power distibution block

[skatanic28]

hey guys, im gonna be gettin some electronics (wb 02, safc, misc. guages) soon and im sick of half assed installs. what i want to do is run another wire that comes on with the ignition to a distribtion block in the car. so then i can tap off that for all the guages and other things. just wondering if any of you have done something similar to this? ive been seeing audio power dist. blocks but most of those use pretty large wire and high-amp fuses. if anyone has any suggestions i would appreciate it, as in what would be the best way to tap off a spare fuse. thanks

marc

[Steeles]

thats a very good Idea mang I'd recommend pullng it off the starter. where the battery + connects to the front of the starter. finding a dist. block that will have outputs for the 18guage or so wires going to most of that stuff is gonna be tough though. maybe find just a splitter block with an 8 or ten guage in and a couple 10/12 outs and tap off of them. not 100% as clean as you want but better than trying to pull it from the ECU power wire ;)

[skatanic28]

im gonna check out home depot and see what they have for distribution bus's and low volt. taps. if i tap off the starter there, wont that be a constant 12v?
i was kinda hoping i could pull it from the fuse/relay box, with one of those fuses with the terminals on one end. thanks for the suggestions.
anybody else?

[Steeles]

ahhh yeah I forgot they'd need to be switched. (sorry Ive got my microtech on the brain wiring wise) hmm I'd suggest the electric fan wiring in the fuse box then. its already drawing lots of power. I cant think of another system under there that would be happy with that much power coming off it.

[skatanic28]

cool thanks. ill check out the fan wiring and see how much headroom i have on the fuse. i dont think a few electronics will be too much of a draw, i would hope no more than 15amps.

btw does anyone know if the safc requires a constant as well?

[Steeles]

I'm 98% certain its a switched on power it needs.

[msaskin]

I've got a real similar setup to what you're planning on in my glovebox.

8ga. wire from the battery powering a fuse block (from autozone), ignition powered wire triggering the relay. Right now it's just a regular 30a automotive relay (i'm only running a gauge and my EBC off it), but when I run a few more things off it I'll bump up to a heavier duty relay (or a circuit breaker).

I'm actually going to re-do it all this week as my car is sitting around (no engine) and I've been meaning to do it anyhow.

~matt

[Steeles]

thats hot I forgot to mention a relay may work duh and Im sitting here trying to map out my fuse pump relay for the microtech that wired like that too. duh. its just not a good day for me. Im almost s cared to gowork on the car for fear of fucking something up

[skatanic28]

thanks, never even thought to use a relay. did you just find an ignition only in the fuse box and tap off any of those? i cant seem to find the sheaths for fuses so i dont have to cut into stock wiring. anyone know what im talking about? ill check out autozone then too if they have smaller dist blocks. i think i may end up doing this for a constant 12v as well.
thanks again

marc

[the head]

get on summit racing and get a fuse block form like painless or somthing they are like 35 -40 for about ten circuts hook up like three wires and youare finished

[msaskin]

thanks, never even thought to use a relay. did you just find an ignition only in the fuse box and tap off any of those? i cant seem to find the sheaths for fuses so i dont have to cut into stock wiring. anyone know what im talking about? ill check out autozone then too if they have smaller dist blocks. i think i may end up doing this for a constant 12v as well.
thanks again

marc

I used a vampire tap and got a 12v ignition powered line right off the ECU.

~matt