in the directions it says to hook it to a power source.........would it be good to hook it directly to the battery or alternator? i know it would read volts all the time, but wouldn't that be the only way to tell true volts.....

were is the stock gauge reading from?

 

Yes that would be the best way to read the actual voltage but not good for it to stay on all the time. I hooked mine into the wiper fuse, its the only one that I could find with ignition power other than modules and the radio. With your truck being older you might have some open spots in the fuse block for switched ignition power, if voltage is low its going to be low everywhere.

 

id just shoot it to a consant 12 volts

 

true....my radio has a built in voltmeter, and it reads anywere from .2 to .4 lower than the power cap that is directly hooked to the batter........

were is the stock gauge reading from?

 

i could do that but my systems has 12.5v when the truck isn't running....it stays around 14v when the truck is running....

 

I used the same igintion source that I used to run the gauge lights. pretty sinple and it seems accurate. I just Tee'd the wire if you will.

 

Hooked directly to the battery or power distro box would be the most accurate system voltage reading. Connecting it to other sub-systems (stereo, dash, etc) would be the system voltage minus any voltage drop on that circuit from wiring, connectors, etc. You see a prime example of this on the stereo's voltmeter.

 

would it cause a problem to the gauge to be on all the time if it is hooked directly to the battery or alternator?

 

it seems to me the instructions were specific to NOT go straight to the battery. Personally either way gets it done.

 

The red/yellow wire from dash fuse 11.

 

here is the instructions as they read...

 

is that the only thing drawing off that fuse?

 

Nope. It powers the entire instrument cluster.

 

oooooooo........what do you think Bob, would it be ok to hook it directly to the battery or alternator? I mean will it hurt the gauge any?

 

No, I would wire it so it only comes on in START/RUN just like the factory setup.

 

ok thanks bob....

 

You got it done yet????????????????

 

dude easiest gauge over to hook up think i had it in, in like 2 min... mine is hooked just to my ask tray light its a constant 12+ its always on idk why....

 

shat son.....i will be lucky to have it done before the meet.....

 

WTF that is like no brainer gauge man takes like 1-2 min to install...

 

 

Then we can do it at the meet then

 

i know it dont take long, but me finding time to do it and finding the time to build the center pocket on my console to hold 3 gauges also has to be done...