Keep alive question

[Theshandman]

The F5 (Speed-hut) traditional gauge set uses a daisy chained power wiring approach (red, black, white) which includes the clock that has only the 3 pin power connector and a jack for a button to set the time. How would I apply the red keep-alive wire to the clock without screwing up power to the other gauges in the chain? I’m guessing if the clock is the last gauge in the chain, I’d simply de-pin the red wire and substitute the keep-alive wire?

[Avalanche325]

That is what you need to do. Make sure you have a fuse in the circuit.

[phileas_fogg]

Has Speedhut changed the wiring for their clock? On my set of gauges, delivered circa 2015, the clock was not included in the daisy chain. Instead, it had a stand-alone +12V wire, a stand-alone ground wire, and a snap-in lighting wire.


John

[Theshandman]

Has Speedhut changed the wiring for their clock?
Apparently. My clock has the same 3-pin (red, black, white) connector as all the other guages.
And I should mention that after reviewing the wiring (it's been a while since I did it), I see it is effectively a star distribution harness rather than a true daisy chain.
Art

Edit: Now that I think about it for more than a millisecond, I answered my own question! De-pinning the stock power wire (and inserting the keep alive wire) will have no effect on the other gauges. :)

[Chopper]

I have a clock and a keep alive in my roadster. I normally pull the keep alive over the winter, and then forget to reinstall it. As a result, my clock is never right. I was thinking about replacing it with an oil temperature gauge. Not that I need one for street driving, but seems more functional. I know my comment is a little off topic, but, that's where I am after 8 years of having the clock. My wife, on the other hand, loves analog clocks in cars. Otherwise if you keep power, the clock does work well!

[phileas_fogg]

Good to know about the updated gauges.

Choose your keep alive circuit carefully. If it's not hot while cranking, you'll lose a few seconds every time you start the car. It doesn't seem like much, but after a while you'll notice that your clock is 5-10 minutes slow.


John

[Theshandman]

Good to know about the updated gauges.

Good point about the power source being active -or not- during cranking!
And, I've seen some posts that discuss how the clock is not illuminated. The clock that came with my gauge kit is. Now here's something perplexing, and perhaps a bit off topic: All the gauges remain lit at equal brilliance throughout the entire rotation of the dimmer function on the light switch, but not when the knob is rotated to the full clockwise position. I've checked continuity of the dimmer function and resistance does vary as the knob is rotated but goes open at the full clockwise position. I've dbl checked the RF light switch wiring. All good. I have a Ron Francis switch which looks and functions exactly like the one supplied with the kit (only bought it to match the look of a few other RF switches). I don't recall much about LED activation thresholds but will an LED illuminate at one level as long as the voltage is 'somewhere' within an appropriate range?
Art

[Avalanche325]

I ran mine right from the battery, since I have a cutoff between the seats. I have a fuse for it right in the battery box.