Wiring gauges, Is mine OK? or is there a better way? (Pix inside)

[adoboboy]

This past weekend I decided to wire up my gauges. I have Autometer Cobalt fully electronic boost and oil pressure gauge. I'm also wiring in my AEM wideband gauge.

I actually bought the Cobalt gagues from Foster Adams like 2-3 years ago. (Foster aka Fiznat who has contributed a lot to the 240 community)

I taped the illumination wires from the gauge to the dimmer switch just to the left of the steering wheel. For the 12V source, the instructions I got from the Autometer website says, "Connect the red power wire to a switched +12V source that maintains power during engine cranking."

That being said, that eliminates tapping from the radio power and cig. lighter. I did notice however when I crank the engine, my SAFC2 stays on which means it is a constant 12V during engine cranking. So I got to work and tapped to the same location on the ECU harness. While I was there I added the 12V for the AEM wideband.

Now my question is. Is this OK? will it work? Will I damage the ECU in anyway tapping for 3 gauges and SAFC? Will it throw off SAFC settings?Is there a better way other than how I wired it? I don't want to risk screwing with the ECU power or alter SAFC input to the ECU.

When I did a search, I came accross this for wiring a turbo timer. See line 6.http://www.240sx.org/links/ins...x.htmIs this how everyone does it?

Now for the pictures. Gauges have power but sensors are not installed which is why it reads 100psig on the oil gauge.Wires 1: ECU wireWire 2: Powers AEM WidebandWire 3: Powers Cobalt gaugesWire 4: SAFC power.

[480sx]

Thats some ghetto soldering dude. You really should redo that with shrink wrap and flux. You also have a lot of wire exposed, which is never a good thing. If your insulation rubs off your going to short that wire out. I guess you at least electrical taped it up well right?

I mean your kinda breaking the rules of wiring(MECP, others). Im not saying you wont get away with it, just not really ideal. I mean you have 4 12 gage power wires tapped from a single 20 gage power wire. The amp draw of those gages and the SAFC isnt much so you should be ok.

Just kinda a hack job IMO, you could do a lot better if you tapped the ignition itself instead of the ECU switched power wire.

[adoboboy]

Yah I'm not the best at soldering.

So tapping the steering column ignition is the better way to go?

Is that how its supposed to be done?

[480sx]

Yea thats a much better way to go.

Just use shrink wrap and flux. Flux helps soo much when you solder man. Your goal when soldering is to heat up the wire as well as the solder, so the solder flows evenly over the wire. This is aided by the flux. Its actually pretty neat when you get the technique down, because its so damned simple. What i do, i put the soldering tip on the wire with the flux. The flux will bubble, and start to smoke, then add a little bit of solder to the top of the wire and let the solder roll down over the whole joint.

Google 'soldering techniques' im sure you can find a better explanation somewhere.

[DMan II-40]

I have soldering wire that has flux inside it. Its super old, my dad got it from his work a long time ago. It is illegal now so you cant get it anymore, not sure why. But its great.

[DevilMB3017]

Have you considered using a relay for this application?

You could power the gauges directly from any other power source, but have them relay off that wire you soldered to...

[1unar3clipse]

I have soldering wire that has flux inside it. Its super old, my dad got it from his work a long time ago. It is illegal now so you cant get it anymore, not sure why. But its great.

Partly Incorrect... a few brands were taken off the market in CA because of the chemical content in the flux.

Radioshack has a solder with flux but its pricey, the issue is getting solder with flux for electrical and not for welding pipe.Check FRYS, Radioshack, or Mouser electronics.

Most of the time people with bad solder connections have nothing to help them hold the wires while they solder them together.. you need a cheap soldering helper from Harbor freight (IIRC $6.99 and it has 6 alligator clips on movable arms with a magnifying glass) My best advice to get a good connection is to tin both wire ends separately and then tin them together lightly to make a nice clean connection, or you can bead up the connection a bit if your not sure but make sure to shrink wrap or wrap in electrical tape.

You can also twine the copper ends together into a single line and then tin them together, always remember to have a clean the soldering iron tip and use a correctly sized tip for your application. (sandpaper the tip to get that ish clean)

[480sx]

Twist both ends of the stripped wire so they dont come apart. Then place them together like their spooning. Then twist them together, and they will stay together on their own. Then you soldier it up.

A relay wouldnt be a bad idea, but i mean your talking about 3 mini bulbs and a SAFC, not really worth running a relay IMO.