Where to tap in for 12 volts near Drivers pillar on 2005 2500?

[johnward]

I am installing a Westach combination EGT/Boost gage in the driver’s side door pillar molding of my 2005 2500. The instructions say to pick up 12 VDC at the dimmer switch on the Orange wire with the brown tracer. However, there appears to be 3 orange wires with brown or maybe black tracers to choose from and there is not much room. Does anyone have another suggestion of where to pick up 12 volts that might be easier?



Thanks for your assistance in advance.



John

 

[JJPage]

You want them on the dimmer switch, or be prepared to be irritated by their glow at night.

 

[DNDracing]

John, I just installed gauges on my 05, (i did a windshield mount with a pod above the rear view mirror) and picked up the 12V light feed off the dimmer switch, it works fine, and I don't remember there being any issues or confusion.

As it turns out I have to remove the light switch panel this weekend to install the switch for the seat heater I just installed. I will try to get a picture and post it if you don't get it figured out before then.

I will second what JJPage said, you need to feed your new gauge lights off the dimmer, otherwise, the gauge lights will annoy the heck out of you.

 

[johnward]

Thank you both for your replies and assistance. I will get into it when is stops raining. At the moment it is pouring down rain here in Phoenix. A picture would be greatly appreciated. I will definately be powering it from the dimmer switch.

Best regards,

John

 

[merv m]

i got install tips from geno's.com, look under the install gauges section

 

[johnward]

OK, so here is another question.

Should I wire the power for the gages and the power for the lights separately? Currently I attached the light to the pins on the gage for the power so they are wired in parallel with what will be the power to the gages.

Thoughts???

 

[merv m]

what kind of gauges do you have? sorry i see you said what gauges you had in your first post

 

[AEdelheit]

That wont work with an electronic gauge, when you dim the lights it will reduce the power to the gauge causing issues. You want the light to be powered off the dimmer switch and gauge power off a keyed power source. The radio power is probably the easiest to tap into, I dont think there is keyed power at the dimmer switch but not 100% sure.

 

[johnward]

Thanks!!! I was afraid that, that might be the case. It will probably work for the ground, but there will need to be 2 seperate power sources one 12V for gage power and one dimable for the lights.

 

[cerberusiam]

The easiest location for switched power is the pink wire with yellow trace lower left of steering column. That is a switch 12V source. I would tap it for both power to the gauges and a seperate dimmer switch for the gauge lights. The gauges always end up brighter than the dash lights so the seperate dimmer switch makes it a lot easier to adjust levels.

 

[DNDracing]

Ok John, not sure if you got this figured out, but here are the pictures I promised...



I do now remember there are two orange w/black tracer wires going to the headlight switch. On our 2005, you need the wire that terminates at pin #2.

Here is another shot of the wire:

I would agree with cerb, the gauge lights are brighter than the IP lights, but if you hook them up to the dimmer on the OE switch, they are very tolerable.



Also for what it's worth, here are is the pink w/yellow wire that was mentioned to pick up switched 12V from. As mentioned, the loom is on the left side of the steering column, and the wire actually feeds the power windows in the driver side door (works on accessory, or ignition on). I tapped into this for my electric seat warmer hook up, something you probably don't have to worry about in AZ. :-laf

When I installed my gauges, I was able to pick up switched 12VDC power from the overhead console since I was using the windshield mount pod, and also grounded the gauges using the ground point in the overhead console. I used the same ground for the light and gauge power and I've had no issues. I did use separate sources for the light and gauge power though. The scotch lock you see on the orange w/black tracer wire is run up the a-pillar and over to my gauges.



I got some more pictures, but I'm having trouble getting them to upload tonight. If these don't help, please let me know, I will try to post the others.



Good luck.

 

[johnward]

The pictures are a HUGE help!!! I have not gotten back into it yet as it has been raining for the past 2 days. If it is easier, you could email the pictures to me at -- email address removed --.



I am going to purchase a 25-ohm 3-watt Rheostat to put in line with the light dimmer feed just in case I needed it.



I really appreciate the help!



Best regards,



John

 

[cerberusiam]

I am going to purchase a 25-ohm 3-watt Rheostat to put in line with the light dimmer feed just in case I needed it.

I am chaning out gauges to the newer Isspro EV II and it is getting a seprate dimmer. The gauges are too bright for where I like to run the dash and the dash is too dim when I get the gauges right.

 

[johnward]

Ceberusiam - I chose the 25-ohm, 3-watt rheostat from Radio Shack for a trim resistor, what are you going to use?

Thank you for responding to my post.

 

[cerberusiam]

Haven't decided yet on what to use. IIRC, ISSPRO has a dimmer that goes with their gauges. Probably too expensive but at least it would work right.

Let us know how your choice works.

 

[JJPage]

IIRC, ISSPRO has a dimmer that goes with their gauges.

Before Dipricol went out of business, they too supplied a separate dimmer switch with their individual gauges (which works very well), unless you purchased them from Geno's, then they were omitted... at least when I received mine.
The Isspro gauges have the best backlighting I have seen.