Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 03-15-2010, 11:07 AM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 10
Running a power Cable through the firewall

I have a 1995 ford econoline van and am trying to run the power cable for my auxiliary battery from the engine compartment to behind the driver's seat. I am using an AGM batters so it will be inside the vehicle.

I am having a problem finding a place to run the cable through the firewall and would love to hear any ideas. The engine compartment is very crowded and it seems like there are existing "plugs" going through the firewall -- nothing suitable to run a 4 gauge wire through.

Also, is it important that I also run the NEGATIVE battery cable all the way back to the engine battery?

thuynsm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-15-2010, 11:30 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
mjeffrey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Monroe, WA
Posts: 310
Re: Running a power Cable through the firewall

I ran mine through an existing space above the driver's side fender - there's an access hole on the driver's side inside the engine bay. You can reach in from the open driver's door to help thread it through. From there, it exits below the van around the seat area, and I brought it back inside farther back.

I'm out of town so don't have pictures.

You can ground the aux battery to the frame.

Cheers!
Mike.
mjeffrey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-21-2022, 01:12 PM   #3
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Oceanside, CA
Posts: 29
Old post but I just ran into this issue yesterday. I found a rubber grommet in the wall just forward of the drivers door. Perfect access with that gap in the fender. I just ran my wire through the center of it and it comes out where the parking brake is. Its a little tight so I ran a wire fish through first.
Saltydog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-21-2022, 04:30 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
neatvan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Bend, Oregon
Posts: 156
An old post for sure, but figured I'd add what I did too!

I had the same problem. Need to run power from the starting batteries to the house batteries in the cargo area behind the driver seat. I found an existing factory access point under the driver step. You just need to remove the black plastic liner to access the hole. From here I routed the wires into the factory plastic trim that conceals the seat belt. This gave me easy access to the back of the van, and I didn't need to route wires through the cab.

Two pics show the access point from under the van driver step, and the gray plastic trim where the wires come up.
Attached Thumbnails
Inked20220221_150829_LI.jpg   Inked20220221_150842_LI.jpg  
__________________
2005 Quigley E350 EB V10, Fiberine Super Camper Top
2006 Quigley E350 EB 5.4, Fiberine Super Camper Top (sold)
1995 4x4 Chevy G30 Extended 6.5l NA diesel (sold)
1984 Dodge B250 Get-Away-Van camper conversion (sold)
neatvan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2022, 11:53 AM   #5
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 1
Great access factory hole near the antenna

Hello. Adding to this thread again there is a great access hole near where the antenna passes through. One on the drivers side as well. Its a factory rubber plug that is painted but it's perfect if you drill a hole in that plug, once removed, and your wire now has a grommet.
acerbis is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-05-2022, 12:25 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Arizona
Posts: 642
I guess there are different ways to do this. One thing that I was using to transition from drivers to passenger side ( on 1997 e350)is the floor support channel just below the front seats. Bear in mind the is an obstruction in the channel so I think you can only get through on the back side of the channel. A snake will fit through but not a large cable. Use the other side.

Running back you can run along the inside of the outer walls , parallel to the rear heater and ac lines. In frount you can snake up into the inner fender to get to the passenger side start battery.

Rather that run cables though the floor or firewall I have used bulkhead battery connections for a cleaner install.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09TL...haWwp13NParams

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08Z1...haWwp13NParams

With these bulk head connections you never run the cable through a wall. I have passed them through the gas filler tunnel ( the protrusion into the interior for the gas filler tube) or you could probably use the Floor as well.
posplayr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2022, 06:28 AM   #7
JWA
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Posts: 3,765
Send a message via Yahoo to JWA
Quote:
Originally Posted by posplayr View Post

Rather that run cables though the floor or firewall I have used bulkhead battery connections for a cleaner install.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09TL...haWwp13NParams

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08Z1...haWwp13NParams

I've used similar from Blue Seas Systems to great effect. With the correct shrink tubing and terminal end insulating covers you're creating a much more sound electrical path, one that's a bit easier than looking for thru-passages inside the body.

Here's the type I've used running a 4ga cable from the engine bay through the firewall and eventually into the rear cargo bay: https://www.bluesea.com/products/cat...ugh_Connectors

Plenty of options as POSPlayer and I are showing----better installations IMHO.
JWA is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:40 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.