Opinions; Auxiliary fuse Block for Aux. Lights?

[becker69]

My question is regarding the purchase of a painless wiring Auxiliary Fuse Block to wire switches for aux. lights. I have a set of IPF lights and I love'em but I am not happy with the switch set-up and like many... I want more light !! . I am looking to get a pair of KC daylighters (or some similar) in addition to the IPF's and maybe some extra fogs or back-up lights later on. I wondered if you all thought it was pointless to get the aux. fuse set up just for the purpose of 2 extra pairs of lights for 3 sets total... just for the reason of setting up up a nice custom switch set. I just don't want to have 3 or so seperate hot wires running from my battery if I can keep from it (and I plan on wiring my CB in hot from the battery) and I am skeptical of taking lines off the fusebox.. I haven't done that before and I've seen fires from those that didn't do it the right way.

Thanks for the insights. I will be out a few days so pardon me if I don't get back to you all till Mon. Thanks.

 

[dman726749]

i ran one hot from the battery and with a 30 amp inline fuse to power my 3 sets of lights ( 2 55w, 2 100w and 2 generic backup) and with all 3 on it draws 28 amps ( little to close for my liking, but oh well) but the painless fuse block would not be a bad idea if you plan to power lots of things. and i agree with the stock fuseblock, its damn near impossible to tap into it

 

[rookieshooter]

The AF block would really be a nice and safe addition. I plan on one myself.

 

[WhitEngineering]

I have a Painless 7 circuit fuse block in my '93. Great addition. Installed mine in the center console under the cupholders... Doesn't take away any space. Ran the power leads under the pass. carpet so all I have to do is pull up that corner and there they are if I need to add something.

 

[410Fortune]

Painless boxes are nice, but there is nothing wrong with the Ford OEM boxes you can find in any car or truck.
I really like the Explorer main underhood fuse box, it gives you 6 relay positions and umpteen fuses of all sizes to use. Has a mounting bracket and a plug for all wires.

I make them remove-able by putting all wires through plugs, I can take my fuse bozx to the work bench in 2 minutes, turn it upside down and add or modify the wiring.

Why pay painless? Just go to the junk yard.
93-94 Explorer 4.0L fuse box is easy to take apart, easy to wire up and cheap/free.

 

[rookieshooter]

Here is another fuse box I took out of another B11 for an aux. might use it and just change fuses or wires. But will look at that 93-94 Ex. box now that 410 mentioned it.

 

[410Fortune]

that fuse box you pictured there SUCKS I am talking about a box with a lid, with spots for relays and fuses. I hate that under dash stuff.......

 

[hostile413]

i put a aux block in my truck, i love it, i have a lot of add ons so this was a nice way to clean up alot of the wires

 

[410Fortune]

In the top of this picture you can see the box I am talking about.
When I run out of spaces on this box I will add another.

MY ARB compressor, electric fan, and aux lights all have the power fuse and relay installed in here. It is so easy to tap into constant 12V power, Acc power and ground when you need it, a snap.
The nice thing is also the wire goes from fuse to relay, jsut like that. The only wire that enter or leave the box for your accessories are the in and out + wire. Blamo = simple

 

[becker69]

Sorry this a bit late... (Got back late from San Francisco to 10 inches of snow in CO.!!) Anyways, the ideas are good, thanks for the replies...

410; to answer your first question (why not pull a '93-94 box from an Ex at a junkyard?)... Honestly I didn't know about the ease that you noted, nor a yr/model of fuse box to canibalize; however, time and space is a premium for me these days... It's easier for me to just order a painless set-up and save the time I already don't have to go to a junkyard (yes I know, it is a bit of waste of $$; but my time is thin as it is) I plan on a 1-4 am install block of time!! Not to mention I don't know if I have the space to mount a large fuse box such as the one you displayed...

Maybe I need to look harder but my SOHC engine bay is pretty well lined (busy) with lots of space takers... I'll have to look closer.

 

[sn0border88]

410, where'd you say you got that fuse box pictured. Im trying to clean up my wiring medusa and that looks like it will help. I Also have the painless 7 fuse block, but i am wiring my new lightbar, (5 lights) through relays. Really simple, safe and dependable. I had a aux fan and pair of kc'2 rnning through the painless box, now i dont have anything. Im thinking of getting rid of it and using the box 410 pictured. I need more room for relays, definatly the best way to wire.

 

[Doug]

I built my own relay/fuse box and installed it in the passengers side rear where the stock amp used to be. I built it to be waterproof and sealed all the holes and such with silicone. I looked around online for a while for something that would suit my needs and i decided building my own box would be my best option.

 

[sn0border88]

i always thought you should mount relays as close to battery as possible, dosent that mean the pass side rear isnt the best idea?