How to Install an Autometer Volt Gauge
by Dan Ferrell
Installing an autometer volt gauge in your vehicle is a simple procedure. Deciding in advance, where you want the gauge mounted and what circuit you will connect it to will make the procedure much easier. These steps apply to most aftermarket gauge sets and will help you install the unit in a matter of minutes.
Step 1
Park your car in a safe, level place. Turn off the power.
Step 2
Choose the best mounting location for your autometer volt gauge. A good place is under the dashboard, which makes it easier to route wiring away from plain sight.
Step 3
Mark the mounting holes for the volt gauge using the mounting bracket for your gauge as a template. Set the mounting bracket in place and mark the mounting holes using a marking pen.
Step 4
Drill the mounting holes using an electric drill. If you are mounting the gauge under the dashboard, use a drill bit smaller than the mounting screws you will be using to help the gauge bracket hold better to the board.
Step 5
Install the gauge mounting bracket using coarse thread pitch screws for better hold.
Step 6
Lay out the black ground wire between the gauge and a good ground under the dashboard--a metal surface from the dashboard or an existing bracket. Route the wire following a suitable harness under the dashboard if possible. Decide the approximate length of wire you will need, and give yourself a few extra inches to play with.
Step 7
Cut the ground wire and hook one end to the ground connector on the volt gauge; then route the wire toward the ground you decided on in Step 6. Thread the wire under cable ties already in place under the dashboard, or use your own cable ties to secure the ground wire to an existing harness. Connect the other end of the wire to ground.
Step 8
Lay out the red power wire between the volt gauge and the power source. You can choose any suitable accessory wire under the dashboard as long as it is hot--has voltage--only when the ignition switch is turned to the "On" position. The red power wires for the radio and blower motor are good choices. Route the volt gauge wire as you did with the ground wire in Step 6, and decide the length you will need.
Step 9
Cut the red wire to the appropriate length, and hook one end to the power connector on the volt gauge. Route the wire following the procedure in Step 7, and hook the other end of the wire to the power source. Wrap the connection to the power source with electrical tape.
Step 10
Turn on the ignition switch and check the volt gauge operation.
Tips
- Before making the final connections to your autometer volt gauge, test the ground and power contact points to make sure they will work on your gauge. If not, try reversing the wire connections on your gauge and test again.
Things You'll Need
- Marking pen Electric drill Coarse thread pitch screws Cable ties Electrical tape
Writer Bio
Since 2003 Dan Ferrell has contributed general and consumer-oriented news to television and the Web. His work has appeared in Texas, New Mexico and Miami and on various websites. Ferrell is a certified automation and control technician from the Advanced Technology Center in El Paso, Texas.
