A place to mount some relays and terminals

[IOPort51]

I think technically it is called a PDC or power distribution center. That sounds silly to me, How about a neat way to mount a few relays and terminals to make fixing trouble on the trail, in the dark , in the rain, well you get the idea.

the first one did pretty good and did everything this one will do. The new one is mounted a little better and is way more water resistant. the new one uses circuit breakers instead of fuses. I think that is pretty cool.

The reason for this project is to keep all the high amperage loads in the engine compartment and out from under the dash and take the load from the switches in the dash, which are barely stout enough for job and run it directly from the battery with wire and switches that will handle the current easily.

This was not a cheep project or perhaps I should say it cost more than I had originally thought it would. Isn't that always the way. I really don't want to total this up but if I were to guess I would say some place in the area of $AMC 150 . I think it could be done for less. I can't honestly recommend the water resistant relays as I have never had a plane old Bosh relay fail from being wet. The Weathertite connectors are cool but crimp connectors work too. the breakers are good , there seems to be a world shortage of 10 amp breakers, they definitely work. I tripped one of them a few times sorting out the aux light circuit.

You gotta admit it looks better than mounting them to the fender with a zip screw. But that works too.

this is the new one.





this is the old one.




The very first attempt was to adapt a XJ PDC but getting the right size wire and fuse for each circuit was a PITA and the relays were hardly up to it. I had pictures of it but I think they went with my last hard drive. No great loss.

All the parts came from Waytek.

Welcome to Waytek

If you have never checked the catalog, you should.

 

[73CJ]

Nice job.

I prefer to have the panel inside under the dash. My CJ likes to swim.

Dielectric grease on every terminal too.

 

[IOPort51]

Nice job.

I prefer to have the panel inside under the dash. My CJ likes to swim.

Dielectric grease on every terminal too.

I agree about keeping it dry but I just so hate trouble shooting electrical under the dash.

If I ever find the energy to rewire the CJ it will be a lot different from what it is now. I think I would give up the glove box for the electrical system. I also considered a water tight first aid kit box, all steel with rubber gasket seal but I could not find a good place to mount it. But the sealed box is still an interesting idea.

 

[yellow85cj]

Nicely done.

Any reason you mounted it on the opposite side as the battery?

Keep an eye out at junk yards for an old ambulance. LOTS of larger gauge wire and LOTS of circuit breakers with bus bars. Just have to spend the time chasing it from front to back.

When are you going to get the wire loom to match the ties?

 

[csuengr]

The relays the OEM's use are more than up to the task, since they are pretty much the same as the ones from Waytek. I used a Grand Cherokee PDC on my 77' Cherokee. Wasn't that hard to wire and is more than up to the task I had for it. The OEM's don't "underwire" their vehicles. The wiring is designed for the task and is of sufficient power handling. They have engineers with decades of experience so I tend to trust their judgement. And the wiring can handle being doused with water. It is designed that way. One has to get into some really electrolytic water for 12V (in an automobile) to be an issue.

Sorry to rant, but I have pet peeves in relation to wiring, and the over use of grade 8 hardware.

 

[GatorBate]

Look'n good IO. A lot better than mine with the relays zip tied to the heater hoses. Where did you find that box that all your connection are housed in?

And just how deep are the swimming holes your jeeps play in.

My wife's Expedition was possessed for weeks after my son parked it in the irrigation canal a few winters ago. Windows would roll up and down and radio and heater would turn on and off all by itself. (Relay board on the backside of fuse box got wet.)

 

[IOPort51]

thank you.

all the wiring and the fuse block is on that side. I have one 8 ga wire running from the battery plus to the circuit breaker buss bar. Kind of like moving the battery.

Nicely done.

Any reason you mounted it on the opposite side as the battery?

 

[IOPort51]

7-BREAKER JUNCTION BOX PACKAGED INDIVIDUALLY - 46560

this is the circuit breaker box and the terminal strip I epoxied inside.

Look'n good IO. A lot better than mine with the relays zip tied to the heater hoses. Where did you find that box that all your connection are housed in?

And just how deep are the swimming holes your jeeps play in.

My wife's Expedition was possessed for weeks after my son parked it in the irrigation canal a few winters ago. Windows would roll up and down and radio and heater would turn on and off all by itself. (Relay board on the backside of fuse box got wet.)

 

[Jimbos76cj]

The relays the OEM's use are more than up to the task, since they are pretty much the same as the ones from Waytek. I used a Grand Cherokee PDC on my 77' Cherokee. Wasn't that hard to wire and is more than up to the task I had for it. The OEM's don't "underwire" their vehicles. The wiring is designed for the task and is of sufficient power handling. They have engineers with decades of experience so I tend to trust their judgement. And the wiring can handle being doused with water. It is designed that way. One has to get into some really electrolytic water for 12V (in an automobile) to be an issue.

Sorry to rant, but I have pet peeves in relation to wiring, and the over use of grade 8 hardware.

Obviously you have never seen a random melt down in the middle of a stock Cj or YJ harness, or the great crimp 8 different 12v hot wires together then wrap it in duct tape to insulate it. How about a melted igniton switch plug? maybe a burnt up head light plug?? No?

 

[IOPort51]

OK, here are the only pictures that I could find of the first attempt.

Right now, knowing what I have learned along the way on this project , I think I could do a whole lot better job than I did on this one. If for no other reason that I have access to replacement terminals and know a bit about taking them out with out destroying the plug. I can't be sure but I think it may be a little too long to fit my fender with the power brake booster and power steering pump taking up space on that side. The one I built I made every attempt to keep important stuff away from a broken fan belt. that would be embarrassing to break a belt , and wipe out the electrical system?

Of course the ignition,brake and running lights are not a part of that system