Location for relay panels and add on electronics

[KeithKinPhx]

Hopefully someone wiser and more experienced than me has had to tackle the placement of additional wiring relays, fuses and breakers.

I am completely redoing my dash. I am adding modern conveniences such as power windows, door locks, push button start, high power headlights. I have relays, modules, etc that need to be placed somewhere and am trying to figure a great place to mount these. After all this work I shudder at the thought of dangling relays and things being suspended by zip ties.

Anyone have pictures of clean installs on these additional electronic goodies? Mounting to firewall? Back of dash panel?

My glovebox already has the fuse block and Baumann controller so that is pretty well maxed out.

Thanks for the pics!

 

[Timmy390]

How I did it......mid 90's jeep cherokee box

Tim

 

[Steve83]

PW, PL, & bright headlights don't require any relays or modules. You should be using LOW-power (LED or HID) headlights - not halogens that draw MORE power (which are illegal on-road anyway).

A remote start module should be smaller than your wallet - it should fit in the dash easily. And it needs to be near the w/s so its antenna can be tucked into the rubber gasket above the sheet metal for better range.

I added all that stuff & more to Frank's '75, and it all fit on the firewall in front of the dash (along with HVAC). The dash extension for the A/C registers made it look cleaner, but it fit before that.

Click this & browse the photo albums:


(phone app link)

 

[904Bronco]

Repurposing a fuse/relay box from another vehicle is definitely one way...

EFI Guy uses these boxes that he buys on EBay, for his harnesses.

Building your own... Things should be clean and neat, not a hornets nest

Things should be planned out in advance for all the things/devises you plan to run... Consider being able to expand your system somehow for future upgrades.

Take your time, buy the correct tools and accessories. Use shrink tube and wire loom. Soldering connections, crimp connectors have there place, but are not the best for critical circuits. Mark your circuits and fuses for what they control. (And not the same color wire for everything)

 

[toddz69]

You should be using LOW-power (LED or HID) headlights - not halogens that draw MORE power (which are illegal on-road anyway).

Halogens are illegal for on-road use?

Todd Z.

 

[hankjr]

Halogens are illegal for on-road use?

Todd Z.

Wattages / light output outside original sealed beam specs are for off road use only.

Hank

 

[toddz69]

Wattages / light output outside original sealed beam specs are for off road use only.

Hank

Correct-I'm well aware of that. I've run both 90/100W versions (too short MTBF for me) and now have 55/60W which is the power rating of stock lights.

Steve may have only been implying that higher wattage versions are illegal, but I wasn't sure from his post.

Todd Z.

 

[904Bronco]

Maybe he meant H4's?

 

[KeithKinPhx]

Yes I bought the H4 lights from Wild Horses.
https://www.wildhorses4x4.com/produ...Night-Lighter-Harness/early-bronco-headlights
The idea of the relay hanging from the front support by zip ties is a no go.
My goal is a super clean engine bay like Kbuck1 did. Here is a picture of his. Mine will be blue.

 

[SavageBurro]

I like the fuse / relay box out of some late 90s fords... or is it early 2000s.

I have one side dedicated for relays that work always hot and one side dedicated for hot when key on.

More relays and fuses than I think I will ever need.

 

[Steve83]

Yes, I was talking about halogens that draw more power.

 

[sanndmann3]

Brings back memories from last year... Bought the BC Bronco blank dash and gutted my harness and started over. Put a couple of the Eaton relay/fuse boxes under the hood behind the battery and another on the passenger side kick panel under the dash. Really happy with how things turned out...

 

[JSmall]

I did the same as Sanndmann3. I'm in the process of adding a 2nd Bussmann relay box for my upcoming EFI swap. You can see the black cover sitting behind the aluminum box that I used for my fuse box and ignition.

 

[KeithKinPhx]

Which Bussman did you buy? Thinking 15303-2-2-4
https://www.waytekwire.com/item/46343/MINI-FUSE-AND-MICRO-RELAY-RTMR/

 

[JSmall]

Which Bussman did you buy? Thinking 15303-2-2-4
https://www.waytekwire.com/item/46343/MINI-FUSE-AND-MICRO-RELAY-RTMR/

That’s the one. I just got two more today.

 

[sanndmann3]

Which Bussman did you buy? Thinking 15303-2-2-4
https://www.waytekwire.com/item/46343/MINI-FUSE-AND-MICRO-RELAY-RTMR/

Looks familiar to me too. I believe this is what I got (x3).