I thought that I would mention that I just installed an RPM gauge in my '85 runner (non-SR5).
For the power, I found a connector under my dash with a wire that gets 12vdc when THE KEY IS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION. I wired it up to there, thinking when the truck is off and the key removed (as when it's parked), I like the idea of the gauge not being powered.
The reason I like this is that the gauge draws current all the time to keep the needle at 0 when the truck isn't running. This is the Sun-pro meter, BTW.
Anyway, when the key is insterted, the gauge gets power and properly reads zero until the truck is started.
My question would be, is this the way the way other people wire up the power for aux gauges? And, if people wire it hot all the time, have they had any trouble with the battery being dead after sitting for a week or two? (I didn't measure the current draw with truck off).
Or, if people wire the way I did, did that cause any trouble?
I'm just trying to find out what the norm is.

 

87-89. my diagram can only back that far, but toyota wiring code are pretty consistent.
IGNITION 1 BLACK/YELLOW (+) IGNITION SWITCH HARNESS
IGNITION 2 BLACK/YELLOW (+) or BLACK/RED (+) IGNITION SWITCH HARNESS

 

Yep, no need for the gauge when the engine is off, so ignition-switched power works fine.

 

I pulled mine off the cig. lighter. i figured it doesnt pull much power so i wouldnt care if it's on while i have just accessories on. then naturally it's on when the truck is running. i did it this way considering how easy it was to tap that line

 

Thanks for the info, seems like I did OK then. Sometimes I do things that I think are correct, only to start second guessing myself and then I'm forced to ask to satisfy myself.