DIY - Build and install a Bussmann RTMR Fuse/Relay Block

@Joe23

 

Could you mount the plate on the truck first and then put that bus bar on after?

 

I was actually wondering the same thing. I have the Pelfreybilt plate and need to test fit to see if it's possible. I bought some ratcheting combo wrenches. Hopefully that'll work out. Plugging things in will be a pain in the ass too.

 

Theres really no way to mount that Pelfrey plate. Even if you somehow get it mounted, getting it off to access the fuse box below would be hell. The RTMR and buss wires have to be in place prior to mounting the plate since they are on the bottom. I think the only way to do it is with a mounting plate that allows for access to the mounting bolts from above like the OP suggests in this thread... Thanks to @Grand dude for the suggestion. I ordered another plate. Hoping it works.

 

Did you order from tacomapros ?

 

Take a look at post #401 by @951hunter he got the Pelfrey plate mounted

 

Mine mounted, it was a total PITA to get the aft most bolt in (i had to sit on my engine) but it worked.

 

I’m sure that I can get it installed with enough time. However I’m really concerned that if I get off-road somewhere and need to access the main fuse box that I won’t be able to get it off. Clearance is so tight that I don’t even have room to get an end wrench on the bolt. It took me about 20 minutes of grunting to get one bolt out after a test fit. Maybe it would work easier if I had some shorty wrenches. But would be much nicer for sure with a panel that allows for access to mounting bolts from above.

@Grand dude Yes I ordered one from tacomapros. Looks like it should work. Would like a version with two breaker mounts like the pelfrey but Beggars can’t be choosers I guess.

 

why two breaker mounts ?

 

I was originally thinking that I would want to run the winch thru a breaker but now I’m reading that that’s not a good idea. I’ve heard that winch will pull 500-700 amps. Maybe I only need one breaker after all. Then I was thinking that I wanted a separate breaker for non relay side of RTMR so that it will trip if I get a short without killing the battery or causing a fire. But the built in fuses in the non relay side should be adequate. I guess that one breaker should be fine.

 

Why not look up the specs of the winch? Also look up the specs of the circuit breakers and understand how they work. Then you will know for sure.

 

This relates to the RTMR, but not the box itself per say. I ordered mine a long time ago in the group buy along with the Iggy switchplate. Well i finally added the 6th switch. In my switch harness it only had 5 connections for the OTTRATW switches. So I ordered another switch back and terminals and just followed all of the other wires and tied in the 6th switch

But now I’m at a cross road. My “trigger” wire for this 6th switch doesn’t have any power because it’s not yet connected to my fuse box. This switch is for rock lights, and the switch has power for both top and bottom LEDs now, but how do I run the lights to this switch and the box now? I have other accessories that didn’t need a relay and I used one of the non relay spots for it. I think I’m confusing myself trying to explain this now

 

What's the wattage on the rock lights? Might need another relay in which case power for the relay would come from the fuse box and the trigger wire from the switch would get its power from your other 5 switches. If they get power from an ignition on source then the rock lights would only activate with the ignition on even though the relay is always hot.

 

They’re cheap 9watt led lights I got on Amazon. Nothing that would need much power. I could wire in another relay, but idk of these would really need a relay. It wouldn’t be too hard to add just a plain relay beside the box I guess

HOTSYSTEM Eagle Eye LED Light Bulbs 9W DC12V 12mm for Off-Road Car ATV Camper Trunk Motorcycle Day Time DRL License Plate Turn Signal Stop Parking Tail Reverse Fog Trunk Backup Light (White,12-pack)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00MVMRS6O?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd

 

Are you going to power the rock lights with a relay?

Not exactly sure which prong on the switch you need a power source to. I think you're asking how to do add a +12v source to #2 below so that when you turn on the switch, it will trigger the relay to turn on the rock lights.


You could just connect the rock lights directly to #3 if you wanted to. Thats how I have my HAM wired in my truck (no relay, just powered directly from the switch)

 

So could I run one of my fused power wires from the RTMR to power the relay, trigger wire from the switch to relay, ground the relay, then power wire to the rock lights.

 

yup. should work just fine. It would be wired the same way as the other relays IN the RTMR

 

Just not as nice and tidy
But it should be alright

Thank you!

 

9 watts is less than 1 Amp so you really don't need a relay. At that point you can just go from the bussman fuse to pin 2 on the switch and pin 3 to the lights. the advantage of the relay is its ignition controlled if you power the switch with an ignition only source like the other switches. A fuse tap from the interior fuse panel would be a way to have a fused power source separate from the other switches which was also ignition controlled. My concern would be accidentally having them switched on during the day when it would be hard to tell.

 

So I started wiring up my Bussmann this weekend and followed the write up where applicable. I bought my Bussmann used and pre assembled but I figure it’s a similar idea. I have model: 15303-5, so I have the fuse side bus bar but not the relay. I dont need to flip my relays and the individual before me ran all of the grounds into a higher gauge wire and grouped them together. I’m not opposed to this, but if I’m not mistaken, I still need to figure out a ground for the accesory itself yes?

I was even thinking about running an external ground bar like the one in the thread just for the accesory grounds. What do you guys think? Is there a way I can integrate the accesory ground into the fuse block?

Edit: by accesory I mean the device I’m trying to power. Ex: led bar, compressor, etc.