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AEM Gauge installation question - ZTWsquared - 06-09-2010
So the countdown to the S/C is in its final stages now as the install begins tomorrow.
In addition to the A/F wideband which I have Macgrubered into the coin tray in the dash, I have the oil temp, water temp, and boost gauges in a pillar pod I ghetto'd for a threesome.
Question is: can all the gauges share a single ground and a single power source ... I'd dearly love to solder them together right at the pod and run just a single set of lines under the dash, instead of 3. Any downside to this?
![[Image: P1000445.jpg]](http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d84/ztwsquared/P1000445.jpg)
RE: AEM Gauge installation question - Oscar The Grouch - 06-09-2010
I believe you're ok so long as the draw is minimal. However I'm not an electrician so I can't say for sure.
RE: AEM Gauge installation question - skifreak69 - 06-09-2010
Should be perfectly fine, as long as you go with an appropriate gauge of wire, basically try and find an equivalent or slightly larger size of wire than the three combined. And of course a fuse on the power wire.
RE: AEM Gauge installation question - hardk0re - 06-09-2010
I would like to see the AEM wideband on its own circuit, at minimum make sure it is grounded to the chassis VERY well. I would avoid grounding it with the rest of them to the exact same point.
Nice boost gauge btw
RE: AEM Gauge installation question - GFXjamie - 06-09-2010
i would say they are all fine on a common power and ground, however like stated make sure to use a larger gauge wire and run it to fuse box. what i did for my boost gauge and wideband was hook right into power at stereo. i know it can handle draw as i had footwell lighting all thru the car among other things and used it for my power source and worked awesome.
RE: AEM Gauge installation question - hardk0re - 06-09-2010
You want an accurate reading on your wideband you don't want current draw from things like a radio messing with it when your relying on it for information.
RE: AEM Gauge installation question - Focus man. Focus. - 06-09-2010
Does this mean you will be boosted if you make it out this coming Monday?
RE: AEM Gauge installation question - ZTWsquared - 06-09-2010
(06-09-2010, 11:38 PM)Focus man. Focus. Wrote: Does this mean you will be boosted if you make it out this coming Monday?
Fingers crossed ... also depends on when I can get to Steeda for the tune. I have a base tune that Pat says will get me around safely, but I guess it remains to be seen how good the car runs on it.
There's also a ton of work to do ... in addition to the supercharger, I have all the gauges to install, the LSD, a new clutch, new water pump, new clutch slave cylinder, new Gates Racing timing belt, and of course the water meth system ... so it's entirely possible it won't be ready for Monday.
RE: AEM Gauge installation question - ZX3_2NV - 06-10-2010
Just tape the 3 wires together so its like one wire and connect it that way. Thats what I had done.
RE: AEM Gauge installation question - hardk0re - 06-10-2010
Ugh tape wires together.... <Shakes head>
RE: AEM Gauge installation question - Focus man. Focus. - 06-10-2010
(06-09-2010, 11:51 PM)ZTWsquared Wrote:(06-09-2010, 11:38 PM)Focus man. Focus. Wrote: Does this mean you will be boosted if you make it out this coming Monday?
Fingers crossed ... also depends on when I can get to Steeda for the tune. I have a base tune that Pat says will get me around safely, but I guess it remains to be seen how good the car runs on it.
There's also a ton of work to do ... in addition to the supercharger, I have all the gauges to install, the LSD, a new clutch, new water pump, new clutch slave cylinder, new Gates Racing timing belt, and of course the water meth system ... so it's entirely possible it won't be ready for Monday.
Ok, ok understandable. But will you bring the Fusion is the Focus isn't ready? BTW I have a bunch of electrical tape if you need it. LOL
RE: AEM Gauge installation question - NikiterZTS - 06-10-2010
(06-10-2010, 12:49 AM)ZX3_2NV Wrote: Just tape the 3 wires together so its like one wire and connect it that way. Thats what I had done.
LOL
No
RE: AEM Gauge installation question - GFXjamie - 06-10-2010
screw tape, marrets FTW!
jk...
i use closed end connectors or butt connectors for everything unless its useless
RE: AEM Gauge installation question - hardk0re - 06-10-2010
flux + solder + adhesive coated heat shrink tubbing - anything less is just cheaping out, you may aswell use masking tape.
RE: AEM Gauge installation question - GFXjamie - 06-10-2010
i took electrical engineering and according my profs, using butt connectors or closed ends with a proper crimping tool (not thos crap canadian tire specials) is just as good as solder and a solid mechanical connection according to them. i havent had any issues as in the past. everything under the hood is shrink wrapped after tho to weather seal it from corrosion.
RE: AEM Gauge installation question - Jmountney1 - 06-10-2010
(06-10-2010, 04:17 AM)hardk0re Wrote: flux + solder + adhesive coated heat shrink tubbing - anything less is just cheaping out, you may aswell use masking tape.
2nd that. deff wasting your time with any thing but soldering them.
but connectors may work but they are not water tight and can corrode.
RE: AEM Gauge installation question - ZTWsquared - 06-10-2010
(06-10-2010, 06:12 AM)Jmountney1 Wrote:(06-10-2010, 04:17 AM)hardk0re Wrote: flux + solder + adhesive coated heat shrink tubbing - anything less is just cheaping out, you may aswell use masking tape.
2nd that. deff wasting your time with any thing but soldering them.
but connectors may work but they are not water tight and can corrode.
I will solder and shrink wrap all connections to be sure ... but when he said "tape" I'm pretty sure he was talking about simply taping all three lines together for the purpose of snaking them through the pillar and under the dash, don't think he was talking about the electrical connections ... that's how I took it anyway.
But anyway, each of the three gauges has four wires in addition to the sensor leads ... hot, ground, 0-5 volt, and RS232 ... so I think I'll combine the hot and ground for all three into one hot and one ground, and bundle all the 0-5 volt and RS232 runs together to run them to under the dash ... the wideband will be done separately.
Thanks all for the advice ... it helped ... and Kev, if the Focus isn't done I won't be coming out on Monday because I will be working on it - I have a track weekend coming up and don't want to miss it.