Convenient Place for Painless Aux. Fuseblock

[rbattelle]

Just thought I would let those with the Painless Wiring auxillary fuseblock know about a convenient mounting location I found.



On both ends of the dash there is a plastic panel that clips into place (I have heard that 2nd gen trucks have their fusebox behind the drivers side panel). Anyway, there's enough room on the passenger side to get the entire fuseblock in there, but not enough room to screw it in place... you have to just sort of let it sit in the bottom of the compartment. So I soldered a short piece of 12 GA wire onto the Painless ground terminal, then drilled a 1/4 inch hole in the metal dash support on the truck and secured the ground wire with a ring terminal and 1/4-20 bolt and locknut.



There is an ultra-convenient path just under the glove compartment where all the wiring can be tucked up out of sight and routed to the drivers side and whatever gauges/accessories you have. The auxillary block remains hidden behind the factory plastic panel, but is simple to access.



If there's enough demand and interest I'll take a few pictures and post them... enjoy.

 

[ShannonPhillips]

Yes, I'm interested. Please show us some pics. Thanks

 

[rbattelle]

I'll need to borrow a digital camera... this could take a few days.

 

[Ladders]

A short explanation:

Open pass side door look at end of dash that points to door if closed. See panel, pry loose and pull out from behind rubber weather strip BUT also slide it down as there is a "catch" that goes to the A pillar trim. (just joshing around with the above - know that all of us-ens are smarter than I made that out 2b )



SOTSU!!

\\BF//



PS: wish I would have found this before I mounted mine on the underside of the hood... ... ...

 

[Bill Littlefield]

Under hood

I purchased the weather proof model. I found plenty of room under the hood on the passenger side just behind the second battery. I made an L bracket to attach to the side of the fender and mounted the painless wiring kit on the bracket. The install was easy and it will be easy to access if I have a fuse issue. Should also be easy to run wires from there.



I didn't take any picture yet. Heck, I don't have it all wired up yet!

 

[willyslover]

on the "older models" there is a knee bolster plastic piece that can be removed with two screws and a pop of the pins and there is plenty of room to mount it under the stearing column... do the 03's have this plastic removable pannel ?

 

[Bill Littlefield]

'03

Yes

 

[radar doctor]

More pictures please

Ilike the idea, so can we have some pictures please?

 

[rbattelle]

Got a camera today... will post pictures tomorrow...

 

[Bill Littlefield]

Under hood option

Painless Wiring in '03

 

[stick]

Nice job Bill, to bad mine has a air compressor sitting there!



Stick

 

[rbattelle]

Here's the fuseblock in the dash pocket...

 

[rbattelle]

And another one with the fuseblock in it's normal resting position...

 

[rbattelle]

Here's what the dash looks like with the cover back in place...

 

[rbattelle]

The circuit breaker that comes in the kit to be mounted between the battery and the fuseblock... does it need to be screwed into a metal part so it's grounded? Or can I attach it to the battery mount (which is plastic)?

 

[rbattelle]

I think I answered my own question... no, the breaker does not require a ground. The company that makes these breakers also sells them with a plastic housing. See this website:



Waytek Wire Circuit Breakers



If you view the .pdf catalog page it shows all the options available. Notice you can buy a rubber boot kit for the breaker that weatherproofs it. It's a shame Painless didn't include these with the weatherproof kit. I ordered a couple... they're only like $. 80 each.

 

[Bill Littlefield]

Needs grounding

I'm going from memory here but I think you'll find that it does in fact need grounding. The one they sell with the plastic mount, also has a ground wire that you attach to provide the ground since it doesn't come from mounting it. Again, just going from memory.

 

[rbattelle]

Bill,



Well, it dawned on me yesterday that the breaker is already grounded... through the fuseblock, of course!



I did do a search online and I found a guy who bolted his breaker right to the plastic fuseblock. I'm going to give it a try bolting it to the battery holder. I'll let you know if I catch fire or something.

 

[Ladders]

Whell, in my book, a circuit breaker is nothing more than an "automatic resettable fuse". Which means it does NOT require a ground. The metal/plastic case is for mounting and protection against the elements. Pay attention to the wiring - one side is for the HOT and the other is for the feed to what you are powering (there is a "clue" if you look at it real close - dont have any handy and its just 2nd nature for me when I look at it). The ONLY reason for this is so if it "blows" it wont ending up shorting the hot wire to the case/metal its mounted on. Some are brass colored on the hot others are marked other ways (just trying to remember - butt like normal - Kant)



SOTSU!!

\\BF//

 

[Bill Littlefield]

Ben's right

As usual, I didn't read the questions close enough. You do not have to ground the circuit breaker (resetable fuse). I was reading a little too fast and thinking about the painless fuse panel. My bad.