Wiring Questions - relay, fuse and stock switches

In process of adding bumper with winch and lights, so now looking to consider adding accessory fuse box. Have 5 accessories (Yaesu radio, LED light bar, LED fog lights, rear bumper lights and winch) that I'm looking to wire, and really thinking that I would prefer all being switched to ignition rather than constant hot (except for winch which will be on it's own). Initial sketches of wiring below. I've been searching TW and still have a few questions regarding my set up.


1. Is there a cleaner/better way to wire the accessories switched to ignition rather than use of a master relay and relays for each accessory? I've considered current sketch, 100A relay before fuse box, or looking at RTMR set up.

2. Should I include a 100A fuse rather than 100A circuit breaker (or do both) leading to the fuse block? I've read it may be safer to have it fused rather than a breaker, but I like the idea of having a switch to easily disconnect the block manually. However most setups I've found on TW don't have a master fuse but rather just a circuit breaker...

3. For the Yaesu radio, should this be wired straight to battery rather than fuse block? wired constant to fuse block? or okay to wire with relay circuits? I guess what I'm asking is if there are interference concerns to be addressed or minimized in how I connect the radio? Would wiring it in circuit with master relay/accessory relays lead to radio issues?

4. I'd like to connect the fog lights to the stock fog light switch so that I can use these same as stock fog lights. Where is the best/easiest place to tap into this switch?

5. I'd like to connect the rear bumper lights to the stock bed light switch. Where is the best/easiest place to tap into this switch?

Truck is 2017 Tacoma TRD Off Road 4x4 short bed.

Thanks in advance!!
Marc.

 

Get yourself a Copy of the Toyota Electrical Wiring Diagrams for your truck that is the only way to figure out most of your questions .

Being this is your truck you can wire things how you want .

You should draw your relays showing contacts and coils .

You can get switched power via the Ignition I would just use a switch to energize the main relay coil .

Best of luck

 

1) Just pull switched power for the coils from any switched in cab fuse with an add-a-fuse. The relay coils don't pull much. 4 relay coils should be less than 1 amp.

2) One or the other. You don't need both. They do the samething.

3) Adding a relay shouldn't add any significant noise.

4) Find an adapter to go from the factory connector to the connector on the new lights. Caliraised makes them for the 2nd gen, so they might have 3rd gen options.

5) No idea.

 

So sounds like power all the coils for the relays I want switched to ignition off the same tap and daisy chain?

The fog lights are plug and play and can be wired into stock fog wiring, so that should be straight forward.

And I came across the thread below regarding the cargo lamp...not sure if this would be a place to look to daisy chain a relay for rear bumper lights?

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...argo-light-switch.436440/page-2#post-20409361

 

You don't need a master relay for accessory power. Just simply use an Accessory Circuit to power all of your switches (for relays). Since this current will be very low, you can use a smaller fuse (3A) and smaller gauge wiring (18 awg). You can "Fuse Tap" an existing "accessory controlled fuse". Or look for an open fuse holder (accessory that you don't have) that is also switched by the accessory switch. IE: Heated Seats, SunRoof.

You don't need both. I prefer Circuit Breakers over Fuses simply because they are resettable.

Should be OK to get power for this from your new block. Just be sure it's fused correctly.

T-Tap the (+) wire of the OE Fog Light Circuit @ the fog light itself. Use this power to control a relay "only".

T-Tap the (+) wire of the OE Bed Light Circuit (to control a relay only). This one will be a little more difficult to accomplish. You will probably need to locate the conductor in one of the OE wiring looms (possibly @ the floor rails?). You could possibly research installs of aftermarket bed lights. I believe that they use an aftermarket T-Harness to power their lights. This will give you an idea of where to find the harness you need. Locating the individual wire may be a little more difficult.


You really can't tap the OE switches. But you can tap what they control IF you can locate the correct wire.

 

We have very similar trucks and accessories. Switch out my compressor for your winch and they are very similar.
1) I love relays and have wired two watertight relay/fuse blocks. Not all crazy glitzy mega cost, just good old decent connections. In each I have a relay (or two) that powers the (on) or (acc) state. See my build threads for examples if curious.

3). For my ham, I did want it isolated from sources of rfi. If you’re just running 2m you can get away with a lot, but why introduce RF interference when you don’t need to. Yes direct wire it. Mine has an auto shutdown feature. But I went two more levels of ham absurdly: 1) it is on its own battery and 2) that battery is isolated from the other electronics in the vehicle. Regardless for the ham you want fuses. Breakers for other high current circuits should be fine, at lower current I’m not yet a fan.

5. I also tapped my cargo light to drive a relay for other lights. (Yes again in my build thread).

4). Not sure your question, are you replacing fogs or adding to existing or adding new. Regardless there are a bizillion posts in any of those. I’d assume the harness is there if unused. Time to get out the multimeter.

Hope that helps.