98 e250 lights

[TimRiker]

Adding a light control panel under the hood on our 98 e250.

The panel wants an Accessory power connection so it shuts off completely in the ignition off position.

Any recommendations on finding something under the hood that's powered in ACC and ON, but off when ignition is off?

I've wired in power and ground, and fed the wire for the switch panel itself through the grommet under the carpet under the brake pedal.

This is the panel I'm installing:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C9GVH8M3

I can just wire the ACC to power and have the panel on all the time. What I'd like is to tie it to the ACC/RUN on the ignition.

https://4x4tent.com/

 

[JWA-SMB]

I would tap into the radio power wire and have its power trigger a relay with power from the battery through the relay onto the panel's buss connection.

Add fuses as necessary or desired.

 

[TimRiker]

I would tap into the radio power wire and have its power trigger a relay with power from the battery through the relay onto the panel's buss connection.

I do have the cabin switch to power the radio from house or engine batteries. I suspect that really switches the acc input to the radio and not the actual radio power, so running the radio on "house" power might really be drawing from engine battery power. I've not traced that.

I was hoping to find an ACC line/fuse/etc under the hood, but I don't see one.

Like you say, I could run another line from the radio back out through the firewall to the input on the new fuse panel. It's just another line.

:h6:

 

[Scalf77]

The ignition switch connector is a great place to tap into a Hot In Run or Acc. It is a good spot to tap into this circuit. It is in steering column, but actually pretty easy to get access to.

 

[TimRiker]

2 A1 2 A2 and 2 B+? are they wired together? One A1 says unused, and one says "Hot in Acc or Run". I guess I'll have to look for the connector. Is it near the base of the steering column itself inside the cab?

 

[TimRiker]

For the moment, I soldered it to the brown wire leading to the drivers side running light. That will keep it powered off as long as the running lights are off. The first few things I plan to add are all lights, so that works ok.

Eventually if I add an air compressor, I'll want to change it over to ACC.

 

[86Scotty]

For the moment, I soldered it to the brown wire leading to the drivers side running light. That will keep it powered off as long as the running lights are off. The first few things I plan to add are all lights, so that works ok.

Eventually if I add an air compressor, I'll want to change it over to ACC.

Pretty much every air compressor is a pretty heavy electrical drag. You'll want bigger wiring and a relay for that.

 

[TimRiker]

Pretty much every air compressor is a pretty heavy electrical drag. You'll want bigger wiring and a relay for that.

Good point. The switch panel is rated for 60A total max, with the largest outputs at 30A. What does a compressor draw? The lights I'm planning are all LED, so relatively low power.

 

[TimRiker]

I found a speedometer adjuster under the hood that is powered in the RUN and hooked up the new fusebox to trigger on that. Note: this is just the trigger. Power for the new panel comes directly from the battery.