A question for any out there that might know the proper load for the ignition accessory plugs. Here is my situation:

I am installing a stereo that needs a 12V connection to an ignition hot, and then a 2nd 12V constant connection for the radio memory (clock, etc...). I figure that the 12V constant hot is easy enough as the memory wont be too much of a drain and I can splice that directly into the factory cigarette lighter which is always hot.

As for the 12V ignition hot, I want to plug it into the ignition accessory plug like the factory radio would go. But I am already using all 3 plugs and am not sure how much of a draw everything will be and if it will be too much. I am running my wipers off of 1 plug as it came from the factory. I am running a 2nd cigarette lighter (power outlet) which I do not want constant power to, and I am powering my tachometer with the 3rd plug.

I was thinking that the tach probably isnt too much of a draw and might be able to be spliced into the wiper motor wire as that is only used rarely (especially in So Cal). Then I could use the 3rd plug for the radio. I dont really want to run a new constant hot from the battery to power the radio as I would like the power to be off when the ignition is off. Do you guys think that these 4 items (tach, wipers, cigarette lighter, radio) are too much for the ignition power plug?

I really am curious as well due to me hooking up that 2nd power plug (cigarette lighter) as that will be used to power various items that might draw a bit, such as a GPS, or possible laptop converter, etc...

I could run a 2nd dedicated hot from the battery to that cigarette lighter, but I really wanted one that would power down when the ignition is off since the factory lighter is a contant hot.

Anyway, anyone out there with some good knowledge of the Bump's electrical system have some advice on which direction I should go?

Thanks in advance..

 

I am a little puzzled, by turning on the ign. switch some of the circuits on the fuse panel become hot.

Are you talking about connecting to the switch or the fuse panel?




John

 

The factory ignition has a hot wire coming from it that has 3 bullet style plugs for attaching accessories to it. When you turn on the ignition, this plug becomes hot and powers anything you plug into it. From the factory, the windshield wipers are plugged into this "outlet" and if you had a factory radio, it was also plugged into it, leaving 1 free.

This is the "plug" that I am talking about and have filled. I currently have my wipers, an additional cigarettle lighter, and my tachometer plugged into it. I think what I am going to do for now is unplug the 2nd cigarette lighter and plug my stereo into it. I will figure out wiring for the second cigarette lighter later. I may end up picking up a second fuse box later as was suggested to me elsewhere and redoing the whole thing. But in the meantime, I want to get the radio installed and dont want to start blowing fuses or melting anything.

I am sure something like this in the future will solve any power needs I need:

Painless Wiring 70207 - Painless Performance Cirkit Boss Auxiliary Fuse Blocks - Overview - SummitRacing.com

But in the meantime, I am trying to hook this up using the existing wiring without creating any problems.. lol

 

Calfdemon,
I would wire in a relay, powered (with a fuse, of course) from the battery side of your starter solenoid. Then I would unplug your extra lighter, use that "outlet" the lighter was plugged out of to trigger/trip/turn on the relay and then get my power for the lighter and the radio from the relay. Autozone and NAPA both have a cool little blade style fuse block that has one power in and six fused outputs on blade style terminals in the +/- $10 range. If you use this and wire the input with heavy gauge wire, you could add extra relays/circuits as needed. 30 amp relays are cheap, $4-$6 and they really help take the load off of old, tired wiring and they are simple to install. Here is a dual relay setup from summit with the connector:

Vehicle Power Accessories 80238 - VPA SPDT Relays with Wiring Sockets - Overview - SummitRacing.com

HTH,
Gene

 

Thanks for the reply 68horses. That is probably the route I will go then. Appreciate the input.