How-To: General Wiring

chuckamazuk

First Fill-Up (of many)
Founding Member
Location
Bloomington, IN
I've documented all the wiring I've done on my truck and have compiled it all in this thread. It is sufficiently detailed to serve as an educational guide for future installs. I'm no electrician so I can't be held responsible if you burn-up your rig. :D

With that said, I started with a wiring diagram and have labeled each area with a number; I'll provide photos afterwards to explain.
xterra_wiring_final.jpg


1. Relay Mount Solution
[All connectors should be insulated and shrink wrapped to prevent unintended connections. Thanks to Soccerbrace for making this clear.]
384c75dd.jpg


2. Backup Lights
64fe3a8c.jpg


3. Fog Lights
907b7be9.jpg


4. Driving and Flood Lights (roof)
58aaa39d.jpg


5. Distribution Block
[All connectors should be insulated and shrink wrapped to prevent unintended connections. Thanks to Soccerbrace for making this clear.]
b7ec0aaa.jpg


6. CB Radio
54f70926.jpg


7 & 10. Dash Switches
10_switch_off.jpg


8. Distribution Block and Relay
03_cubby_full2.jpg


9. Inverter
07_inverter_mounted.jpg


11. No pic right now. Its just a transformer; 12V > 5V, 1A to USB to charge my Garmin

12.
b3f87644.jpg


There's always more to do so I'll update this thread after my next project.
 

Deltaphi216

First Fill-Up (of many)
Founding Member
Location
STL
great post!

I tried to give you feedback and yet again, i got this "You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to chuckamazuk again."
 

gamecock257

Skid Plates
Location
Clinton, SC
I've heard wiring described as it can either be a rats nest or a work of art.

You got a work of art there.

Yeah, good looking engine bay, I love seeing pretty wiring work like that. Kind of like when Barrett Jackson is on and my friends and I always look to see if the car has an original style battery lol.
 

JGBimle

Bought an X
Founding Member
Location
Altoona, PA
Im looking for some kind of fuse box or terminal block like that. I have four all my roof lights and a ton of LEDs, plus my sub amp and a few other things so I have about 6 or 7 wires connected to my battery. They all have in line fuses on the but the stud on the battery cable they are feeding into is getting crowded.

So to the point, how do you like that fuse box? you have one heavy gauge wire that feeds the box then its basically got a bunch of studs to individually feed your other wires? And obviously eliminates the inline fuses?
 

chuckamazuk

First Fill-Up (of many)
Founding Member
Location
Bloomington, IN
So to the point, how do you like that fuse box? you have one heavy gauge wire that feeds the box then its basically got a bunch of studs to individually feed your other wires? And obviously eliminates the inline fuses?

I haven't had any problems with the fuse box; I like it.

Yes, I think I actually used 8 gauge since it was such a short run. Make sure to get the heavy duty fuse and put that inline to the fuse box. The diagram shows a 100A fuse but I think I actually have an 80 in it right now. I never draw that much.

Yes, you would just cut the existing power wires to eliminate the inline fuses you have and put a ring connector on them, attach them to the studs and insert the appropriate fuse in the appropriate slot for your power needs.
 

ddddddd

Bought an X
Location
los angeles
Hey could you post links or model numbers to the regular relays and the switches (bank of 6 under stereo)? That would be really helpful. Also, where did you end up mounting the fuse box? I can see where you stuck the relays, but do you have a pic that shows the final location of the fusebox?

Oh another thing, where did you get the wiring and in line fuses? All on amazon? If so, which brand did you stick with?
 

ddddddd

Bought an X
Location
los angeles
If anyone is interested, I think I found just about every part you would need to do this kind of a setup, minus the 850W inverter. My alternator can't handle that kind of load anyways.

For just the wiring, all coming from amazon, total comes to about $134.

If you want to add some lights, it goes up. I have chosen to use the Tuff Stuff LED lightbars as replacements, because they are brighter than halogens. I figured a 40" 120W lightbar for the roof, 20" 60W lightbar for the bumper, 18W fog lights, and 18W reverse lights.

Total with all this and wiring comes to 775. Call it about $800. I can share the amazon wishlist if anyone wants it.
 

Diadaga

Suspension Lift
Founding Member
Location
Virginia
Man just saw this thread, now I no what mine should look like when I redo it to get rid of the rats nest I have right now. Rep'd as well man
 

Muadeeb

Nissan al Gaib
Admin
Location
Dallas
Uhg, I really wanted to put a lightbar up and install some fog lights, but after seeing this....no friggen way :(

You're focusing on the entire system, and not on the subsystem that's important. Switch, relay, fuse, light, wires. Duplicate that 5 more times and you have the system Chuck was getting toward.

Sent via wild ferrets on crack
 

Muadeeb

Nissan al Gaib
Admin
Location
Dallas
Nah, they'll be fine. It just means the can handle much more current than you will be throwing through them.
 

Tay-Lo

I'm the king of junk food!
Location
Upstate SC
Yeah its all easy, the hardest part is running wires. Everybody gets intimidated by how to hook it all up.

sent from my pocket computer
 

ddddddd

Bought an X
Location
los angeles
I just pulled the trigger on the amazon order. Everything should get here by Jan 4th. I will be emulating this wiring setup, just with less things connected. I will have:

2x LED flush mount flood lights in rear for reverse lights
2x LED 4" Spot lights on front bumper
1x Dual USB charging port with Voltmeter
5x Toggle switches (old school metal toggles, none of this fancy plastic LED stuff)
1x Blue Sea Systems 5029 12 port fuse box
1x Assorted fuses pack
1x 100A inline fuse, reset-able
10x 30/40A SPDT fully potted 5 pin relay

At some point in the future i would like to add 2 fog lights, but this will require me to cut appropriate holes in my shrockworks bumper for them, which means I'll need to find someone with a plasma cutter.

I'll try to throw up some pictures of the installation to supplement what chuckamazuk has provided.
 

njnewb

Test Drive
Location
US
Might be a dumb question but are these boxes waterproof?

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 

Muadeeb

Nissan al Gaib
Admin
Location
Dallas
Nope, the Blue Sea are completely open. I know Prime came across an E-Bay listing of a pre-wired 5 channel fuse box that is sealed. Gimme a minute to find...
 
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