Well, I'm finally getting rid of the rats nest of wires from all my stuff. Getting a painless performance 7 circuit (3 constant, 4 ig hot w/30amp relay) weather proof fuse box. I'm will be hooking up a CB (2amps) and eventually driving lights, +more stuff, lol. The reason I am getting a big fuse box is for any future upgrades. And a bunch of relays for switches will be on the constant and ig hot circuits. For the CB I think I will use 16g wire, and for the power wire from the alternator to the fuse box I think I will use 4Gg (overkill?). Also, do I have to put a fuse (60amp) on the main wire from the battery? The wire on the OEM fuse box only has a fuse in the fuse box, not on the wire itself. If it does need to be fused right at the alternator connection, where would I get a fuse holder for 4g wire? I know power wires to switches for relays do not take much power at all, but how many of those can I put on a 20 amp fuse (max per slot on the PP box)? Thanks!

 

o, and whats the stock battery cables (batt to alt, batt to chassis) gauge, I will upgrade those while Im at it. Probably up it in size one or two (lower gauge number = bigger wire) you know what I mean, lol.

 

for this do a search on the big 3, roger brown has a writeup on www.4crawler.com for it

 

I used a Blue Sea 12 circuit Fuse Box PN 5026 w/ negative bus

I also installed a Painless 250 dual battery kit modified to be a triple battery kit!

I upgraded all my wire to 2 gauge from the battery to the starter and all the cable w/ the Painless kit. It's in the instructions...

You don't need to just throw your stuff together...you need to plan it out, use the proper gauge wire according to length and amperage needed w/ the proper fuse.

My fuse box handles 100A max so that is what it is in-line between the 12V+ and the fuse box...a Phoenix Gold 100A circuit breaker...then each circuit is wired and fused according to amperage needed w/ a max of 30A per circuit. With the negative bus I can ground and hot in the same place if need be...

 

Is there any reasons to have a negative bus too? or is it just for convenience. Did you feel any improvements after upgrading the wire from the battery to the starter? What gauge wire did you use from the fuse box to the batt/alt? This is what I was looking at for the fuse box, you can see a picture on the Painless wiring website. It says 30 amp relay, which means the ignition fuse max load is 30, but im not sure what the whole thing is rated, and what gauge to use.

 

Blue Sea Fuse Box...w/ or w/o negative bus...

4 gauge wire from fuse box
to
100A Phoenix Gold Circuit Breaker
to
12V+ battery

and on mine
4 gauge wire from fuse box
to
Battery -

No need for a "kit" just make your own



You also need to Google a chart for gauge based on 6V/12V and amperage w/ lenght of wire needed to run so you don't burn something down...like the rig!

 

thanks, I should be fine with 4 gauge, im just running it a couple feet in the engine compartment