Gauges, switches and more relays for ignition wire

[wllgbsn]

So I’m tackling the electrical mess I’ve created over the last 18 months over the Christmas break (the relatives visiting will be impressed I’m sure) and I’m just wondering about a few things. When I put in some gauges and switches where is the best place to tap into an ignition wire, I’ll have the radio out so that might be easiest? Any idea what colour wire it’ll be anyone?
In total I’ll be adding 6 switches and 5 gauges (mud pod and a gauge pod next to the drivers Pilar) which will tap off this wire, that’ll be a relay job for sure right?

It exciting times for the old disco with the hope of providing the most possible amount of warning for any danger, I’ve got a low coolant alarm to install too, I’m thinking the units which measure engine block and transmission temps might be good too. I’ve got oil pressure, oil temp and boost gauges and sensors purchased too but I’ll sort that out once I’ve sorted the rest out. Does anyone have any experience with how responsive the standard low oil pressure light is (I’ve never started the car and the light stay on for more than 3 seconds). If it’s decent (compared to coolant temp gauge 😫) them I might not even bother with those three and will chuck them on eBay or give them to any local Interested LR owners who would be interested (ultimately I’m more concerned about reliability and longevity than short term performance).

[mattmannz]

What are the switches for?

I would recommend running a new feed from the fuse block or directly from the battery and use a relay so that it's only on when the ignition is on.

This way you can run as many circuits as you want/need and design it yourself. Overloading factory circuits isn't a good idea.

[bee utey]

D1's have very robust ignition wires coming out of the back of the ignition lock and going straight to the fuse box. Tap into the white wire for ignition and the yellow wire for accessories. Neither will be overloaded by mere gauges.

[wllgbsn]

So the gauges are for egt and water temp while the switches are for roof lights, light bars etc, six switches in total, the role of the ignition light is that the gauges and switches only turn on (they are digital gauges and the heavy duty rocker switches). So whereabouts would I access that ignition wire? And in case you were wondering all the switches are to a fuse block, however they need an ignition wire for the lights inside the switches to work I believe. So just for clarification should I run a wire from that ignition wire to a relay which will then provide the ignition supply to the gauges and switches? Thanks guys, I’ll be having a chat to the blokes at jay car tomorrow or Friday.

[wllgbsn]

I believe that the red/brown wire at the back of the head unit is an accessory source which after further review I will probably tap into, then the switches and gauges will turn on when the head unit does, that seems acceptable to me. Alternatively I may use a wire tap fuse from jay car inserted into the fuse which controls the dash lights, that would likely be neater I feel

[bee utey]

The ignition switch wires are in a black sleeve and very easy to access, just drop the cover under the steering wheel and they're near the top plugged into the fuse box. Slice it open and solder a wire straight to it.

[Fausto79]

i have a fuse tap that goes to a little fuse box i bought. i couldn't find any spare fuse slots as the empty ones had no wiring or anything. so i tapped into the cigar lighter fuse, which then goes to a small fuse box under the steering wheel panel. from there i have several fuses for each gauge and wiring to each. i think it's an 8 slot fuse box from jaycar.

i picked the cigar lighter as it has a 20amp capacity and i dont smoke. i'm not sure what would happen if i had an accessory plugged into it or used the lighter for some reason. never tried it. probably never will.