Guage Lights Blows a Fuse

[money pit]

On my 70 Barracuda, I installed 4 additional guages. A tach, oil pressure, a voltmeter, and a temperature guage. To light the guages, the installation instructions says to tap into the wiring for the stock gauges. I connected 2 of the guages, the fuse blew. According to the fuse panel the instrument lights uses a 3A fuse, all the other fuses are 20A. I went right off the fuse panel. Should I tap into the circuit someplace else? Can I put in a slightly larger fuse, like a 5 or 10A? FYI have LED dashlights.  Thanks

[70chall440]

a couple of things here, first is that adding the gauge lights is not what popped your fuse I do not think, those lights (all of them to include the dash) should not be drawing more than 3A. So, a couple of possibilities here

1. the fuse was about dead anyway and the additional draw from the gauges killed it (possible, not probable)
2. your new gauge lights have a short some place; meaning the wire from the gauges or the lights themselves is touching a ground. (probable)

I would put in another 3A fuse and try it again, if it pops then you know you have a short. You will need to discover what it grounding out.

[money pit]

I'm 99.9% sure the the lights in the additional guages are not shorted. I'll double check them. I think you are correct in the old fuse being ready to go. All the fuses look like the original.  Thanks.

[70chall440]

No worries, I am sure you will get it figured out.