fuelgauge

[bigdaddy08302]

I installed a new sending unit and fuel gauge...the boat didnt have one hooked up to follow the wiring and I dont know where to attach the hot wire. The instructions said to the ignition but how do I know which wire and where? I had it attached to the fuse box but that was always hot and the light and guage obviously stayed on constantly...with or without the key on. Any help?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: fuelgauge

The ign switch will usually have an accessory pole. If you tell us the year and make of the motor, we can give you the wire color. Newer motors use purple for ign accessory.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: fuelgauge

Look at the back of any of the gauges. You will find either an "I" (ignition) terminal or a "+" sign on one of the terminals. Attach it there. Gauges become active when the ignition switch is on so your fuel gauge will work the same way. Same connections goes for ground and the light. Just hook them to another gauge. Make sure the shell of the sender on the tank is grounded as well or nothing will work.

 

[bigdaddy08302]

Re: fuelgauge

The motor is an '89 50 hp Force

 

[Silvertip]

Re: fuelgauge

The motor has absolutely nothing to do with the fuel gauge.

 

[bigdaddy08302]

Re: fuelgauge

Thought someone might know which wire color is the one I want to attach to for gauge if I shared the make of motor.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: fuelgauge

As I said -- the motor has nothing to do with the fuel gauge. There is more than one wire on the gauge. Pink is the standard wire color from the sender to the "S" terminal on the gauge. But just because pink is the "standard" color, that does not mean that's what was used. Look at the sender. Whatever color the wire is at the sender is what it should be at the console. +12 volts, ground, and the light can be picked off of any other gauge. Again, make sure the metal shell of the sender is grounded.

 

[bigdaddy08302]

Re: fuelgauge

I understand the gauge...where im lost is where to attach the other end of the wire...where do I attach it so it only is on with the key...is that wire on the ignitiona particular color?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: fuelgauge

You were given several options. The easiest is to simply run a wire from the "I" terminal on the fuel gauge to the "I" terminal on any other gauge. Same for ground and the light. If you don't have any other gauges then you need to find the "A" (accessory) terminal on the ignition switch. Not hard to do if you have a voltmeter or test light. Connect the ground lead on meter or test light to grounde. Turn the key to RUN and then probe the wires until you find 12 volts. Turn the key off. If the voltage goes to zero that's the wire you want.