tranny temp gauge install.... help?

[Szalkerous]

okay, this is the most idiodic thing I've posted thus far but...

I've never installed aftermarket gauges, and I went to finally install my tranny temp gauge for the perma-cool filter kit, now out of curiosity if someone knows...

I have the ignition wire spliced off the radio, the ground is well, ground. I ran a wire from the top of the sender to the gauge. I used a multimeter to test voltage between the different components. But when I drive I get no reading (from the gauge)... and lately, since I've done this work, my car starts like total crap, seems the battery is gettin sucked. I checked the lines again, possibly wondering if my ignition wire was the constant positive... which it's not, although I noticed something else, when the car is off, the ignition wires read slight voltage still, like 0.75v... and that's true for other things as well, like the cigarette lighter. (which I also tested) Is that normal?

Now another question I have, is how does the sender unit operate? does it need a ground as well? I have the filter base not grounded out...could that be the cause of the issue??

thanks all.

[Zeppelin]

The sending unit needs to be grounded as well...

[Szalkerous]

thanks....yeah I figured that out yesterday. works great.

-Sz