Which Wire Is Hot?

[BBM66]

Me again.....
I know that the pink wire within the 73GT dash instrument wiring cluster is the ignition wire that is energized as the key is turned on...Here's the question: What wire in the dash instrument cluster, if any, is a constant hot? There is a fat red wire that plugs into the headlight switch and if I were a betting man....and it just so happens Ive been known to place a bet or two...I would say that wire is a constant hot. If that's not right, what other wire back there might be ? Thanks for the answer!
Bill

[spencerforhire]

The red at the headlight switch is indeed unswitched 12+, but there also is a couple more. There should be an orange at the headlight switch(park light supply), an orange at the back of the clock, and another at the lighter. How much current capability you need will determine which one you use; the red is basically unprotected except for the main fusable link at the starter, and the orange is through the clock/lighter fuse. If you need a large amount of current I would suggest going directly to the battery.

[Wizeguyrc]

Years ago, I learned that lesson the hard way on an American Auto wire kit. They supplied fused wires for the electric fans, but it didn't take long to figure out that it was a mistake to run those wires straight to the fans. The jacket on the 10 gauge red wire that supplied power to the rest of the car started to distort from to much heat. I discovered that when the headlights, fuel pump, etc and the fans were on, there was almost 95 amps being pulled through that wire. We switched those two wires to turn on relays and pulled power straight from the battery and solved the problem.
BTW....the stud on your horn relay, with all the red wires going to it, has constant power.

[dadhad1]

Another under the dash wire option too if you're not drawing a lot of current, is the orange wire to the glove box lamp.
That should be constant 12V as well (at least originally it was).

[BBM66]

Excellent info and suggestions gentleman, thank you for your ideas!
Bill