Waterproof Fuse and Relay Boxes - RFRM (10 relay) & RTMR (5 Relay) no Blue Sea/ SPOD

User fairbro, check your private messages. I responded in reference to the RFRM

 

Fairbro, email and pm!

 

PM Sent, defiantly looking forward to rewiring my whole truck with your set up

 

Replied Patrick! Thanks fairbro. will be in touch

 

Pretty easy install. The most work for me was the few minutes it took to fabricate a mounting plate from 1/8 inch aluminum. I don't have a break to bend the aluminum - but do have a large vise that made a pretty clean bend. I kept the mounting plate small (6"x9") as to make the whole assembly as compact as possible.

There are two places on the fender well that accept a bolt. Skygear includes a bolt in the kit. I only used one bolt to secure the mounting plate because the whole thing doesn't weigh much, and then bought a second bolt to use as a ground point.

I added an inexpensive 100 amp breaker to serve as a master power shut-off. That away I don't have to unhook anything from the battery when making changes. My circuits don't draw a lot of amperage, so having a functional breaker is really not an issue.

I'm re-doing my switches and a few other electrical items at the same time - so nothing is really hooked up at this point other than the power lead to the relay box and ground. The actual wiring-up process will happen over the next several weekends.

This set up is so much better than the mess of full-size breakers I had screwed to the side of the fender-well with funky inline fuse holders.

 

Thats a beautiful piece of work there. I think from now on I might just include the 2 bolts instead of just shipping the one.

If you need additional pins, let me know.

 

Thanks, it turned out really compact the way I was hoping.

2 bolts? I was thrilled that you included one! Sure saved me from trying figure out which metric size bolt to buy from the hardware store.

If I take my time and drink some coffee before hand, I shouldn't need additional pins - but you never know.

The next step consists of crawling around under the dash - not my favorite task, but I'm changing out my Carling switches to the Toyota specific switches offered by Air-On-Board that will go in the dash and look factory.

Example:

 

That should be awesome. I like the 'factory' looking mods. One of the many reasons for this box project

 

Just a question for everyone. I am running low on my Braided Loom and going to re-order tonight. I was going to stick with the BLACK for the cleaner look. Would anyone prefer a change in color to something else?

 

Black is fine by me

 

That works. I'll get this stuff in then.

Saw there was any color I could imagine and figured since it isn't going in my truck, would ask the masses .

 

If I got you some orange could you use that? This coupled with the new heavy duty alternator thats being offered is looking more and more like my next set of mods. Electrical system overhaul and overbuild.

 

Send me the orange if you want it in your build.

 

FYI, I normally use 3/8" for the main harnesses on the RTMR and 3/4" on the RFRM. Individual and 2 wire runs are 1/4". (referring to the braided loom)

I can do the Kevlar for people to if they want it. Keep in mind, IT IS NOT CHEAP! But if it is what you want and want the ultimate protection for your electrical system. It is what is used in most mission critical applications.

 

In no particular order here are all the orange Braided loom sizes I found on Amazon. They only have 25' rolls though]\

Techflex 1/4" Expandable Sleeving 25 ft. Orange

1/4" ,

Techflex 1/8" Expandable Sleeving 25 ft. Orange

1/8" ,

Techflex 3/8" Expandable Sleeving 25 ft. Orange

3/8" , 1-1/4"

 

Pushincaskets, check email and PM

 

Top quality, brand name components all by the same manufacturer. Bussmann products from start to finish.

Just in. Breakers, fuses, connectors and add a fuse fuse tap.



That's just a taste, the box is huge!

 

new parts are always fun.

Also, i hope your feeling better, back problems are no fun

 

Those mini circuit breaks look really interesting. Didn't know that they existed until you posted some pictures. Had to look them up to see what they were all about.

So, if you used these instead of fuses on our trucks - which type would you recommend - the type 3?

Not sure that I understand the application of each type.

 

For our application. Personally, I'd feel better after a type 1or 2.

http://www.electerm.com/breaker.html

If you have a tripped fuse, you have to get out to check what blew. I like that. Resolve the issue replace the fuse.

With a type 3, you press a manual button. Well it's mechanical. Might fail, unlikely, but might.

1&2's are automatic. Trip a type 1. Boom, done. Resets when the issue is fixed. Say your rewiring something and ground it by mistake. No need to turn it off and on again.

Type 2, my choice. Tripped a fuse/ breaker. Being it resets when power is removed, you could either physically take it out of the circuit, switch on /off, or ignition on off etc. To me, this acts more like a fuse we are used to. Having to pull it and resolve the issue, then replace it again.

Being able to identify that there is an issue is the first thing. Not fumbling around in the dark on a trail for fuses or trouble shooting wire is the next thing. With these, you could limp of the trail and resolve whatever issue just with cycling the power.

In one of the videos, I mentioned earlier, the guy briefly goes over breakers.

I am replacing most of my fuses with breakers. I could do this for everyone in their boxes straight from me, but that is a very expensive option. They are $5-$10ish, x 10fuses. That's $50-$100 added on top of your build. Been trying to get the pricing down on these, just the amount of bulk they want, I don't have the purchasing power for yet.

I have been slowly replacing each of my fuses though....

Most people would cost a type 1. As little user interaction as possible.

Spod, has a "self healing power harness"... Um yeah, is just an inline breaker before the box. I could sell these, but everyone has different needs.