switches and new gauges installed (25pics)

[CMF_jaxx]

another interior project finished. thought i would share it with you. the idea was a 10 switch console and 4 new gauges installed.

step 1) to look were the switch panel is going. design it, cut the design out of MDF. drill the holes were it will be screwed through, plus the holes for the switches, dont rush, presise measurment is essential if you want it looking good. sand it. then apply:

2 coats of prime
2 coats of base coat (actual colour you will see) and finaly
2 coats of laquer

leave 24hrs to dry through each of the 3 stages of spraying the pannel.

 

[CMF_jaxx]

pop the switches through

 

[CMF_jaxx]

screw on support ring to secure in place

 

[CMF_jaxx]

pic from back, the switches were put through the holes then glued in for extra strength in securing the switches to the pannel (using hot glue gun)

 

[CMF_jaxx]

wires and connections:

 

[CMF_jaxx]

close up:

 

[CMF_jaxx]

connecting negative, linking them all together so there is no need for 10 negatives, 10 positives etc. just one positive to the battery (fused...very important!)then linked all the neg terminals on the back of the switches together.

 

[CMF_jaxx]

better pic of linking them all together:

 

[CMF_jaxx]

slowly coming together. here you can see the one wire that is connected to a ring connecter (using a crimp tool, saves time and is a go for a neater job):

 

[CMF_jaxx]

thats the back of the pannel and switches all connected up:

 

[CMF_jaxx]

another pic of the completed master piece ha

 

[CMF_jaxx]

front view:

 

[CMF_jaxx]

will it fit!!!

 

[CMF_jaxx]

only just, but very close. here i was lucky because i didnt take in to account the bulkiness of the switches. but it fits so no worries:

 

[CMF_jaxx]

locate a 'ground' near the pannel. in this case on the right hand side.

 

[CMF_jaxx]

an idea of gauge set up:

 

[CMF_jaxx]

after you have finally decided were your gauges are going then its time to feed all the wires from the gauges to the switch pannel, and the senders (example, if you were installing a tacho this 'signal' wire would go to you ignition coil)to the engine bay.

 

[CMF_jaxx]

grounded the actual gauges behind the standard gauge cluster. feed all the neccesary wires through, use cable ties for neater installations:

 

[CMF_jaxx]

last but not least feed them to the pannel ready to be connected to the switch terminals on the back of the switches

 

[CMF_jaxx]

job well done:

 

[CMF_jaxx]

job well done (obviously now the wires cant be seen)

 

[CMF_jaxx]

what it looks like at night:

 

[CMF_jaxx]

gauges in day:

 

[CMF_jaxx]

gauges at night:

 

[CMF_jaxx]

already installed and connected to my cars ignition system included a tacho and air/fuel ratio gauge. i decide to connect this to the switches aswell.

 

[CMF_jaxx]

so opinions welcome. personally i am well chuffed. lent the tools. got given all the connecters fuses etc. i already had the paint left over from when i spraid my dash. the only thing i bpought was extra insulation tape and the atual gauges. i even had some MDF that was of perfect size.

everyone sees the switch pannel and the gauges as the focal point of my cars interior. well pleased.

ONE HUGE PIECE OF ADVISE IF ANYONE TRIES THIS:

when linking the switches as i hav done, make sure after connecting each one you mak sure it works e.g have the positive ready to connect to the no.1 switch and the ground reafy also. if switch no.1 (the one with the main positive going to the car's battery and the one also with the main negative connected to it) doesnt work then no.10 wont. if 1 2 3 4 5 and 6 work but 7 doesnt then 7 8 9 and 10 wont. sound more compicated than it really is.

JUST CHECK EACH ONE AS YOU GO ALONG.

hope i have been helpful here as there has been loads of unanswered quesions regarding gauges and switches. although i do have one request from anyone that knows:

were does the sender attach to with regards to the oil and water temp. im tempted to solder it on to the 2 ecu wires that recives these 2 signals. any good pics tho would be great. thanks

 

[CMF_Napster]

THAT LOOKS ABSOLUTLY AWESOME!!!

IM GLEAD UR PLEASED WITH IT CAUSE IT JUST LOOKS MINK!!!

the only thing im not sure about is "what do they connect to"!?
are all the switches linked to sumting?

other than that very nice

napster

 

[CMF_jaxx]

yi, switch 1's positive terminal goes directly to the cars battery or other 12 V source, always better going to the battery and fusing it....saftey 1st!.

then all the positives are linked from terminal to terminal. same with the negative, that is grounded in one of the above pics very close to the actual switch pannel. makes no difference were tho least its grounded securley. then the positives from the accsessories you want to add just connect to the switches positive terminal.

there is 1 neg and 2 positives, there is only 2 positives with mine as my switches have LED's in them so they neede to be powered when lit up.

 

[CMF_Kirby]

well done! that looks sweet man. with ur cabin lights off and with all the red LED lighted, it looks like a fighter jet cock pit! awesome!

 

[CMF_jaxx]

kirby, cant belive you have said that. that was my original intentions. i originally planed to have them on the roof above the rear view mirror. gadgets everywere but not OTT.

you know were i can get missile launchers and machine guns from ha ha lol. cheers for the compliments guys...much appreciated. i worked very hard on it.

 

[CMF_Toma]

Id does look pretty cool But yeh, looks like theyre all just linked to each other?

Maybe install 10 NOS shots and have them all firing off those? (if your engine can handle 10 shots) ~~~~

 

[CMF_jaxx]

i was actually thinking of a nos purge kit, or i could go down the 'fire extinguisher' route, least i could actually fit that somwere ha. that would be a first in a micra wouldnt it?

 

[CMF_Reichard TUV]

great job!

can you explain to me in which way can I install oil temp and prex? temp and prex sensors already exist on Micra or I must install them?

excuse me for my bad english, I'm italian!

 

[CMF_jaxx]

i was hoping someone would get back to me on that one prefable with pictures. that and the water temp are the ones that are installed but not connected to the engine

can anyone help????
please??????

 

[cisco]

Great work jaxx.

Do you have an ejector seat button?

 

[CMF_jaxx]

ha, least the look i wanted has been achived.
cisco do you have any idea of were in the engine bay the water/oil temp sensors go, any help would be appreciatd.
cheers

 

[CMF_MALLIE]

All that for some lights and guages?? Fair enough.

What the hell is that on the top left hand of your dash above your mobile, looks like a padded banana holder. LOL

 

[CMF_jaxx]

lol, that would be a camera holder. love communicating with educated people. presume you have no idea were the gauge sensors go then!