hi everyone,

I just bought an 05 E250 for a work van (I'm a locksmith).

there are two things I need to do on the electrical, and I need advice on what the best way to do this is:

1- there's a back up alarm that makes me crazy. While I understand the point, I'd like to put a dash switch in to turn it off when needed. What's the best way to find a suitable spot for the switch so I'm not drilling into anything stupid (I once wrote off a radiator trying to fix a skid plate because I drilled before looking).

2- I need to run a power inverter behind the driver's seat (there's a solid divider).

the easiest way is to simply run a wire from the battery through the fire wall, under the seat etc etc.

the other way is to add another battery and run off it. I'd like to do this if it's feasible- I KNOW I'm not the only one that's had this dilemma (a locksmith I used to work for, but has since passed away did this with his van), so I'm hoping someone out there can help- the best place to put the battery (I think closest to the inverter would be best, but that's me), how to wire the isolater, where to physically put the wire etc.

thanks for your help, I'm stoked to be back in a Ford after years of Chevy driving.

 

I would find the alarm first, and then decide do you want the switch up front or in the back. I am assuming the alarm is in the back? Is it factory? I know some of the aftermarket alarms plug into the bulb socket.

For the inverter, I agree I would buy a deep cycle or at least a marine type battery and mount that close to the location where you will mount the inverter(I guess behind the seat). I was in Walmart the other day and I think I remember them having plastic battery boxes for sale.

Mount the isolator under the hood close to the battery and alternator wiring. You will need to find the output wire of the alternator, cut it and run it over to the isolator. Then reconnect the other wire you cut to the isolator also, and the terminal left over will go to a wire that you run to the rear to the new aux battery. All the isolator is doing is splitting up the charging duties of the alternator, while still keeping the original starting battery and the new aux battery separate. So you can run down the new aux battery without affecting the starting battery. This is also why you will want a deep cycle battery for the inverter. A regular car battery can't take the deep discharges that a deep cycle can. A marine battery is a inbetween type compromise as far as that goes, but it's better than a automotive type battery for this purpose.

 

I got under the back end this afternoon and found the alarm. It doesn't seem to be factory. I traced the wire up and found the ground, but the positive (red wire) goes into a wireloom and disappears into the rat's nest. I'm thinking of just cutting it there and runnung a new pair up to the dash.

I have extremely limited experience doing auto service- I wouldn't know what an alternator looks like. Is it a. Bad idea to just run the new battery in series with the old one and put a volt meter in plain sight so I can start the engine if it gets low? I'm not running a lot of wattage and not for very long.

Also- while I had the panels off looking for a wire path for this run, I noticed a micro switch under the steering column. I assumed it was affiliated with the theft alarm, which is right next to it, but not so. There are two wires that run off it up into the steering column. It doesn't affect the back up alarm either.

Thoughts?

Thanks

 

Running a parallel battery for this setup is not a very good idea. If you want a simpler setup, just mount the inverter as close to the battery as possible, and then run the 110v to where you need it. This will work for a smaller sized inverter, but a very large inverter will need very large cables to drive it, and drain you starting battery very quickly. The two battery system with the isolator would be best for a large inverter.

One other way that some people use, is to mount the aux battery, but instead of using a isolator, they use a decent sized relay(around 30-40amp) to connect a charge wire from the starting battery to the aux battery. This relay activates with the keyswitch. It also has a circuit breaker inline with it.

You are going to have a little bit of wiring to do no matter how you go about it. Maybe you can find someone to help you out.