Help with Upfitter switches
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 858
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From: VA
Help with Upfitter switches
Okay, I just got my upfitter switches and looking at the installation instructions, I can't tell wether the PCM is verticle in the area behind the glove box or is it lying flat with the dash. I see that the cover opens towards the firewall. Boy that sure makes changing the relays or the 5 amp fuse out a real chore doesn't it? Guess you have to undo the two screws every time??
If someone could give me some insight and pointers I really would appreciate it. Thanks in advance, Chris
If someone could give me some insight and pointers I really would appreciate it. Thanks in advance, Chris
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 858
Likes: 0
From: VA
Okay I finally figured out how to mount the relay module behind the passenger glove box. Now that I'm plugged in to the fuse panel, I assume that the four circuits in the upfitter harness connect to the four blunt pass thru wires to the engine compartment ( the red, white, blue and black ones)
The only thing I can figure out is that I'm supposed to take for instance: The Aux 1 circuit and connect it to the blue wire. Then the other end of the blue wire (in the engine compartment) connects to auxillary lights (being the fact the AUX. 1 circuit is 30 amp, you'd want the greatest protection??)
I'd kind like some info if anyone has the time. Thanks, Chris
The only thing I can figure out is that I'm supposed to take for instance: The Aux 1 circuit and connect it to the blue wire. Then the other end of the blue wire (in the engine compartment) connects to auxillary lights (being the fact the AUX. 1 circuit is 30 amp, you'd want the greatest protection??)
I'd kind like some info if anyone has the time. Thanks, Chris
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 57,025
Likes: 2,758
From: Virginia
Sorry, I do not have any info on how to put this thing in. Most of the time people have it, and want to know how to use it. The Ford fleet site has that info.
As far as sizing the circuits and the loads, here's how that goes;
The fuse protects everything downstream. It will allow a certain amount of current to flow up to it's rating. So the main thing you need to watch is the wire size. The wire needs to be able to handle the top rating of the fuse.
There are several different charts on wire sizes, but I still like to use the NEC house wiring standard. It's easy for me to remember, and it might be a little bit overkill, but it's nice for keep voltage drop to a minimum. It generally goes like this;
16 gauge=10 amps
14 gauge=15 amps
12 gauge=20 amps
10 gauge=30 amps
What you are trying to avoid is having a 30 amp load on one end, and 30 amp fuse on the other end, and a less than 30 amp wire in the middle. This would cause the wire to start heating up.
Most of the time the reason they have different size circuits is cost. Large copper wire is expensive, and unnecessary for every circuit. So you can use the larger circuit for a smaller load(still with the larger size wire to match the fuse), and everything will be fine. But most people want to save the larger circuit for something big they have to run, like large off-road lights, an air compressor, and large invertor, etc.
As far as sizing the circuits and the loads, here's how that goes;
The fuse protects everything downstream. It will allow a certain amount of current to flow up to it's rating. So the main thing you need to watch is the wire size. The wire needs to be able to handle the top rating of the fuse.
There are several different charts on wire sizes, but I still like to use the NEC house wiring standard. It's easy for me to remember, and it might be a little bit overkill, but it's nice for keep voltage drop to a minimum. It generally goes like this;
16 gauge=10 amps
14 gauge=15 amps
12 gauge=20 amps
10 gauge=30 amps
What you are trying to avoid is having a 30 amp load on one end, and 30 amp fuse on the other end, and a less than 30 amp wire in the middle. This would cause the wire to start heating up.
Most of the time the reason they have different size circuits is cost. Large copper wire is expensive, and unnecessary for every circuit. So you can use the larger circuit for a smaller load(still with the larger size wire to match the fuse), and everything will be fine. But most people want to save the larger circuit for something big they have to run, like large off-road lights, an air compressor, and large invertor, etc.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 57,025
Likes: 2,758
From: Virginia
