New England B.S. Thread

Only one I found isn't up and going, he just moved. Same guy you got yours from. I know I could do it, just upfront cost isn't something I can do. There is the blue sea one as well, I am going to research that one some more. Right now I feel like that's runner up, but more cost effective.

 

I need to do something before I install anything. i am glad I researched a little before I kicked my plan into gear, it will cost more than I thought, but I like the ability to keep anything I add and possibly keep the factory untouched. I think I pretty much can do that.

 

Been looking into the Tacoma Pros ones.

http://www.tacomapros.com/bussmann-rtmr-fuse-relay-box-prewired-4-ft-lead/

But I could probably build a Blue Sea one for less then half the cost.. but then the relays are separate. I like how clean the Bussmann one is with the relays included in the box, less wires running all around and what not, and not having to mount the relays. I am not an expert at wiring by any means (did a full rewire on my '71 510) but its not my favorite process either...

 

Right now I only have a Ham radio. But planning to add a CB, LED rear dust lights, LED light bar, and possibly LED lights in the my cap. So yea definitely going to need a solution

 

I started at this thread, worth a look.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-and-switches-in-a-2016.401253/#post-11158566

 

For the price, of the taco pros, I can almost build my own, with a nicer set up. But in all fairness I only really looked at the price.

 

Read that one, and bookmarked it, liked the box idea for the Blue Sea board, But it makes it much bigger then it needs to be. Got a few bookmarked threads...

I want to make a bracket like this that supports it from below. Should be pretty easy... just dont have a workspace/bench for doing messy work like cutting and forming metal (Made a custom dash for my 510 as well from sheet Aluminum with just a dremel, hole saws, and some other hand tools)



Blue sea seems to be more friendly from a DIY stand point, especially for those with less electrical knowhow, and is very easily sourced from places like Amazon and what not. But unless you box it in similar to your linked thread, its fully susceptible to water and dust.... and dust gets everywhere. Thats what points me toward the Bussmann set up. I havent looked to much into a Bussmann DIY and its cost yet, but $180 for a prewired set up seems reasonable to me, dont need their little bracket though since I want to form my own... although they do make a nicer bigger bracket that supports a circuit breaker as well, and I could very easily just bent a small aluminum bar to create that support...

I keep going back and forth... Bussmann is what I really want... but Blue Sea is cheap....

 

Bussman DIY, top notch..and what I will base my build off from.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...n-rtmr-fuse-relay-block.399454/#post-11086087
I'll have to work the numbers before I can be sure, but at 180 for the bussman, plus 30 or so for the breaker and the 25 for the cables that gets me into the complete setup range of the DIY build. With it being set up with quick connects. But then there is the time to build.

 

Thats a killer walk through --- couldnt ask for a better how-too

That walk through though brings up the main downfall of the Bussman set up, is you need to have an additional connector in for every accessory to allow for removal of the box easily. While not ideal, the blue sea allows you to remove each wire easily and individually.

Just scrolled through that thread again - thats a pretty involved process to make your own Bussmann set up... If I got that route I think ill definitely just buy the TacomaPros... thats alot of sourcing parts and time involved... make sure to include shipping with your estimate, cause once you start ordering form multiple places it adds up...

... So if I build my own Blue Sea... if I buy it Bussmann...

Blue sea is user friendly and easy... Bussmann almost looks factory stock, especially right next to the stock fuse boxes.

hmmmm

more research to do...

I keep flip flopping back and forth, but right now I am leaning back toward Blue Sea for how easy it is to DIY setup.

 

I've got a Blue Sea, but I barely use it now that I've got a switch pro. I do like how easy to use the Blue Sea is though.

I may use it in the future, or I may sell it.

 

Switch pro's are really expensive... I only need two additional switches (Dust lights and LED bar) so I can easily fit those in the stock location.

Plan would be to run the Blue Sea Board hot all the time but the switches on Ignition power, so as soon as you turn the truck off it kills the switches which kill the relays to the dust lights and light bar. Ham Radio, CB, and Cap light I want to be able to use without having to turn the truck on.

 

That's exactly what mine is. The Blue Sea is always hot from the Aux battery, but all the switches (so far) only work when the ignition is on.

And yeah the Switch Pro is expensive, but it's also dead simple to install, and I love the look.

 

not sure I am following the extra connection thing, unless you are referring to the quick connection things versus the just unscrew on the blue sea.

 

Yea the quick connects verses just a ring terminal.

 

One of the blue sea boxes has a always hot side and an ignition only side.

 

If I do a blue sea, I still think I'll have a quick connect system.

 

Yea Ive seen that one, but I havent figured out a quick easy clean way to add ignition power to it with out hacking into the wiring harness or adding in a high amp relay.

The two switches I would need to add draw so little power my plan would be to pull power from a piggyback fuse out of the in dash fuse panel. Quick easy and doesnt requiring open up the wiring or hacking into it.

Might be worth it... especially if you build it in a box

 

I think I am going to get a electric trailer brake harness and use that.

 

if i were ever to go hardo with lights and shit I’d wire a master auxiliary switch that allows all of them to be turned on or off opposed to the ignition.

 

I've had the Blue Sea on two trucks at this point, and I've got a set up for the newest truck.

I've got the Pelfreybuilt panel that I'm going to run in this one. I had a member-made one for my previous (he no longer makes them) which had the lower brace that I thought was quite nice. I have no issues with the items being hot with the ignition off, but I can understand why people wouldn't want that, as well. The only real downfall I see with the Blue Sea setup is it's not waterproof, but if I'm in a situation where that's a concern, I've got a bigger issue going on.