Wiring new instruments...

[Helga]

On a 1982 aircoooled, where should I wire new instruments / gauges? (forget the actual 'gauge' wires - I mean the power wires)

I presume any live 'ignition on' feed? So that would be anywhere between terminal 15 and the main fuse box yes? Spur off, a new fuse and then splits to the positive feeds on the instruments - THEN for the lights on the instruments, a feed from the multiconector on the main instrument clustur, soldered, out to the instruments... ok? Or will that dim the instrument lights? (which are pretty damn weak to start with!!) All done with 1mm 2 wire?

Any help appreciated - and thanks to everybody recently, thanks to you all I now have several boxes of bits and bobs and several weekends worth of crimping, screwing (screws), soldering and swearing ahead of me

[AngeloEvs]

Can't asnswer which point on the fuse box (for a/c) supplies 12V ignition feed but the new instrument back light wiring would probably be best taken from the 'panel light' feed at the light switch rather than the multiconnector but either will do the job. Which is best depends on your method of linking in to the wire/loom and the available space around it to make the conx. Done correctly, there should be no adverse affect on the brightness of the existing panel lights. Have the wiring diagram if you need colour codes, pin numbers, etc,

[Helga]

Wire diagram would be really handy! Can I pm you my email address?

Thanks, Helga

[AngeloEvs]

Colour Code Grey/blue Stripe (Panel Light feed) located at.................

Terminal 58b Light Switch ( should be two wires either will do)

Pin 3 Multiconnector

[Helga]

Brilliant, thanks.

[Cafnod]

Hi helga
You realise you do not have to take instrument light feeds from the panel light feed? If these are extra gauges there is nothing to stop you ending the live feed from the fusebox to the gauges at a rocker switch that then feeds the gauge lights. Many british commercials were wired like this as the only instrument that is legally required to illuminate is a spedometer, so the others were switched

[Helga]

Ah, interesting... save a bit of precious voltage most of the time then eh?

[Cafnod]

That and the glare from the instruments when they were possibly brighter than the pre focus headlamp bulbs lol.