Automotive electrical wiring question

[Chris]

I’m doing some wiring on my ‘72 Camaro Z28. What I am doing specifically is installing the Autometer American Muscle dashboard and gauges.

To do this each gauge needs a power and a ground to start with. My question is about the wiring and what I should do.

Should I:

1. Run power to one gauge and then jumper that power from the back of that one gauge to all the others.
2. Take the power wire (which appears to be 20 gauge) and make a wiring loom with SIX power wires (since there are six gauges) that all tie into that single power wire.

Any help is appreciated. I know both methods would do the trick, I just want to know if there is a “right way” to do this sort of thing.

 

[mrblaine]

I’m doing some wiring on my ‘72 Camaro Z28. What I am doing specifically is installing the Autometer American Muscle dashboard and gauges.

To do this each gauge needs a power and a ground to start with. My question is about the wiring and what I should do.

Should I:

1. Run power to one gauge and then jumper that power from the back of that one gauge to all the others.
2. Take the power wire (which appears to be 20 gauge) and make a wiring loom with SIX power wires (since there are six gauges) that all tie into that single power wire.

Any help is appreciated. I know both methods would do the trick, I just want to know if there is a “right way” to do this sort of thing.

Race cars are typically daisy chained. The current draw is so low and 6 out of one so problematic that the daisy chain is easier and better looking when done correctly.

 

[Chris]

Race cars are typically daisy chained. The current draw is so low and 6 out of one so problematic that the daisy chain is easier and better looking when done correctly.

Okay, thanks for that info. The daisy chain seemed like the better method in my head as well, certainly cleaner too.

 

[Zorba]

Another vote for daisy chain. Star wiring has its place, but isn't necessary here...

 

[hardtailpan]

Agree with above, just make sure the the wire gauge will support total amp draw. As Mr. Blaine says, draw should be quite low, unless you have a amp gauge in the cluster, then wire that separately with the appropriate gauge wire.
EDIT: It appears you don't have an amp gauge, just a volt gauge, so you should be good to go.

 

[Chris]

Daisy chain is all done. Now I’ve got to wire it to the car and hope everything works.

 

[Chris]

Thanks for the help, everything turned out great. The real PITA here is that these old things don’t have tilt steering so I had to drop the steering column to get the gauges in there.

 

[NashvilleTJ]

That looks sharp, Chris. Nice job. Everything working?

 

[Chris]

That looks sharp, Chris. Nice job. Everything working?

Everything worked on the first try. That's good because I was honestly expecting something not to work. I spent a lot of time sorting the wires out though and paying very close attention to what goes where. Needless to say I was happy when I fired it up and everything worked. Certainly an improvement over the factory gauge cluster.