As I continue wiring (12 volt) I remember reading here a few times that the original gauges need to have the voltage reduced to 5 volts. I am using the gauges from an 86 F150. Do I still need to drop the voltage or are the newer gauges set up for 12 volt? Thanks

 

Yes, it uses a Instrument panel voltage regulator. standard motor products VRC606 is what Rockauto list for the 86 f150.

 

Ok. I have a couple of these from old gauge clusters. If I connect a 12 volt positive wire to the 12 volt side and ground the tab I should read 5 volts on the outlet side, correct? Or am I missing something. I tried this and get a 0 volt reading on the output side. What am I doing wrong.

 

on the bench,connect the positive batt to the 12 volt side , do not attach anything other than your meter to the output. put the other lead on the neg battery post. this will give you your reading. I do not know about 86 model gauges but the earlier ones pulsed, off/on quickly that is the way they worked. Later models are just straight 5 volts and do not pulse I have been told.

 

So if it reads 12 volts on the outlet side as well the regulator is pooched then, correct?

 

Try this, if you are testing on the bench, from the grounding tab (mount) run a jumper to the neg batt post to ground the case, a jumper cable would work. then test it like I said before. If you still have 12 volts I would say you have a bad one or the wrong one. You should use a analog meter if it is a pulsing unit to see the pulse.

 

I like your wiper motor and brake pedal setup, that's pretty cool, you do good work.

 

Thanks. This site is to thank for most of my work. Without it I would have stopped with disc brakes on the front and wouldn't have known I was missing anything else.

Well I am using my boat battery with the posts and wing nuts on top. I clamped the tab under the neg side. Connected a wire to the positve post then used the meter between the positive outlet and the neg post. Still have 12 volts. They must be bad.

 

you tested it right, this is a great forum, I also have learned a bunch from these guys.

 

Thanks for the help. Appreciate it. Now off to NAPA in the morning...
Later.
Remi