Adding circuit to fuse box

[High Five H2]

Ok, I know I've brought this up before, but I am adding a CB radio pretty soon and I'm looking for a simple, permanent way to do the wiring without being too complicated. I don't want to add an auxiliary fuse box just yet because the CB is the only thing i'm adding right now. I'll probably do that later on.

Anyways, here's what I'm figured out:

There are 3 empty fuse slots in the fuse box under the hood. According to the guide on the under side of the lid, they are unused. I have an alpha, so I think i have every electronic doodad that's available in an H3 (it's not an adventure model, but I couldn't find a fuse for the locker. i think it's fused through the TCCM). The empty spots are hot - I checked them with one of those doohickies that lights up. I don't know what it's called.

I'm thinking that all I need to do is take apart the F box (heh heh), see if there's a wire going from the accessory side of the fuse to the wiring harness, add one if there isn't, add a pin to the harness on the other side, and connect the wire.

I may take the F box apart tonight and see. I'll take some pictures. Any idea where I can get the pins that go in the plugs themselves?

if this works out, then I'll be able to hook up the CB radio and an amplified PA speaker pretty easily. I'll do an aux F box later on down the road.

 

[chaos254]

Why not just go directly to the battery? If your set on the fuse box you can use one of these

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0002BGELQ/ref=pd_aw_sims_1?pi=SL500_SS115&simLd=1

 

[alrock]

I would go to the fuse box too and would use the Add-a-fuse like chaos linked. You can also find them at any auto parts store. Note that some of the spares may be always on, some may be switched, so test them out and figure out what you want.

 

[derian06]

Attach it to your ignition fuse #33 on my rig, that way your CB will turn on and off with ACC/Ignition. It would be a lot easier.


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[High Five H2]

i hesitate to use the add-a-fuse things because I've heard that they pull a lot of amp through a wire that wasn't designed for it. I doubt a CB radio will do that, but still. Mostly I just want it to be wired as if it was from the factory. I'll check it out and if it's easy enough i'll add a new fuse and do a write up in case anyone wants to do that too.

Thanks for the input.

 

[alrock]

i hesitate to use the add-a-fuse things because I've heard that they pull a lot of amp through a wire that wasn't designed for it. I doubt a CB radio will do that, but still. Mostly I just want it to be wired as if it was from the factory. I'll check it out and if it's easy enough i'll add a new fuse and do a write up in case anyone wants to do that too.

Thanks for the input.

The only way to pull too many amps through the line is if you attach a device pulling a lot of amps. The Add-A-Fuse kits usually use a much heavier gauge than is necessary for an application like a CB. If you're putting four halogen lights through that wire then it doesn't matter if it's an Add-A-Fuse or any other undersized wire. You've obviously got to use the right tools for job and make sure you get an appropriately sized Add-A-Fuse.

If your concerns are that strong, then use an auxiliary fuse block like this one from Amazon with a direct line to the battery and its own independent ground. This is what I use as I have five accessories running and I don't want five wires to the battery or to the fuse box.

 

[High Five H2]

man I need to set up something like that but I am nervous because I dont' know much about relays and stuff like that. I know i've posted like 5 electrical threads on it, too. I need to just do it one day.

 

[chaos254]

Nothing to be nervous about, your just over thinking it.

I have all my cb stuff on order so I also will be wiring my cb in the next week

 

[alrock]

chaos is right - that box makes things easier, not harder. You are overthinking it, slow down and :drink:. Start with the CB because no relay is needed. When you want to get to stuff with relays I have a couple of good posts in the Tech Library and I'd be happy to walk you through it.

If it seems confusing, lay it out first on a table or floor and you'll see how easy it really is.

With that relay box, if you mounted it to the firewall in the engine compartment in front of the driver, you'd run one heavier gauge wire from the box to the battery, and another to the ground that's right there on the fender wall. Then your positive and negative from your CB would run to the fuse box. No more thinking about where to find power or where to find a good ground.