Overhead Console and Eaton Bussman SSDVEC Power Distribution

In the last few vehicles I've owned, it always seemed like the wiring would get out of hand rather quickly as accessories are added one at a time.

Eventually, I would end up with a rat's nest looking thing.... (Don't hate on the Jeep)



The problem was, whenever I got a new widget to add on to a vehicle, I would want to get it installed and set up as soon as possible...the wiring for it always turned into an afterthought.

Learned a lot of lessons back in those days!

So when I finally got my Tacoma (Mar 2018), I wanted to plan everything out and try and keep things as clean as possible.

With the Tacoma, I decided to do things the other way around. Design and build the complete electrical system and thennnnnn add the accessories via plug-n-play.


So the basic plan is to build an auxiliary system using an EATON Bussman SSDVEC power distribution block as the base unit. Along with that, an overhead console for all switches, gages, radios, etc. that entirely replaces the factory one.

One major design point of this system was that, if need be, I can go back to 100% OEM without any permanent aesthetic changes (on the inside).


Enough talk! More pictures...

Cardboard Prototype


Schematic design



Building the console...using 1/8" ABS plastic sheet and bending them with a heat gun



Works pretty good!

Building up the bracket for the distro block








Console starting to take shape...



To be continued...

 

Shout out to OTRATTW for all the switches, they worked with me on a few custom labels and were super helpful.

Starting from the top:

I added a dimmer to all of the rocker switch LEDs and for the new map lights.

Under that is a barrel lock switch that serves as a 'master kill'. For when other people (wife) drive the truck and don't need/want to mess with any auxiliary circuits, this switch turns off power to the entire panel so nothing can be inadvertently triggered.

Two digital voltage displays that will indicate the voltage on the "Start" and "Aux" battery. Will also serve to monitor charging voltage from the alternator.

Next to that is the battery control switch that controls the Blue Sea Systems Automatic Charging Relay (ACR).

And next to that are the two covered switches. One is reserved for future use and the other serves as a safety to provide power to the front and rear locker actuation switches (below). The covered switch must be opened an flipped on for the locker switches to work.

The other two panels are pretty self explanatory. I have air bags in the rear for towing and setup the two airbag switches to remotely inflate and deflate the airbags.



Mock up! Fit is pretty decent, the console is a bit taller than in needs to be...will trim that down.



Also mounted my Yaesu 857D head unit on the front of the console. It doesn't really get in the way of the rear view mirror thankfully

Quick shot of the dual battery system from Off-Grid Engineering. I ended up building my own wiring and everything but their mounting plates work pretty well and look clean.

 

Wiring on the back side after getting most of the components in...definitely needs to be cleaned up a bit



Was able to retain the factory bluetooth mic. It just happened to fit perfectly into an empty switch panel so I drilled a few holes for the mic





I ran the wiring harness for all the aux circuits through the firewall just above where the factory main harness is routed. Daystar makes a firewall boot for just this purpose



Deburred, painted, and installed the boot


Making of the wiring harness. I used two 12ga wires for a main positive and ground (way overkill) and 20ga wire for all of the circuits

 

That looks fantastic. And hf in the rig! Well done. Noisy at all?

 

@medic2230 @ETsemaj
@Kheiron

@koditten - figured you'd at least like the organization

 

Thnx, Max. That is pure art. Me likes.

 

Nice work @Moto_dj!

 

Any trouble getting a drill in there for the Daystar boot?

 

Thanks! I’m only running the UHF/VHF antenna right now but HF eventually!

It was a little tight but no real issue. I used a step bit from harbor freight and it cut through the firewall pretty easily.

 

#cockpit

Nice work @Moto_dj ! Thanks for posting.

 

You SURE you don't wanna be an avionics tech?

 

I would never have a use for this, but I want to say your handiwork is impressive.

 

Caught me

Haha always been more of a stick and rudder guy!



I routed the wiring harness through the A-Pillar alongside the factory harness. Originally, the plan was to go up the B-Pillar because there was more space but the two factory harnesses that run along the drivers doorstep took up all the space under the trim piece.

It turned into a fairly clean install and I'm happy with it.






Will definitely be using this boot for future projects!


Finished up the SSDVEC mounting bracket. Sandblasted and painted with POR-15.



Installed for testing!! It's still due for a clean up in the wire routing but I was able to run power to the console through the distro block and kind of do a shake down run on everything to make sure it's working as planned





Will get some better pictures soon

Thanks for all the positive feedback!!

 

Seems like your skills are at or above but this thread goes indepth on the Bussmann if you haven’t seen it before..

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diy-build-and-install-a-bussmann-rtmr-fuse-relay-block.399454/

 

Quick update, added the map lights (large white light and small red lens LED) for both the driver and passenger side with the center rockers controlling them.

Also the gauge on the back of the console for the air system pressure






Just a couple more odd's and ends to clean up but it's coming together nicely!

 

Fuck yeah ! ​

 

Awesome project. Great work @Moto_dj

 

Somewhat related to the overhead console stuff...

Got a few more radios, gotta cover the spectrum!


These radios are mounted under the drivers seated with remote wires run up to the dash...



Playing around with some temporary sticky tape mounts. The radios are a

$165 Midland MXT275 MicroMobile® GMRS Radio – 15 watts Two-Way Radio with Integrated Control Microphone – Overland Caravanning Tractors – Detachable External Magnetic Mount Antenna - 8 Repeater Channels

Midland MXT275 MicroMobile (GMRS) and a Anytone Apollo I 11 Meter (CB).

As you might imagine the temporary mounts and exposed wiring were getting pretty annoying so we got serious about mounting....

Panel mount RJ45 connectors so everything can be taken out when not needed but still have a clean look.



Picked up a aux speaker to use with the Yaesu since the speaker that comes with the radio in the main "box" is under the passenger seat so it's tough to hear. I decided to mount the speaker under the center console panel in that little cubbie behind the cup holders.





Hmm...



3D printed a prototype and negative first...











And everything mounted up!

 

I keep eyeballing the smaller ssvecs. This makes me really want to pull the trigger Now

 

I've been super happy with mine thus far. They are pricey but you can't beat the quality. Very quickly you'll be headed down the connector-for-everything rabbit hole though