25 replies to this topic

[freshairmini]

I got some auxiliary gauges for my birthday and was planning on fitting them this weekend

I have a quick question about wiring the lights up.

Can I just daisy chain the positive connection from one gauge to another and the closest one to the dials (3 dial setup in my case) be spliced into the wire that feeds the backlights on the dials?

Is that right?

If not how have other people done it?

[Retro_10s]

Whilst this will work i would strongly recommend not taking any feeds directly from the lighting circuit - it is a well known weak point on minis unless your wiring is in absolute mint condition (new connectors etc)... and even then, the full load on the switch (rated at about 16amps) is usually over 15amps..... extra load on this can (and often will) cause the switch to burn out - worst case scenario your mini will go up in flames, when you see smoke, it's probably to late.

Take a fused feed directly from the solenoid/battery or from a spare terminal on your fuse box. This is the safest way.

[AndyMiniMad.]

Thats exactly what I did and it works fine...Although I took the feed from the back of the lights switch... But I dont supose it will make any difference. You could fit an in line fuse as well for super safety.

edit
Im pretty sure a couple of small guage lamps are not going to overload your lighting cct and set your mini on fire. Although the above post is technically correct.

Edited by AndyMiniMad., 29 June 2011 - 07:25 PM.

[freshairmini]

Whilst this will work i would strongly recommend not taking any feeds directly from the lighting circuit - it is a well known weak point on minis unless your wiring is in absolute mint condition (new connectors etc)... and even then, the full load on the switch (rated at about 16amps) is usually over 15amps..... extra load on this can (and often will) cause the switch to burn out - worst case scenario your mini will go up in flames, when you see smoke, it's probably to late.

Take a fused feed directly from the solenoid/battery or from a spare terminal on your fuse box. This is the safest way.

But if I where to take a fused feed from the solenoid/battery surely that would mean that the lights on the aux dials would always be on?

[Retro_10s]

Sorry, i missed out the major part of the circuit there which was a relay! feed comes from the back of the switch and the relay flips allowing a clean supply of 'leccy through to your gauge lights.

I'm not saying you wont get away daisy chaining them directly to you lights,... I'm just pointing out the safest way to do it.

Edited by Retro_10s, 29 June 2011 - 07:28 PM.

[AndyMiniMad.]

Whilst this will work i would strongly recommend not taking any feeds directly from the lighting circuit - it is a well known weak point on minis unless your wiring is in absolute mint condition (new connectors etc)... and even then, the full load on the switch (rated at about 16amps) is usually over 15amps..... extra load on this can (and often will) cause the switch to burn out - worst case scenario your mini will go up in flames, when you see smoke, it's probably to late.

Take a fused feed directly from the solenoid/battery or from a spare terminal on your fuse box. This is the safest way.

But if I where to take a fused feed from the solenoid/battery surely that would mean that the lights on the aux dials would always be on?

I think he is suggesting the use of a relay!!

I am runing six aux gauge lamps off the lighting cct with no problems. But it all depends how much load you are already drawing from your lighting cct.

[freshairmini]

oh i see, well not to sure about the load already on it. does extra spot lights count? (was on one pair of lamps now two)

So If i was to take the relay route would that work by connecting the live feed from the light switch to the switch terminal on the relay then just wire up a fresh live feed to the other side of the relay then to the lights in the gauges? thats how they work right?

never been to sure with relays

Edited by freshairmini, 29 June 2011 - 07:36 PM.

[primrose8]

i think linking them to the existing lights is fine as long as done correctly, as the extra loading would be small and any problems the fuse would blow, but if you want to go belt and braces the relay method is the way, the relay is energised by the light circuit, the switching part of the relay can be used to feed the additional lights via a in line fuse to the battery

[minotaur]

Whilst this will work i would strongly recommend not taking any feeds directly from the lighting circuit - it is a well known weak point on minis unless your wiring is in absolute mint condition (new connectors etc)... and even then, the full load on the switch (rated at about 16amps) is usually over 15amps..... extra load on this can (and often will) cause the switch to burn out - worst case scenario your mini will go up in flames, when you see smoke, it's probably to late.

Take a fused feed directly from the solenoid/battery or from a spare terminal on your fuse box. This is the safest way.

But if I where to take a fused feed from the solenoid/battery surely that would mean that the lights on the aux dials would always be on?

I think he is suggesting the use of a relay!!

I am runing six aux gauge lamps off the lighting cct with no problems. But it all depends how much load you are already drawing from your lighting cct.

if you replace all dash bulbs except alternator warning light with leds you will actually reduce the load and if using good quality leds brighten the dash also!

[Retro_10s]

**post edited**

belt and braces does no harm

good luck with the wiring, extra gauges always look good.

Edited by Retro_10s, 29 June 2011 - 08:00 PM.

[freshairmini]

If I was to go the relay route, what kind of amp wire would I need to take from say the solenoid/battery live feed ive got some 5amp wire, would that be enough with a inline fuse or too little?

[mike.]

5 amp will be plenty for that.

I'd be tempted to just wire it into your lighting circuit though really, a normal 501 style 2.2w bulb for a gauge will draw a tiny amount of current from the circuit.

[Pete93]

5 amp will be plenty for that.

I'd be tempted to just wire it into your lighting circuit though really, a normal 501 style 2.2w bulb for a gauge will draw a tiny amount of current from the circuit.

+1

Although using a relay is a good idea, it just seems abit overkill. Couldn't you just use a 15amp inline fuse just before the switch if your worried about it burning out?

[dklawson]

I must say that I was a bit surprised about the concern for aux gauge lighting and its current draw. I assume this is an issue/problem with the later Minis with more/better lighting to start with than early cars like mine.

Regarding the 2.2 Watt bulbs referenced above, the power calculations are pretty simple.
Watts = Current x Voltage. (voltage in this case is NOT 12V, it is the 14 to 14.5V your charging system is probably operating at with the engine running).
2.2 Watts / 14.5 Volts = Current = 0.15 Amps

That's not a lot of current but every 7 lamps will add one Amp to the gauge lighting circuit. So, your 5 Amp wire will work. I hope the lighting circuit on the later Minis is not so taxed that it cannot tolerate the addition of one or two additional gauge lights. I defer to others on this point though.

[maggies_minder]

im planing on wiring all my aux guages in so they light up soon.

could someone make a really simple wiring diagram even if its by hand so i know what im doing??
the simpler the better as i have no electrical knowledge.
thanks in advance.