Tipm Saver finished

[EricBu12]

OK All. !!. Built it. . not as fancy as that one rich but it works.
I made 5 circuits. . left turn, right turn, lights, back up, and Electric Brakes
First the parts list.

This is a Cannex 5x5x2" Box. It has a seal on the lid.
http://www.westernextralite.com/inde...=can 5133706 ... $18
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3 Rolls of 10 Gauge primary wire. .
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a 40 amp Circuit Breaker. Yellow tab is the reset. $39
http://www.wiringproducts.com/conten..._breakers.html

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25 feet of Split wire loom 3/8" $13

a prewired relay socket. . 5 of these. . Red wire is switch for relay. White is ground, Black is power direct from Battery, and Green is Load out to lights. $4. 28 Ea.
http://www.wiringproducts.com/contents/en-us/p565.html
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a 50 amp relay. . I bought a 5 pin but should have done a 4. . All I did was clip the center blue wire short and use it as a 4 pin relay. . Buy 5 Relays $7. 49 ea.
http://www.wiringproducts.com/contents/en-us/p65.html
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This is the "T" connector for our truck. I have a 09 and you search for yours... the 4 wire is not on the protected side so you have to clip and modify this. $14
http://www.autopartsasap.com/2009-Do...ly-118381.html
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Ok, this next image is looking at the end of the harness with the red clip on top. for what wire is what.
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OK, now, here are the 5 relays connected to the 5 wire sockets. . Red wires are signal wires, white is ground, black is bat. + and green is the load output... I made 2 1/2" holes in the side of the box. . signal, ground and load out one side, power out the other.
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The wires are all soldered and wrapped. . that Scotchlock is a forgotten ground wire. Top side of image is from the harness, tap into the ground, from the 5 white wire. Clip wires one at a time to the relays. . red wire to upper inbound, green wire to lower outbound, as well as the 4 wire plug. . Notice the clipped 4 wire on the top part.

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Loose layout . . Black power wires not hooked up yet. .
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Finished and wrapped. . I used weatherstrip adhesive to seal off the side holes. So just connect the harness to the truck and string the power wire to the front battery area.
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The side of the power Module has the connection for the battery. Connected it to the Circuit Breaker.
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OK, added the Circuit breaker to the box and incredibly it fits inside. . the Type 2 ATC Circuit breaker stays open til the overload condition is removed. . the 5 circuits are lights, LT, RT Elec. brake, and backup.

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Ok, Thats it on this. . I made this and wired it up as I showed you and it works. . Funny thing is I hear from outside, I hear the relay clicking in the box. . but oh well... With the longer 4 wire plug, I was able to route it to just beside the 7 blade plug. I used a skinny Zip tie to hold it in position. .

DISCLAIMER: This is my own making and although it works I assume no responsibility if others have mishaps. you are free to copy and buy and make this system yourself.

 

[Motorhead]

Is it water proof like the one I built? Where is the individual circuit protection such as a fuse or circuit breaker?

 

[GCroyle]

Guys,



I guess lucky for me my '05 doesn't have a TIPM. But is the purpose of these savers to use only a signal from the truck to power an alternative power circuit for the trailer. A directly connected to the battery, protected, relay powered circuit system for the trailer?

 

[EricBu12]

The circuit breaker is up by the battery. If there is a problem say with the turn signal, the breaker pops and I reset it. Then don't use the turn until it gets fixed. Yes the box is waterproof. . same box you got. Just a little different on how the wires go into it.

Gary,
Yes that is the basic idea. Our newer computer TIPM are about $1000 and if there is a short, the computer shuts down that circuit. Then a dealer has to reset it. . if it happens too many times, it burns out... this system makes the TIPM use only a little power to operate a relay. The load is on the battery and a manually reset circuit breaker.

 

[GCroyle]

Eric,

I helped my neighbor install a similar box on his Toyota van, aftermarket item, not built from scratch like yours.

We had a 2007 and it had a few TIPM issues, dash quit etc. Turned out to be TIPM. Truck maybe hauled a boat a couple of times, dealership blamed the Banks tuner and returned it with the EGT cable cut off. Nice. The tuner had been on almost 6 years, no known issues.

Gary

 

[Motorhead]

Eric, I would be concerned about cooking wires before the 40 amp breaker would trip. Just my $0. 02

 

[crispyboy]

Question:
does the 12v power wire in the factory wiring harness also go through the TIPM? If not could this be your source of power for the bank of relays?

 

[Bob4x4]

If your trailer ckts have any high amp draw the wiring will be at risk. They will not be designed to withstand a 40 amp surge

 

[Motorhead]

Question:
does the 12v power wire in the factory wiring harness also go through the TIPM? If not could this be your source of power for the bank of relays?

It is not controlled by the TIPM but it shouldn't be used for powering the TIPM saver box for trailer lights.

 

[Motorhead]

If your trailer ckts have any high amp draw the wiring will be at risk. They will not be designed to withstand a 40 amp surge

My point exactly. That is why when I built mine I had individual 20 amp sub circuits for each lighting circuit.

 

[Bob4x4]

As I recall from memory most years that I have looked at have 30 amp ckt for battery charging to trailer wiring. This would be a good ckt to upgrade wiring size but also remember the trailer wiring should be capable of at least the same amperage as what the truck can provide

 

[GCroyle]

What about 7 pin connections, I have a EOH brake, others might, it pulls some juice on its own.

 

[rwitt]

Looks good Eric, as suggested in an earlier post, I'd install an inline fuse on each circuit to to protect the wiring. A 15 or 20 amp fuse on each one depending on the load would protect the harness. Plus if you do have a problem it will be easy to identify which circuit is the problem. Right now, if your circuit breaker trips you loose power to all the circuits which may not be good loosing the trailer brakes depending on the situation.
Rich

 

[mwilson]

Looks good Eric, as suggested in an earlier post, I'd install an inline fuse on each circuit to to protect the wiring. A 15 or 20 amp fuse on each one depending on the load would protect the harness. Plus if you do have a problem it will be easy to identify which circuit is the problem. Right now, if your circuit breaker trips you loose power to all the circuits which may not be good loosing the trailer brakes depending on the situation.

Rich

He makes a good point in regards to losing everything in the event of a short. I also feel that you should add individual protection for each circuit, 20 amps would be plenty.

Leave the 40 Amp breaker where it is in case something happens to that main battery feed.



You did a good job, take all comments as a positive interest in your project.



Also, you need to see the sign that is on my office wall that I look at several times during the day.....

Mike.

 

[EricBu12]

Thanks all. . i can easily add the separate fuses or small c/b to the power side of the relays inside the box. Even made it easy to get to the box. It is mounted on the bottom side of the frame by the spare tire. The box is upside down so that if by chance moisture gets into the box, the relays are up by the top (bottom) of the box... Both my trailers have all LED lights so the power draw is nil.

 

[EricBu12]

Well just ordered a 6 pos. Gang fuse block with type 2 ATC circuit breakers 20 amp... be easy to put it inside the box...

 

[EricBu12]

Keeping this toward the top as it is important for our newer trucks

 

[HPSimpson]

I have sort of dumb question should the ground wire have a 20amp fuse as well? Thanks Oh what is the part # 6 gang fuse block?

 

[mfurrh55]

Does the 07 with the 5. 9 have this Tipm?, I've never had any problems if it does, but was wondering if i could have this kind of problem in the future, I would like to be prepared for it, Thanks for all the input on this, real interesting, Monte

 

[Motorhead]

'06 and up have the TIPM. If you tow some to a lot then it is advisable to have some sort of TIPM protection at the trailer plugs. If a trailer shorts then it trips the TIPM. You have to go to the dealer to either try to have it reset or replaced. Gone are the simple days of replacing a blown fuse.