Wiring Lights and other things

I actually think this is my first post, but I've been using these forums for years. I'm just now finally adding stuff to my truck and have some questions in regards to wiring.

I bought a SDHQ Switch Pro (SP) to make all my additions look clean and professional. But in regards on how exactly to wire them, I have some questions. Pictures below.

I also bought a Blue Sea fuse block to keep clutter off my battery and to add another level of protection to all of my components. Pictures below.

I really think one question answers them all, but its open for debate. I will provide an example below trying to explain my thought process.

Battery + > fuse block > light
Battery - > fuse block > light ground (if that's even a thing)

Light > fuse block > battery (just reverse)
Light > switch pro

so a light for example is wired to the fuse block for protection, which is powered by the battery. the switch part of the light is wired through the SP to be switchable.

I also have a winch i'm installing this weekend, which I am assuming is just gonna be hard wired to the battery and not to the fuse block.

Am I missing something or is it really just that easy? Or am I completely wrong?

Thanks in advance for the feedback!

 

You probably need a relay too.

The way it usually works is that you have the following:

battery ---> block
block ---> relay
relay ---> light
relay ---> switch

Recommend looking up youtube videos on "Light Wiring Harness Relays Tacoma" or similar.
Plenty of how-to videos.

I have the same fuse block, great way to keep things clean.

 

You’re making it too complicated. Just wire the positive wire of the light to the Switch Pro and the negative to a negative bus bar or your battery. The Switch Pro uses mosfets which are like little microchip circuit breakers so there is no need to add a fuse or relay. The only time you would need to use a relay with the Switch Pro is if your device uses more than the rated amps of the Switch Pro. Just make sure you set each circuit of the Switch Pro with the correct over current amperage, which would be the same size fuse you would use without the Switch Pro.

People use the auxiliary Blue Sea fuse blocks for stuff that doesn’t need to be switched that you want to be powered all the time.

 

That's rad! I just have rocker switches and need a relay, lest my battery fry my switches

Here you go OP

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/switch-pros-9100-install-and-bs-thread.534369/
https://www.switchpros.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/SP9100-Rev1.2-Directions.pdf

 

It’s even easier. The switch pro is fused internally. Chop your light wiring harness and connect directly to the switch pro and a ground.

some high draw things like a compressor, you’ll connect directly to the battery and use the switch pro to activate the relay

I’d also recommend the SDHQ battery terminals. Makes a huge diff in keeping things tidy.

I’d also check the switch pro thread. Tons of examples. You can also make the 3 connections for the switch pro into the fuse box under the hood (ignition, lights, high trigger) - ive got a post on it

 

So adding a Blue Sea fuse block would just be a redundant safety fuse essentially? Which isnt bad, no? I get the switch pro has built in fuses, but id rather fry a fuse I can buy at auto zone vs need to wait weeks for a replacement piece from SDHQ, at least that's my way of thinking.

Without the fuse block would this children's rendition of a wiring schematic be accurate? Also what is a bus bar? Just a relocation and more organized ground area? How would I incorporate the secondary protection of the fuse block?

 

The fuse block is pointless with the SwitchPros. Repeat, pointless. No need.

 

the fuse block keeps all of the accessory wires off the battery itself and puts a layer of protection between the two, right? Are you saying that the SwitchPro just doesn't need protection?

 

the SwitchPros has built in protection. It will shut itself off before anything gets damaged.

 

Did you even read the instructions that come with the SP? I mean, it’s all there.

 

The Switch Pro has built in solid state circuit protection. You set the over current value for each circuit and if that circuit exceeds the value you set it shuts just that circuit off. To reset it you just hit the switch and it’s ready to go again. There’s no parts to replace or anything.

Adding in a fuse block just complicates everything and adds extra failure points and is completely unnecessary.

 

I did. Granted a lot of it I don't quite understand. I was just leaning on the side of caution and figured more protection wouldn't be a bad thing. So my poorly drawn schematic would be correct?

 

correct

 

I took a video for you to show how the overcurrent protection works. I set the circuit my S8 light bar is on to only 5a. The bar pulls around 10 amps so right after I turn it on it trips and turns that circuit off and the light on the switch flashes 3 times. Then you can immediately turn it back on again since it just resets itself. Obviously if this happened in real life you’d want to figure out why it tripped and not keep turning it back on.