Where to get power from

[The FNG]

I recently installed a new gauge and was trying to determine where to get power from for the backlight. I want it to come on when I turn my headlights on, so I was going to tap into my headlights and just splice into it. I couldn't find a fuse on the fuse box and didn't want to tear into my dash to get to the headlight switch. There has got to be an easy way to do this. Thanks for any help and putting up with my stupid questions!

 

[stumiister]

Ive installed after market guages before in these trucks.
Mine is an '85, I used the wiring that lit up the dash guages, I dont remember the color/number of the wire and I grounded on the metal part of the dash.
Not sure about the newer trucks but I would say remove the guage panel and use a test light to identify the proper wire that lights up the guages.

 

[The FNG]

Would it be a foreseeable issue to cut the harness just before the headlight and splice it in there?

 

[GOOSE]

There is a wire that goes to your radio and the ash tray light if I'm not mistaken that dims with the dash lights. That is the one you want to get onto.

 

[redneckaggie]

I would most definately not cut into a factory harness, use a relay that kicks on when headlights are turned on.

 

[Kevin 007]

The easiest and cleanest way to do it is to get those little double ended spades, one end slides into a fuse holder(with the fuse) and you can use a female spade connector on the other end for your wiring to your gauge.

 

[The FNG]

I like that idea. Are those pretty easy to come by at napa?

 

[TWeatherford]

I think you can find it at napa. If not there about any auto parts store around. I did it that way, and my gauge lights come come on only with the dash lights, and dim with them too.

 

[laserjock]

I would think so or just about anywhere. I believe they are called fuse taps.

 

[The FNG]

Sweet. Thanks will look into that. Really sounds like the best option

 

[racin460]

I like the fact of using the dimmer for gauges but ford headlight switch n plugs won't handle much load. So be careful we're you tap into ( iv never seen one plug that has not been burnt on the back.

 

[franklin2]

Put your fuse tap into the dash illumination fuse in the fuse box. That's the proper circuit, and it will let you dim your backlight along with your other cluster lights. Most of the early trucks like yours do not have headlight fuses anyway.

P.S. About fuse taps; They are a slick way to get power out of the fuse box, but they have a nasty habit of spreading the terminals apart in the fuse panel. This will not cause problems unless you decide not to use the fuse tap anymore. When you take it out, then the fuse sometimes doesn't make a good connection. You can get around this by just leaving the fuse tap in place, or I have taken the fuse and twisted the blade a little bit so it makes better contact.