Minimum electrical connections to test gauges | FerrariChat
Buy

Minimum electrical connections to test gauges

Discussion in '206/246' started by HMB-Dino, Apr 18, 2011.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. HMB-Dino

    HMB-Dino Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 28, 2010
    2,285
    Pebble Beach, CA
    Full Name:
    RonG
    #1 HMB-Dino, Apr 18, 2011
    Last edited: Apr 18, 2011
    My gauges went out for refresh and have returned and a variety of BA9s LED's delivered. Before I took the gauges out, I disconnected the battery. Now I'm ready to test several types of LED's to improve the normally dim lighting (even with dimmer switch bypassed). With the exposed dashboard leads of all other gauges covered (to avoid possible shorting), I connected the Oil Temp (aka Temp Olio) gauge and reconnected the battery. But I have no electrical connection; headlights don't go on, turning ignition doesn't start fuel pump, etc. Yikes!

    I was planning to test different LED's in each gauge to see what works best before I reassemble everything. So is there some minimal electrical connection I'm missing to perform this trial and error lighting task? Does the Alternator gauge need to be connected to close a needed loop for anything else to get juice?
     
  2. alhbln

    alhbln Formula 3
    Consultant Owner

    Mar 4, 2008
    1,749
    Berlin, Germany
    Full Name:
    Adrian
    #2 alhbln, Apr 18, 2011
    You need to connect the amperemeter (alternator gauge) to get 12V from the battery to the car's wiring.
     
  3. 500tr

    500tr Formula 3

    Feb 28, 2004
    1,218
    Germany
    Full Name:
    Volkmar Spielmann
    #3 500tr, Apr 18, 2011
    ;-)
     
  4. HMB-Dino

    HMB-Dino Formula 3
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 28, 2010
    2,285
    Pebble Beach, CA
    Full Name:
    RonG
    #4 HMB-Dino, Apr 18, 2011
    Didn't realize that the amperemeter was gatekeeper of power to everything else...thought perhaps it was an `observer'. And yes, I suspected my question might fall into the "dumb question" category. Glad to hear that I met my own expectations in that regard...
     
  5. dignini

    dignini Formula 3

    Aug 21, 2005
    1,348
    NJ
    Full Name:
    Luigi Marazzi
    #5 dignini, Apr 18, 2011
    No such thing as a dumb question!
    It does bring home the need to keep those nuts nice and tight. Imagine a loose battery connection, sparks everywhere!
     
  6. alhbln

    alhbln Formula 3
    Consultant Owner

    Mar 4, 2008
    1,749
    Berlin, Germany
    Full Name:
    Adrian
    #6 alhbln, Apr 18, 2011
    Not at all, it's not so obvious if you don't know exactly what the amperemeter does (measuring the charge load on the battery). This might come in handy while working on your Dino (the amperemeter is on the right to position #30):
    http://www.dinoplex.org/Ferrari246GT_E_ColorWiringSheet.pdf
     

Share This Page