School me on accessory fuse boxes

[Italianwagon]

Wanting to install an accessory fuse box. Looking for what if any recommendations you all had. I know painless performance makes one.

also what’s the best way to tap an ignition circuit? Add a fuse?

I have two battery’s in my suburban. Would you hook it up to the primary battery or utilize the secondary?

Any other info you guys got would be helpful

thanks

 

[Camar068]

I'd put a relay in. Use the ignition ckt to trigger the relay. Then have a good source to the battery from the relay to be switched on/off by the relay. Put a fuse inline to the fuse panel, or depend on the fuses in the panel....up to you. Good idea to think it's best to use the original harness as little as possible. The way I described it, you'd be using the vehicle IGN as a trigger that powers the relay....and only the relay....the battery connection does the rest, not the original harness.

 

[SirRobyn0]

I agree with @Camar068 thoughts. Set it up using a relay. You'll need to calculate the load you'll be running though the new panel and make sure the wiring is a large enough gauge and that the relay is rated high enough. One more thought from me. I assume your doing this on the 87 in your profile so it would have come with spade style fuses in the original box, but if someone else comes along and reads this thread with an older truck. For some folks with older rigs it can be tempting go with auxiliary box that takes glass fuses to match the existing fuse box. But a spade style fuse box is much better than glass fuses in terms of reliability and ease of changing fuses.

 

[Grit dog]

Doesn’t matter which battery you use for the source presuming your batteries are simply wired in parallel.
I believe the fuse panel has spare circuit(s) that are ignition controlled.
Yes run a relay if you want ignition controlled accessory panel.

 

[Craig 85]

I found this 4 circuit marine distribution box on Amazon (left side of first picture). When I got my truck only one of the two batteries were installed. I have my bed lights, aux back up lights and stereo going through the second battery.

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[nvrenuf]

I’m almost finished installing this auxiliary fuse box in my Blazer, sorry no pics at the moment. I used a Blue Sea Systems split bus box, it has 2 sets of 6 circuits - 1 is 12v constant and the other is 12v ignition.

https://www.bluesea.com/products/5032/ST_Blade_Split_Bus_Fuse_Block

 

[SquareRoot]

So you asked yesterday about which fuse block but your almost finished installing it today? Ok, wow. That's service.

 

[nvrenuf]

So you asked yesterday about which fuse block but your almost finished installing it today? Ok, wow. That's service.

Who are you replying to? The OP hasn’t replied to this thread since he created it.

 

[SquareRoot]

I'm gonna plead the 5th on this one. I had a senior moment and I'm not even a senior. Thanks for pointing that out. It's all good.

 

[Italianwagon]

Thanks. The info helps out and so does the pics. Gonna do some buying now. And yea I ain’t that quick lol

thanks for the help

 

[Camar068]

just make sure your connections are solid.

 

[mnsouth]

I think it has been pointed out but get a handle on how many Amps the accessories you are looking to add or wire in. If you question your wiring and electrical engineering expertise, it might be wise to put a large amperage fuse inline between your aux fuse box and which ever battery you are connecting to. That way if a short circuit or wiring insulation damage occurs there will be no fear of an electrical fire in your "prized toy". You would be surprised how fast the insulation melts off a wire when a short occurs on a feed wire from a 600 plus amp hr battery or 2 in parallel.

 

[Raider L]

Good info. I'm thinking about putting two batteries.

 

[Italianwagon]

Thanks for the info. Got it all installed and working good!

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[yevgenievich]

Some have better connections and seals. Like the one below. But even most factory underhood fuse blocks were not sealed.

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