1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Blue Sea fuse box questions

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by MelonPitch, Feb 10, 2020.

  1. Feb 10, 2020 at 10:42 PM
    #1
    MelonPitch

    MelonPitch [OP] Active Member

    Joined:
    Mar 1, 2019
    Member:
    #284973
    Messages:
    28
    Vehicle:
    2019 Tacoma TRD-OR DCLB
    Hello All,

    I'm planning on adding some more lights/aux stuff so I'm looking at making a aux fuse box. I've read a lot of different threads on here and just want to make sure I have everything correct before I buy stuff.

    Buylist:

    Blue sea fuse box
    4 gauge
    100 amp breaker
    Relays

    Things I'm a little confused on still:
    Why do some builds use relays but others don't show any?
    What I'm missing?
    Best mounting solution?

    Thanks in advance for the help.
     
  2. Feb 10, 2020 at 11:39 PM
    #2
    kapn

    kapn Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2015
    Member:
    #163315
    Messages:
    143
    Gender:
    Male
    Annapolis, MD
    Vehicle:
    2016 TRDORLB Blue
    Relays are just remote operated switches. Allows you to switch on/off something with a high current draw from a smaller wire/switch.
    For example, installing a light bar that needs a bunch of power and it’s 2’ from the battery, you could run a bunch of wire into the cab to a switch and back to the bar, and it would need to be sized appropriately for the power draw and length. Or use a relay and run a ‘signal’ small wire to the switch inside.
    I’m sure there’s some good websites that cover basic wire size selection and fuses, etc you should read up on before doing this.
     
    TK11 and hellfire0480 like this.
  3. Feb 11, 2020 at 7:47 AM
    #3
    LTG4087

    LTG4087 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2012
    Member:
    #81852
    Messages:
    1,358
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    LT
    DFW
    Vehicle:
    2019 TRD Off Road
    You can use a smaller gauge wire from your lower amp cab mounted switch to the relay. 8 or 10 gauge would be sufficient.
     
  4. Mar 5, 2020 at 10:17 AM
    #4
    markair

    markair Never A Bad Time To Ride!

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2011
    Member:
    #69389
    Messages:
    40
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mark
    Phoenix, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2008 Tacoma PreRunner TRD Sport
    Thule/Yakima/Inno snowboard and bike rack for the bed - K&N air filter - LED license plate lights - limo tint on rear and back windows - N-Fab light bar - PIAA driving lights - Redline Tuning hood struts - HID/LED headlamps
    I'm looking to do a similar project.

    I'm going with the Blue Sea 12 circuit box and Blue Sea 187 Series Circuit Breaker 100 amp and 4 gauge wire.

    I'm having a hard time finding a good mounting plate for under the hood though (2008 2nd Gen). Found a Pelfrybuilt one, but obviously they went out of business.

    I'm interested in what you find out! Thanks!
     
  5. Mar 5, 2020 at 10:20 AM
    #5
    madcity27

    madcity27 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 3, 2016
    Member:
    #180171
    Messages:
    164
    Gender:
    Male
    Vehicle:
    2016 Tacoma TRD OR DCLB
    markair likes this.
  6. Mar 5, 2020 at 10:50 AM
    #6
    markair

    markair Never A Bad Time To Ride!

    Joined:
    Dec 26, 2011
    Member:
    #69389
    Messages:
    40
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mark
    Phoenix, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2008 Tacoma PreRunner TRD Sport
    Thule/Yakima/Inno snowboard and bike rack for the bed - K&N air filter - LED license plate lights - limo tint on rear and back windows - N-Fab light bar - PIAA driving lights - Redline Tuning hood struts - HID/LED headlamps
  7. Mar 5, 2020 at 10:53 AM
    #7
    therealprotaco

    therealprotaco Always Skeptical

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2017
    Member:
    #206408
    Messages:
    1,312
    Gender:
    Male
    Gilbert, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2021 Lunar Rock Tundra TRD PRO DC
    Check out Powertrays.com. He is also a vendor on here. He sells a nice aluminum tray for all of the components and sells a complete kit with the Blueseas panel, all wiring pre-cut/crimped, etc.
     
    calebc and markair like this.
  8. Mar 5, 2020 at 10:58 AM
    #8
    m603holden

    m603holden @Koditten Pirate Radio member #063

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2014
    Member:
    #140581
    Messages:
    11,732
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Marteeen
    New England
    Vehicle:
    2017 Tacoma DCSB OR MT
    Lots of sail boat fuel
  9. Mar 5, 2020 at 10:58 AM
    #9
    jowybyo

    jowybyo Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2013
    Member:
    #116863
    Messages:
    6,092
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Joe
    Baltimore, MD
    Vehicle:
    '14 MGM DCSB Postrunner 4wd Conversion, Debadged
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
    #9
  10. Mar 5, 2020 at 10:59 AM
    #10
    therealprotaco

    therealprotaco Always Skeptical

    Joined:
    Jan 3, 2017
    Member:
    #206408
    Messages:
    1,312
    Gender:
    Male
    Gilbert, AZ
    Vehicle:
    2021 Lunar Rock Tundra TRD PRO DC
    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
    #10
  11. Mar 5, 2020 at 11:02 AM
    #11
    m603holden

    m603holden @Koditten Pirate Radio member #063

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2014
    Member:
    #140581
    Messages:
    11,732
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Marteeen
    New England
    Vehicle:
    2017 Tacoma DCSB OR MT
    Lots of sail boat fuel
    Gives an enclosure to put relays. Better protection against water.
     
  12. Mar 5, 2020 at 11:04 AM
    #12
    jowybyo

    jowybyo Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2013
    Member:
    #116863
    Messages:
    6,092
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Joe
    Baltimore, MD
    Vehicle:
    '14 MGM DCSB Postrunner 4wd Conversion, Debadged
    I just like that the relays and fuses are in the box. I think it ends up a bit cleaner. Also, there is room for 5 relays circuits and 10 fused circuits. I (and I think most installs I've seen), use 5 of the fused on the relays. So you end up with a clean install with 5 fused relay circuits and 5 fused circuits. It's really just a personal preference I think.
     
  13. Mar 5, 2020 at 12:06 PM
    #13
    caribe makaira

    caribe makaira Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2011
    Member:
    #51121
    Messages:
    11,421
    Gender:
    Male
    Caribbean, Puerto Rico
    Vehicle:
    05 PreRunner TRD Offroad AutoTrans
    Hood Struts, My version Fogs always ON, Map & Overhead Light Mod,
    8 or 10 gauge for a lower amp switch wire?...o_O
     
  14. Mar 5, 2020 at 12:14 PM
    #14
    m603holden

    m603holden @Koditten Pirate Radio member #063

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2014
    Member:
    #140581
    Messages:
    11,732
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Marteeen
    New England
    Vehicle:
    2017 Tacoma DCSB OR MT
    Lots of sail boat fuel
    The relay will tell you how many amps your switching at all you need to do is refer to a chart to see what size wire you need you can probably go at least 14 or higher
     
  15. Mar 5, 2020 at 12:19 PM
    #15
    caribe makaira

    caribe makaira Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2011
    Member:
    #51121
    Messages:
    11,421
    Gender:
    Male
    Caribbean, Puerto Rico
    Vehicle:
    05 PreRunner TRD Offroad AutoTrans
    Hood Struts, My version Fogs always ON, Map & Overhead Light Mod,
    22~18 awg is all that's needed for the wire from the switch to the relay coil...
     
  16. Mar 5, 2020 at 12:38 PM
    #16
    m603holden

    m603holden @Koditten Pirate Radio member #063

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2014
    Member:
    #140581
    Messages:
    11,732
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Marteeen
    New England
    Vehicle:
    2017 Tacoma DCSB OR MT
    Lots of sail boat fuel
    Right. First if he's tossing in a relay. Sorry, I meant as in you could go 14 and run it right to a switch, or check the relay to see what you'll need which what you specified would be fine.

    For something like ditch lights you could just run it through the switch.
     
  17. Mar 5, 2020 at 12:44 PM
    #17
    Dbarffish

    Dbarffish Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 30, 2019
    Member:
    #281279
    Messages:
    636
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Doug
    Montana
    Vehicle:
    2023 dcsb TRDOR white
    Stock
    Was critical to get my old XJ lights replaced with way brighter lights and no fried switch!
     

Products Discussed in

To Top