Painless has a great harness, almost plug and play.

HERE IT IS

[76bonanza]

I like the harness but wow 75.00 bucks most of my guages are mech also so really just need to wire the lights and grounds and like 3 signal wires.

[Southedisto]

Originally Posted by 76bonanza

I like the harness but wow 75.00 bucks most of my guages are mech also so really just need to wire the lights and grounds and like 3 signal wires.

I would just make one then, they arent complicated by any means.

[metalmassfab]

I built a gauge panel, and spent mega bucks on those autometer ultra lites a few years ago. I used 14 ga. wire coming off each gauge, and pigtailed the grounds and lights in groups of three as you mentioned. I used a double male, single female connector to connect the sets of three together, and ran a single 12 ga. common ground and another to the headlight switch for the lights. the tach and speedo lights were wired together in the same manner (8 gauges total) Next time I do a gauge panel, I'll use 16 ga. wire and maybe weather-pack type multi connectors, or do a nice soldered harness. Anyway, hope it helps a bit...cant seem to find any pics of the wiring, I'll keep looking.

[FLEET72]

Originally Posted by metalmassfab

<snip> Next time I do a gauge panel, I'll use 16 ga. wire and maybe weather-pack type multi connectors, or do a nice soldered harness. Anyway, hope it helps a bit...cant seem to find any pics of the wiring, I'll keep looking.

8 gauges (lights only) 4 watts ea. = 32 watts / 12 volts = 2.6 Amps.
Ampacity of 14 ga. wire is 32 amps. at 60c .... 18 ga. is plenty for instrument lights capable of handling 16 Amps.

Source: xtronics.com wire gauge ampacity chart

This isn't a truck but demonstrates the proper use of zip ties.

[metalmassfab]

Excellent! smaller wire the better, thanks for the info!

[Rollie396]

Originally Posted by FLEET72

8 gauges (lights only) 4 watts ea. = 32 watts / 12 volts = 2.6 Amps.
Ampacity of 14 ga. wire is 32 amps. at 60c .... 18 ga. is plenty for instrument lights capable of handling 16 Amps.

Source: xtronics.com wire gauge ampacity chart

This isn't a truck but demonstrates the proper use of zip ties.

That is how I want my harness to look when I'm done (well not exactly cuz that ain't no truck)!Very clean.

[FLEET72]

Originally Posted by Rollie396

That is how I want my harness to look when I'm done (well not exactly cuz that ain't no truck)!Very clean.

Take your time, lay them out long, label and then trim them 1 at a time as you put on the terminals. Allow for service loops.

[Rollie396]

Originally Posted by FLEET72

Take your time, lay them out long, label and then trim them 1 at a time as you put on the terminals. Allow for service loops.

You forgot to mention all the swearing,mysterious anomalies and thoughts like "why did I ever start into this".