Hey all, was wondering if anyone who ran a new primary wire from the battery into the cab on a 1st gen can let me know what the best way is to lay it in. Specifically how to get though the firewall...

 

For now, this is just to get that maplight going, am going to put a new fuse block in later on this same wire... (as soon as I figure out where I put the fuse block)

 

If you are planning on going through the firewall, be aware that water may come in that hole if you don't seal it up. When my alarm was installed, they ran some wires through there, and didn't put anything to seal the hole they cut in the rubber grommet and I was having a problem with water coming in from there. Others have verified this by saying that water does drain right there in that corner too. Just keep that in mind.

 

Ran it through, no big deals, just lotsa blind reaching. Had to poke a whole lot throgh the gasket then reach around up behind the speaker and blower until i felt it, then just a matter of patiently threading it in the ideal places, making sure nothing would ever show or get snagged.

Follow up: I went ahead and poked it throught the gasket, since the bundle was too tight to insert this through, and I think there's still some elasticity in the gasket sealing around the wire and I don't think this is in a spot to get hit by rain.. any experience with this on a 1st gen?

 

Anyway, for the tech files, if not yet there, I'm using a simple 4 fuse block from http://www.painlessperformance.com/fuseblock.htm
they have been very helpful and friendly.

Though it was harder to run the primary to it, I went ahead an put the block in the drivers side kick panel, just to keep all the passenger accessible fuses together, and there's some unused bolt holes there that should hold it well, and are ideally positioned to clip on another 4 fuse block if I ever need it. If I ever need to run a really thick gauge primary then separate it, it seems logical to slide that behind the computer on the passenger side. I think I may be in danger of constantly upgrading my electrical system... :rolleyes:

My next device may be an inverter outlet for the spot where the ashtray is in the back seat, maybe another for the laptop up front where the cig lighter is (2 years and counting without a smoke). Still learning the math for load limits etc. may just run another primary for these.