Panel Fuse keeps blowing. Need dimmer knob, Figured it out :) Options

[mgnt232]

So yesterday my panel fuse (7.5a) decided to blow. All i know thats powered by that is the gauge lights? which is alot more important than you'd think lol.
At first I thought it was my vent and handle lights, because I took the power from the cig lighter light, so everything would turn on with the lights and it has worked fine for months, but thought maybe a wire came loose or something. Searched for a couple hours tracing everywire, blowing a bunch of fuses, and eventually just unhooking all the extra lights from the power.
Still blew the fuse
Hooked the lights up to a direct power, they all turn on fine, so im pretty positive its not them
Is there anything else powered by this fuse? I cant imagine it just does the gauge lights but from what I can see it is... Anything common I should check?
I havent done any wiring in a few months so I dont understand why it would just start to blow?
Anyway to put direct power to the gauge lights? thanks a ton in advance

This post has been edited by mgnt232: Dec 9, 2010 - 9:05 AM

[Imawakeyo]

Hahaha I wish I'd seen this earlier. Mine did the exact same thing when I first bought the car, It would blow fuses and then none of my gauge lights would work. Had to drive from work to home with a flashlight handy because it would blow at night. Pick one up from the junkyard but be sure just to take the dimmer knob or they'll charge you for the whole plastic piece. Bout $5 tops.