Interior fuse box power tap?
- Thread starter Futbol90x
- Start date
You can use a voltmeter to measure if the fuse is always hot, or switched on with the ign key.
Use an "add a circuit" accessory which plugs into the fuse box and retains the orig fuse, plus it also gives a spot for the add on circuit fuse. It's a tidy and wire harness safe method of adding toys to your ride. I'll try to post a pic soon of what mine looks like.
Use an "add a circuit" accessory which plugs into the fuse box and retains the orig fuse, plus it also gives a spot for the add on circuit fuse. It's a tidy and wire harness safe method of adding toys to your ride. I'll try to post a pic soon of what mine looks like.
As promised. Notice I added a circuit to my acc outlet which is fused, so there are 2 fuses upper right....hard to see. I also added another circuit to a vacant fuse slot so there is only 1 fuse shown bottom row. This slot is switched on and only powers up with the ign key. You will not be able to retain using the fuse box cover, but minor issue IMO.
There is a certain science to a fuse box. I've wired up a lot of projects over the years to cars, bikes, even a couple of boats. Fuses are the most important element in a circuit aside from the function of the circuit. Fuses must be properly rated to protect the wiring harness and the designated load such as a stereo amplifier or fog lights etc.
If you have a Fluke DVM then I will assume you know how to use it and you should be able to find the slot(s)
that is switched. For example, I used the switched power outlet fuse slot to add my circuit. The power outlet is
fused at 15A. I was adding a 5A fused circuit, so I dropped the outlet fuse down to 10A as it was primarily used for a low current draw phone charger. 10+5 = 15 so I preserved the 15A rating of the fuse slot. Very important not to overload the 'slot'.
One reason for disconnecting the negative cable from the battery is that modern cars utilize negative grounding
with the metal chassis of the car being used as a giant piece of wire. If are you working on an energized circuit
and inadvertently slip with a meter probe or bare wire and touch the metal body or chassis, you can damage stuff because there is a complete circuit allowing current flow. Fuses can blow and it's a hassle to locate them and replace. Easier to just pull the neg cable first.
If you have a Fluke DVM then I will assume you know how to use it and you should be able to find the slot(s)
that is switched. For example, I used the switched power outlet fuse slot to add my circuit. The power outlet is
fused at 15A. I was adding a 5A fused circuit, so I dropped the outlet fuse down to 10A as it was primarily used for a low current draw phone charger. 10+5 = 15 so I preserved the 15A rating of the fuse slot. Very important not to overload the 'slot'.
One reason for disconnecting the negative cable from the battery is that modern cars utilize negative grounding
with the metal chassis of the car being used as a giant piece of wire. If are you working on an energized circuit
and inadvertently slip with a meter probe or bare wire and touch the metal body or chassis, you can damage stuff because there is a complete circuit allowing current flow. Fuses can blow and it's a hassle to locate them and replace. Easier to just pull the neg cable first.