I picked up an outlet and relay from the parts store the other day. Should I put a inline fuse in the setup also? If so does the fuse go before or after the relay. Also what gauge wire should I use? I have enough 16 gauge to wire it up but the outlet already has what looks like 10 gauge neg and pos on it to connect to. I plan to wire it directly to the battery for now and getting a fuse block later. Is that a good idea?

Thanks.

 

14 or 16 should be ok. I would run it with a fuse before. Are you going to have 12v constant off battery, or only when ignition is on? Lots of things to think about, and remember to use the right size fuse.

 

Im planing on running it directly to the battery might throw a switch on it also but most likely not. What are some of things to think about?

 

Just different ways to wire it. I would wire it with a relay, but i would make it so its only on when truck is on. So you dont end up killing your battery.

 

That would be the smarter way of doing things. I'm going to assume that the wire would be smaller than 10-16 gauge is that going to be a issue?

 

you dont need a relay if you plan on keeping it hot all the time

 

Why is that? From what I had read on here.... a relay was something I should use for reliability and safety.

After looking more into it tonight... If I "tap" into a wire that is already dedicated to something from the factory, rather it be some kind of light, radio, fan ect... will this exceed it's load capacity?

I only plan to power things like a cell phone charger, GPS, maybe an auxiliary heater. Nothing crazy.

Thanks.

 

I would tap off the battery to power the relay, 30? but tap off an existing power supply which is only on when truck is on to activate the relay, 86?. So the relay wont be activated unless the truck is on. And i would run 14 wire and ground it good. And fuse the wire coming off the battery.

Have 85 be ground, and 87 be to the power outlet. Would run a 35, or 40 amp relay.

 

Ok so the main power comes from the battery and the other is just used to turn the relay on and off which will activate the outlet. I think I get it now. I was under the impression that the main power supply would be from the factory wire I "tapped" into.

 

well do you want it to be hot all the time? if so, run a + wire from battery to outlet with a inline fuse. than ground the outlet to the frame.
if you dont want it hot all the time and say it will only work if the key is on "acc" than a relay acts more of an automatic switch that will allow power to flow when key is on "acc"

since you kept saying your gonna run it straight to the battery. im assuming you want it hot all the time

 

Toyo I was a little confused on how the relay worked earlier. I have changed my mind about wiring it directly to the battery. Thanks for the help.

 

oh ok lol

 

I picked up a blue sea 12 circuit and negative bus fuse block. I want to keep things clean and wire everything from the fuse block. What I'm not sure about is if I should (option 1) send direct power to the fuse block with a fuse in the line or (option 2) use a relay with switched power from the acc. and have it activated when the truck is on.

Also on the wiring diagram in the FSM I see that L-R is the acc. wire. I did not see a light blue - red wire when I was installing a oil pressure gauge today. Does anyone know if that is the right wire for acc. power? The truck is a 85 4runner

 

First it is your Vehicle do what you want!!

If I was running power into a aux power fuse block Direct from the battery wire heavy enough with a fuse sized big enough to carry the maximum current draw with it all powered up. If this also has a ground it should also be heavy enough to carry the load.

If you want to power this up with a relay you still need the relay and wire heavy enough to carry the load .

You energize the coil off the ignition switch pulling the contacts closed allowing 12VDC to flow into your fuse block. Then able to draw for your needs as needed.

Think of the relay as a electro/ mechanical switch with a electromagnet when energized opens or closes the contacts allowing or stopping the flow.

As all the circuits have there own fuses your good to go if one circuit fails it doesn`t take out the whole electrical system.

 

Thanks. Would it be a good idea to "tap" off the acc wire and run its own wire to a bus terminal so i can use it to power all my relays that need acc power activation?

 

Aftermarket relays? Not every relay needs to be activated when the truck is on. Give an example. I just would suggest ones that can get "left" on should be activated when the truck is on so your not dead up in the booneys.

 

I got everything wired up last week and it's working great.

Thanks for the help

 

Yea no problem man. Glad to hear its working great.