Engine bay switched 12v power

[pilot4fn]

Originally Posted by jaykay

Thank you, yes I am aware of that plug. Its very handy but I think the circuit is only rated at 7.5 amps. I am no electrician but I would think connecting up two 5amp loads would give trouble on that circuit.

Inside the cockpit, I am considering pulling power off of a rarely use 30 amp circuit and then have individual 5 amp fuses for each load .....and others.

I was eyeing the defroster fuse which is 30 mps and should provide switched 12v to power a number of different loads. I believe one would stick a tester on to one fuse terminal with ignition on and that will do it. Then plug in a fuse tap and run that to your terminal block to power all of your stuff. I am not sure what would be a good available ground for the terminal block near the fuse box.

I never use the defroster but I guess there could be trouble if one accidentally hit the defrost button. Is there a better 30, 35 amp circuit out the fuse box that would be better?

The are unused slots but I doubt there is power there. I really need to get a good tester.

Sounds like you need quite a lot of power there.
Why not use a relay between. Take a the switched power from some easy spot to wake up the relay and the actual power to your 5 + 5 Amps directly from battery thru that relay?

[jaykay]

Originally Posted by pilot4fn

Sounds like you need quite a lot of power there.
Why not use a relay between. Take a the switched power from some easy spot to wake up the relay and the actual power to your 5 + 5 Amps directly from battery thru that relay?

Well I have a number of loads. Which easy spot do you recommend?

[pilot4fn]

Originally Posted by jaykay

Well I have a number of loads. Which easy spot do you recommend?

This is based on not knowledge but trial and error from one of my first project cars something like 30-years ago... and I'm defenately not electrician

Here's the idea: Take the swiched power from a 'easy location' for your application that provide only the wake up current to the relay (could be done for example by wire jumper or cutting the original wire and soldering new wire and both old cable ends together) - this shoud be very minimal current for wake up the relay on your application, since the relay should be similar size as there already is in the car.