soldatlamour
Active Member
After reading through this forum I am just now making adjustments to my '00 4x2 Expy. I want to add some lights to the basket I just put up, but I want to wire them in such a way that if I wanted/needed to I can pull off the basket and wires without much difficulty.
I'm planning on running the wires in a loom down under the lift gate and (somehow?) into a compartment in the rear of the vehicle. I'm envisioning using an interlocking connector somewhere inside the lift gate. Thus, I can unbolt the basket from the roof, unplug the wires at the connector and, viola, be light free.
I've done research on wire gauges, relays, switches, etc. I'm fairly comfortable with the basics of getting power to the lights in a safe manner (relays/fuses). My concern: Should I run a heavy gauge wire (2ga?) from the battery back to the rear compartment to tie into a Distribution Panel?
Where I'm stuck is, which is safer: Do I run the load wires further (put the distribution/relay panels in the engine compartment and run the loads to back to the lift gate and up to the lights -- effectively twice the length of the vehicle), -OR- do I run a power supply (heavy gauge wire to the rear compartment where I hope to find a place to put the distribution/relay panels) and, thus, the loads will only run from the rear compartment up to the lights? Which should have the further run?
(I'm sure that if it weren't 1:50 in the morning I could better word my questions!)
If I've overlooked any concern, please let me know. I'm appreciative of any help you can offer.
thanks!
I'm planning on running the wires in a loom down under the lift gate and (somehow?) into a compartment in the rear of the vehicle. I'm envisioning using an interlocking connector somewhere inside the lift gate. Thus, I can unbolt the basket from the roof, unplug the wires at the connector and, viola, be light free.
I've done research on wire gauges, relays, switches, etc. I'm fairly comfortable with the basics of getting power to the lights in a safe manner (relays/fuses). My concern: Should I run a heavy gauge wire (2ga?) from the battery back to the rear compartment to tie into a Distribution Panel?
Where I'm stuck is, which is safer: Do I run the load wires further (put the distribution/relay panels in the engine compartment and run the loads to back to the lift gate and up to the lights -- effectively twice the length of the vehicle), -OR- do I run a power supply (heavy gauge wire to the rear compartment where I hope to find a place to put the distribution/relay panels) and, thus, the loads will only run from the rear compartment up to the lights? Which should have the further run?
(I'm sure that if it weren't 1:50 in the morning I could better word my questions!)
If I've overlooked any concern, please let me know. I'm appreciative of any help you can offer.
thanks!