Fuse Box Install with Switched Power

[treducks]

Hi

I need some advice. I'm relatively green when it comes to electrical work so please excuse my ignorance.

I've been searching the forums for the last couple days about wiring a fuse box for adding extra electronics to my truck. I've found plenty of posts about people wiring it directly to the battery for a circuit that's always on, but nothing about wiring it to switched power - I wanted to wire mine so it only worked when the ignition was turned on. I've seen some people go through one of the switched accessories on the existing fuse box but I wanted to avoid that. I figured there had to be a better way, connecting the new fuse box to the battery and using a relay to switch it on/off with the ignition. I did some searching last night and found this diagram.



In this diagram you can see there's 40a relays. I was thinking I wanted to use 80a (with the appropriate gauge wiring) instead as I didn't think 40a was enough for all the stuff I eventually wanted to install (CB, lights, winch etc). Has anyone wired a fuse box in this manner? Is 80a too much? Am I looking at this all wrong?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Ben

[justin123560]

What fuse block are you planning on using? If you want it to be switched when you start the truck you may have to run a high amp solenoid that will be triggered as i've seen other people do it. Also you will not be connecting the winch to a fuse block. A winch should be connected to the battery all the other accessories are fine. My fuse block is rated at 100amps and I have a 100amp circuit breaker, so 80 isn't that much.

The diagram you provided will work but to simplify things I personally would rather have a single breaker and a single wire going into the cab to provide power to my fuse block

[treducks]

I have a Blue Sea 5026 ST Blade. Thanks for the info about the solenoid. I'll look into that option.

[justin123560]

BlueSea . People use solenoids to trigger high amp power inverter. In your case instead will be powering a fuse block.

When tapping into the stock electrical system do not splice or any of that stuff into an existing wire. Just use a fuse tap that will trigger the solenoid. The less you tamper with the stock electrical system the less problems and easy diagnosis. Keep us updates people might want to copy this and its a great idea.

You can mount the fuse block here like this

Installed fuse block, circuit breaker, cb radio

[treducks]

Thanks for the info and that link. I was originally going to mount the block under the hood but looking at the photos on that write up, having it behind the glove box may make it easier to wire additional accessories in the future. Currently researching the solenoid route and I'll do a write up once I have it sorted.

Thanks!

[glamisdude72000]

Diagram looks good, but I agree with Justin. Go with a solenoid(s) vs. relays. Just keep the amount of amps in mind when you start adding your goods

[ezymount]

If you don't happen to need any more than 30Amps of service, this is the way to go...! FUZEBLOCKS.COM