DAkota Digital FP Gauge Power

[JCyrbok]

For those of U out there who have installed the Dakota Digitial FP Gauage, where did you take your power from for the unit. I am hardly an electrical guru and nearly pooped myself when I stuck my head under the dash to do some scouting for a spot. Also where did you take the 12v for the DIM function from. I' am still waiting for the gauage to arrive any day and want to be prepared for the install when it gets here. What was the best place ( read easiest). I'm installing my in the cubby hole as I got the rectangular version.



Any help will be appreciated and probably keep the wife happy with me when I'm not ranting and raving out in the garage.



Thanks

J-

 

[Big White Beast]

On an 01.......

Fuse #8 is switched power and #5 follows the lights. Beware on #5 though if you dim the dash too much it wont have the neccessary voltage to trigger the DD dimming option and could hurt the gauge. If you don't dim much it should be fine.



Garrett

 

[Johnny5]

I know what you mean with the wire maze. Finding the correct wire by the box is next to impossible so the route I took for my pillar gauges may be easier for you since you are using the cubby hole. Power from the cig lighter, since I tend to use the power outlet before using lighter (never smoke in the truck), it is a little tricky finding it but remove the drink tray for access, use the power outlet is an alternative. For dimming, tap of the ashtray light, again I chose this cause I hardly use it, I figure you could use the drink tray light also, but as I write this I'm not sure if it dims (would be easy to figure out tho). Just make sure you tap the right wire, each outlet has a power and a ground. If you need wire colors just ask, we'll get 'em for ya.



Johnny5

 

[rono]

What BWB said. I used fuse #8 for power for my dakota digitals. I think its littlefuse that makes a little brass thing that goes in beside the fuse and you can plug onto that for power.

ron

 

[wlowe]

I purchased a bus fuse panel that holds six blade fuses at the local parts store and mounted it under the dash. Then I tapped into the ignition fuse with a "littletap", also from the auto parts store. I put a relay between the ignition tap and the aux fuse panel so it only has power when the key is on and doesn't pull any power from the ignition switch itself. This gives you a power source for up to six devices, plenty for me. For dimmable power I came off the light in the drink tray, easy to get to.

 

[rono]

wlowe, great idea. Where did you find a place under the dash to mount the panel?

Ron

 

[wlowe]

wlowe, great idea. Where did you find a place under the dash to mount the panel?

rono, there is a bracket about five inches to the left of steering column (towards parking brake) that has a wire bundle attached to it. I took a couple of cable ties and attached the fuse panel there. There is a hole in the firewall near this area which makes it very convenient for bringing in power from the battery. Also, since the relay has a mounting bracket built in, I drilled a hole in the fuse panel and attached the relay to it, making it a single unit. The fuse panel has posts on it that take slide on connectors making it easy to add new devices. Anytime I need a power source I just slide on the connector, add a fuse and I'm ready to go.

 

[rono]

wlowe, I must have one of these. My fuse panel (on left of dash behind little cover) looks like a birds nest. I'm always expecting some of the wires to come disconnected and I'll lose not telling what. Does any auto supply have these?

Thanks,

Ron

 

[dieselshu]

Dakota Fuel gauge power

The power wire for the drink holder light is orange, the ground is orange with black stripe. It does dim via the dimmer dial. Oo.

 

[wlowe]

wlowe, I must have one of these.

Ron, I purchased mine at Schucks Auto parts for $10 but I've also seen them at West Marine for a little more. I did a search on the internet and found a very similar setup using the same fuse panel that I have, see below, hope this helps.



http://morrowmarsh.ca/concours/techpages/fusepanel.htm

 

[rono]

wlowe, that helps a lot, the search is on.

Thanks,

Ron