Fuse box swap question

[oldpaths]

Sorry if this is a dumb question (but I'm not much on wiring).....I'm considering replacing my worn out fuse box. My question is will this fuse box work and if so do I just run my constant hot wire from my old box (black w/yellow stripe) to the positive post on the new box and add a ground to the body for the negative post on the new box? then run the remaining old wires to the positive terminals on the new box?https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08XWQHMZJ/?tag=classicbroncos-20

 

[DirtDonk]

That's a nice piece. And small too!
Personally, unless you're going to mount it in the exact same location as stock(?) I would just get two and wire one up with constant power from the Black w/yellow, and wire the other up with switched from the Black w/green wire.
They're so inexpensive, it might be worth trying to get the two to fit and play nice together in the limited space that Broncos always have.
There is a third circuit of course, which is the smallest fuse in the stock panel, for the instrument illumination lamps. Blue w/red stripe wire that is hot only when the headlight switch is in either of it's ON positions.

Haven't looked at it really closely yet, so can't comment on the "grounding" aspects. If re-using stock wiring, there is no need for a ground wire to the fuse panel.
The individual components are grounded at various points on the vehicle. The panel itself is not in need of a ground. You simply have Power-In on one side of the fuse, and Power-Out on the other. No ground, except for potential new circuits where you can run the ground right up to the fuse panel for a common area.
That's the most common scenario anyway. I'll have to have a closer look at the one you linked to.

Paul

 

[DirtDonk]

Yes, as suspected, the grounding buss in that panel is just for grounds that YOU add as needed. Nothing for any of the original circuits.
So you can choose to use it, or to simply leave it blank and empty.

Paul

 

[DirtDonk]

If you end up going with just one, using the constant hot wire would not necessarily be a problem for the old 4-circuit system.
Just make sure that nothing you connect should have power all the time. Too easy to leave things on like the heater or a turn signal or radio or whatever.
Could cause it to drain the battery.

Or, for a safety factor, instead of using the constant hot wire, use the switched wire for everything instead.
You would lose the ability to have the hazards on without the key, and maybe some other stuff as well. But you wouldn’t be able to drain anything as soon as you turn the ignition switch to OFF.

 

[DirtDonk]

And just to add insult to injury...
If you want to really upgrade it so that you're certain to handle all the power that it needs, and to take the load off of the ignition switch, add a relay to control the on/off function with the key.
This does add one more potential point of failure, but reduces the chance of an ignition switch failure at the same time. So perhaps an equal trade?
But my real reason for suggesting it is to (either way you decide to go) ensure that more power gets to the accessories in question.
If there is any degradation in the old system, whether from old age, or under-sized wiring, the relay might just be the ticket to get more power where you want it.

Wait for others to chime in with their thoughts on the subject.

Paul

 

[oldpaths]

And just to add insult to injury...
If you want to really upgrade it so that you're certain to handle all the power that it needs, and to take the load off of the ignition switch, add a relay to control the on/off function with the key.
This does add one more potential point of failure, but reduces the chance of an ignition switch failure at the same time. So perhaps an equal trade?
But my real reason for suggesting it is to (either way you decide to go) ensure that more power gets to the accessories in question.
If there is any degradation in the old system, whether from old age, or under-sized wiring, the relay might just be the ticket to get more power where you want it.

Wait for others to chime in with their thoughts on the subject.

Paul

Thanks a lot! I don't have or plan on running other accessories (don't even run a radio) so I may just try the one and see how it does....thanks again for the info.