I am in the middle of replacing the center console (the part where the headunit is) of my teg with a carbon fiber one that i made. Im going to wire up 10 switches to the new piece that will control the fog lights, LEDs, undercar lights, radar detector and phone charger (the phone cradle is built into the part). I want to run a seperate power line to the new fuse box that will supply all those things with juice. But i know that one day i am goin to forget to turn it off and kill my battery. Is there a way to have all that equipment turn on only when the ignition is on? and how do i wire it?

 

Depends on what the current demand is on the whole panel. If it's fairly small, I'd run a fresh line from the battery, fused less then 18" from the battery of an appropriate size. Next, I'd splice a wire that goes hot with the key in the accessory position. Use that wire to trigger a bosch relay. The output of the relay will power the fuse block to run your center console.

To learn more about relays, go http://www.bcae1.com and take a look over there....that page is one of the best on the net...

 

thanx for the reply
for now it will be pretty small, running fog lights (55W) a phone charger, radar and some leds but im adding undercar lighs soon. do u know what guage wire i need to run from the battery? what color wire runs the accessory switch and is there any way to send the power wire from the car fuse box so i dont have to mess with the battery and run wires from the ignition?

 

I'd run a 10ga personally and fuse it to 30A or so. That's about all the relay will be able to handle.

I don' thave a clue about the color of the wire you need.

Is there a way to go to the fuse block....probably. BUt I wouldn't, and here's why -1. the factory block under the dash is fused under the hood - the additional current draw from your accessories may kill that fuse
2. there's probably not a provision that would allow that easy connection
3. going straight to the battery is easier to work on
4. i don't think it would be switched, and you would then still need to tap a switched 12v lead

hope that helps..."messing" with the battery is no big deal...