Where to tap power for gauges on a 2006

[Morse]

Hello. . I pulled out the directions for install that came with the gauges, and it told where they recommended to tap for power up to the 2005 model. It was the #2 wire for the headlights. It's orange with a small brown stripe. Well, that's what I did and still have no power. Where did you all tap for your gauges? I know this is pretty basic. I did a search, and I didn't see any helpful hints for an 06. Any help is appreciated. . Thanks. .

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

On my '06, there are two orange with black stripe wires, side by side. I tapped into the one closest to the driver door. It's the dimmer switch wire. My gauge lites work perfect.

 

[Morse]

Thank you very much for the info.

 

[ScottLewis]

Morse:

Were you looking for a power wire or a wire for the gauge lites?

I used the cigar lighter for power source and the OR/BK wire for the lights.



Dan

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

Morse:

Were you looking for a power wire or a wire for the gauge lites?

I used the cigar lighter for power source and the OR/BK wire for the lights.



Dan

Ya, I reread it and sent Morse a pm instead of correcting here.

 

[jp8819]

On my 99 i used tapped into them behind radio. It has a dimmer wire and power wire and were labeled.

 

[JasonCzerak]

unfortunately, the cig power is killed when you hit the starter. I'm thinking of finding a wire that isn't interrupted when you start.



This way you have gauges during start as well as turn you turn the key forward when you wanna run past the governor (disable ABS trick)

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

I'm thinking of finding a wire that isn't interrupted when you start.

On my '06, the 12 volt aux. power ports are constant 12 volt. Your '04. 5 should be the same. But if you do this, you'll also want to put some sort of toggle switch in line so you can kill power to the gauges when you turn the truck off.

 

[LesStallings]

I went down the path of tapping into various power sources as I added stuff. Given, tapping in to the dimmer switch is a must for gauge lighting.



I found that the more accessories I added, the more junked up the wiring became. Eventually I cried uncle and got the Painless Wiring Kit from Geno's. I now take power directly off one of the batteries, thru a fuse, into the cab via the rubber boot above the clutch pedal, and to the Painless fuse block. This fuse block has both switched and un-switched circuits. I mounted the fuse block to the swing down section of the dash that is under the steering wheel. That gives easy access and makes for a neat installation.



You may want to consider future accessories into your wiring plans. Mine kind of grew out of control - gauges, shut-down timer, trailer camera, CB, GPS, satellite radio, etc...



If I trade my truck sometime in the future, I'm going to go with the Painless kit immediately. Having the accessories wired safely from the start will give great peace of mind.

 

[RJOL]

If you're going to be adding lots of stuff, the painless wiring kit is a real good answer. It has both constant, and ignition switched lines and is fully protected with fuses. Another good place for it is on the passenger side of the dash, under the removable plate. Easy to get to, easy to work on. See photo:

 

[JasonCzerak]

On my '06, the 12 volt aux. power ports are constant 12 volt. Your '04. 5 should be the same. But if you do this, you'll also want to put some sort of toggle switch in line so you can kill power to the gauges when you turn the truck off.

I want hte ignition switched, I just do not want the power to go out when when cranking. I'll "half donkey" the guages I have now when I add in the trans temp. Any more, I'll have to redo everything with relays.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

I'm pretty certain I understand what you want, I just don't see how you're going to do it thru ignition hot.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

Les and Rick, I did the same as you guys. I mounted mine on the drivers side tho.

 

[TurboDog]

Can someone tell me which color wire is a good ignition on power wire for the gauges Ii am trying to put in my 2006 megacab. I spent 2 hours trying to get to the cigar lighter and finally gave up and put the whole center console back toghether. I have bucket seats with a console and finally gave up. My Westach combo gauge is pretty much installed minus power! Tthanks.

 

[RJOL]

Can someone tell me which color wire is a good ignition on power wire for the gauges Ii am trying to put in my 2006 megacab. I spent 2 hours trying to get to the cigar lighter and finally gave up and put the whole center console back toghether. I have bucket seats with a console and finally gave up. My Westach combo gauge is pretty much installed minus power! Tthanks.

Don't know why you couldn't get to the cigarette lighter wire, that's a good one for "ignition on" power. If it's just your gauges powered off a wire, another one would be the radio "ignition on" wire. If you're going to be adding more electrical components, I'd get the "painless wiring kit" from Geno's and wire that into your dash. Get the one that has both "ignition on" and "constant on. " Have fun...

 

[TurboDog]

Physical limitations I guess. With the console there I can't even get a look at the cigar lighter or the wires going to it to see which color wire to intercept. I took out the entire center console and still could not get to the lighter. Does anyone know the color code of a 'iginition on' wire I can intercept under the steering column area?

 

[WMonroe]

For the ignition on power to my gauges I tapped off of the power for the adjustable pedals. I don't have adjustable pedals but the harness for the switch was right there behind the dash and it had an ignition hot wire that was very easy to get to.

Will

 

[TurboDog]

Thanks. I will look for it in the morning. I assume it is a connector with nothing plugged up to it, right?

 

[ScottLewis]

TurboDog:

The cigar lighter removes from the panel by depressing a couple of tabs inside the socket and pulling directly outward. There isn't much slack in the wire but it's enough to get a tap on the wire.



Dan

 

[WMonroe]

It is a connector with nothing plugged in and it is in the dash right behind where the switch would be for the power pedals. I think the wire was silver with a pink tracer. (I'm going by my memory on the color). I can take a picture of it today.

Will