# power/ground through an audio (1/8") jack? **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\ **Created:** [October 23, 2008, 12:58pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/power-ground-through-an-audio-1-8-jack/56960 "2008-10-23T12:58:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Haenszel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e68b1a/32.png) [@Haenszel](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Haenszel)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 12:58pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/power-ground-through-an-audio-1-8-jack/56960/1 "2008-10-23T12:58:21Z")
The tach in my car only goes to 7k, and i really dislike the good ol’ 5" 10k tach however, I’m looking to install a 5" tach in my car in a removable fashion. I’m thinking about plugs on the dash that can simply be plugged/unplugged to mount/unmount the tach quickly, and without much hassle. My thought was to use either stereo or mono 1/8" audio jacks for power/ground and tach signal to the tach, that way the female ports can be mounted into the dash and easily unplugged and not look terrible. can I put power/ground through these 1/8" audio jacks? ---
**Author:** ![Jagermeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f19dbf/32.png) [@Jagermeister](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Jagermeister)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 1:08pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/power-ground-through-an-audio-1-8-jack/56960/2 "2008-10-23T13:08:52Z")
I have no idea about your question, but I just took the 5" tach out of my car and it is for sale along with all the other gauges. Glad I could be of help to you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Haenszel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e68b1a/32.png) [@Haenszel](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Haenszel)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 1:09pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/power-ground-through-an-audio-1-8-jack/56960/3 "2008-10-23T13:09:56Z")
> [@Jagermeister](#): > > I have no idea about your question, but I just took the 5" tach out of my car and it is for sale along with all the other gauges. > > Glad I could be of help to you. 🙂 I already have a tach in a box somewhere yo… but pm me what other gauges you got. ---
**Author:** ![Bacon](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bacon/32/7230_2.png) [@Bacon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bacon)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 1:10pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/power-ground-through-an-audio-1-8-jack/56960/4 "2008-10-23T13:10:10Z")
No reason why a stereo jack wouldn’t work, are used for the occasional low amperage power supply. Power, ground, signal. ---
**Author:** ![Haenszel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e68b1a/32.png) [@Haenszel](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Haenszel)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 1:10pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/power-ground-through-an-audio-1-8-jack/56960/5 "2008-10-23T13:10:57Z")
> [@Bacon](#): > > No reason why a stereo jack wouldn’t work. Power, ground, signal. its not gonna blow up and light my car on fire? ---
**Author:** ![justa4door](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/justa4door/32/7259_2.png) [@justa4door](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/justa4door)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 1:11pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/power-ground-through-an-audio-1-8-jack/56960/6 "2008-10-23T13:11:26Z")
yes to answer the question you can do that but i would not go with a 1/8 mabye thing a remote control car batt plug (get it at radioshack) … or a rca… just dont use a 1/8 IMO i will edit with links you need this… but with 2 they have them i just dont know where on line…but here is the link [http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102435&cp=2032058.2032231.2032287&parentPage=family](http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2102435&cp=2032058.2032231.2032287&parentPage=family) useing a 1/8 i dont like b/c you will throw 12v threw the grnd as you push it in… i dont like the idea…( i cant put it in words but its like sex) edit … banana plug would work link [http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2407245&cp=2032058.2032231.2032280&pg=2&parentPage=family](http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2407245&cp=2032058.2032231.2032280&pg=2&parentPage=family) or buy this [http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2104018&cp=2032058.2032231.2032283&parentPage=family](http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2104018&cp=2032058.2032231.2032283&parentPage=family) ---
**Author:** ![Bacon](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bacon/32/7230_2.png) [@Bacon](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Bacon)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 1:15pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/power-ground-through-an-audio-1-8-jack/56960/7 "2008-10-23T13:15:39Z")
> [@Haenszel](#): > > its not gonna blow up and light my car on fire? Just connect it to accessory power, and only connect/disconnect with power off. I doubt a tach. would draw that much current, and a 5A or 1A fuse to it. ---
**Author:** ![justa4door](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/justa4door/32/7259_2.png) [@justa4door](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/justa4door)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 1:23pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/power-ground-through-an-audio-1-8-jack/56960/8 "2008-10-23T13:23:02Z")
dont use a 1/8 ---
**Author:** ![LXIFLYBY](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lxiflyby/32/7399_2.png) [@LXIFLYBY](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LXIFLYBY)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 3:04pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/power-ground-through-an-audio-1-8-jack/56960/9 "2008-10-24T15:04:29Z")
your better off with 1/4 but be careful to use the tip of the plug for your +12v so you dont short it out pulling the plug out or pushing it in. ---
**Author:** ![boardjnky4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/96bed5/32.png) [@boardjnky4](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/boardjnky4)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 4:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/power-ground-through-an-audio-1-8-jack/56960/10 "2008-10-24T16:33:34Z")
yeah the problem is that you are going to short the contacts everytime you plug/unplug it. I would go with a side by side plug. Somebody mentioned the type of plug that is used for R/C Car batteries. That is a really good idea. ---
**Author:** ![ZOMGVTEK](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/zomgvtek/32/5063_2.png) [@ZOMGVTEK](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/ZOMGVTEK)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 4:49pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/power-ground-through-an-audio-1-8-jack/56960/11 "2008-10-24T16:49:48Z")
The plug shorts when you plug and umplug it. Thats not a good idea. Find another connector from radioshack or something. ---
**Author:** ![nitroinsane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d26b3c/32.png) [@nitroinsane](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/nitroinsane)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2008, 4:59pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/power-ground-through-an-audio-1-8-jack/56960/12 "2008-10-24T16:59:59Z")
You can get solder on connectors that connect and disconnect.or you can wire a regular push on connector don’t hack it ---
**Author:** ![LXIFLYBY](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/lxiflyby/32/7399_2.png) [@LXIFLYBY](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LXIFLYBY)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2008, 2:45pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/power-ground-through-an-audio-1-8-jack/56960/13 "2008-10-27T14:45:17Z")
As long as the engine is not running when you pull it out or plug it in you should be fine if the tach signal wire and ground touch. Just make the tip of the plug connected to your +12v ---
**Author:** ![justa4door](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/justa4door/32/7259_2.png) [@justa4door](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/justa4door)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2008, 4:54am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/power-ground-through-an-audio-1-8-jack/56960/14 "2008-10-28T04:54:10Z")
did you do this yet… please tell me that you did not use a 1/8 or 1/4 plug