Aux power for acc lights

Rbritt1268 · Mar 1, 2023

Hey y'all.
I'm going to be adding some LED accent lighting that I will be using as DTRL's. No high current draw. I want them to come on with the ignition.
Question is, where is the best place for me to tap into power from to do this?
I wish manufacturers would give you a fuse block with switched and constant terminals.

Thanks
Bob
2019 1500 classic

Badger 13 · Mar 3, 2023

Maybe find an "accessory" marked fuse in the fuse box. Get out the old test light and see what you can find there. After that, use a fuse tap and you should be good to go w/o cutting into any wires.

inuyasha-rules · Mar 4, 2023

What I did was used the switched cigarette lighter to activate a relay. I believe this is the dodge recommend approach, and this is how I've done it on multiple vehicles. If you want, you can use a switch going to the relay to turn things off when you don't want them on like an off road light, but they will also automatically turn off when the interior stuff turns off (key off, door open or time expired).

ANGLICO · Dec 2, 2023

I'm putting in a Painless Fuse Block (has relay, 3 constant and 4 switched) under the dash.

I plan on pulling the relay switched power from the brake light pedal wiring. It's 3 amp.
Positive will run back through the firewall to the the battery. It comes with an inline fuse.

For all of you "hobbyist" out there.... I know I could have put this together from scratch, cheaper, but considering the cost of wiring and >>>> time, this is a great value to just "get-er done!"

All I have to do now is fabricate a simple metal bracket for mounting/ground. I like cutting and drilling

I am very satisfied with the quality of assembly/workmanship and all of the wires are ----> labeled as well as have more than sufficient length. It actually was more/better than I expected. This will make wiring up my Dash Cam, CB, other in-cab stuff.................... easier.

hunterdan · Dec 5, 2023

A fuse tap off any of the key on power sources in the fuse box can be used to trigger the lights via a relay setup. Once the key is on Powers up the relay and turns on the lights you want.

ANGLICO · Jan 2, 2024

ANGLICO said:
I'm putting in a Painless Fuse Block (has relay, 3 constant and 4 switched) under the dash.

I plan on pulling the relay switched power from the brake light pedal wiring. It's 3 amp.
Positive will run back through the firewall to the the battery. It comes with an inline fuse.

View attachment 532703

For all of you "hobbyist" out there.... I know I could have put this together from scratch, cheaper, but considering the cost of wiring and >>>> time, this is a great value to just "get-er done!"

All I have to do now is fabricate a simple metal bracket for mounting/ground. I like cutting and drilling

I am very satisfied with the quality of assembly/workmanship and all of the wires are ----> labeled as well as have more than sufficient length. It actually was more/better than I expected. This will make wiring up my Dash Cam, CB, other in-cab stuff.................... easier.

As with everything in life........... everything takes time. Have to balance the work/wife/world and find time for ---->>> Truck Time

Finally got my 10 AWG positive (to the battery, via a 50 amp fuse) run through the firewall. Now let the fun begin in the under the dash wiring to the CB / GMRS radios, Dash Cam and stuff!

I used the Clutch Delete Plate to try to professionally run a wire bundle through the firewall, and followed the advice on this other Thread: https://www.ramforum.com/threads/ho...-plate-for-running-wires-into-the-cab.117923/

ConorToot · Jan 2, 2024

Rbritt1268 said:
Hey y'all.
I'm going to be adding some LED accent lighting that I will be using as DTRL's. No high current draw. I want them to come on with the ignition.
Question is, where is the best place for me to tap into power from to do this?
I wish manufacturers would give you a fuse block with switched and constant terminals.

Thanks
Bob
2019 1500 classic

Your best bet might be to add a power relay off of some feature that your truck doesn't have like the sunroof or heated seats, then to use the battery power that is now switched off of the relay. However, a word of advice, if you plan to have more additions down the road, go ahead and put in a fuse box that takes the battery power that's off of the relay to power the fuse box.
On mine, I needed 60 ampereems to run dual electric fans when I got rid of the power and fuel gobbling clutch fan. I also had some extra LED lights that I wanted to power, so I added the duse box on top of the existing fuse box lid.

GTyankee · Jan 2, 2024

tnctx02 · Jan 23, 2024

hunterdan said:
A fuse tap off any of the key on power sources in the fuse box can be used to trigger the lights via a relay setup. Once the key is on Powers up the relay and turns on the lights you want.

What is the best way to run the wire out of the fuse block?
I been looking at it but not sure how to get the wire out with the original wiring.
Thanks in advance.

hunterdan · Jan 23, 2024

tnctx02 said:
What is the best way to run the wire out of the fuse block?
I been looking at it but not sure how to get the wire out with the original wiring.
Thanks in advance.

I usually just cut a small notch that the wire can pass through. It's usually just a small gauge wire, so it doesn't have to be very large.

tnctx02 · Jan 23, 2024

Thanks for the reply.
I tried this once and maybe the notch wasn't big enough.
It broke the wire after opening and closing the fuse block lid 3 or 4 times.
It was a 16 gauge wire.

hunterdan · Jan 24, 2024

tnctx02 said:
Thanks for the reply.
I tried this once and maybe the notch wasn't big enough.
It broke the wire after opening and closing the fuse block lid 3 or 4 times.
It was a 16 gauge wire.

Just needs to be big enough for the wire to sit below the tallest part of the lip. Have to keep in mind that some fuse boxes might have overlapping lips, so it might need to be cut deeper.

Badger 13 · Jan 24, 2024

On the wife's Wrangler, I drilled a small hole into the side of the fuse box, put in a small grommet and ran the wire through it. Never had an issue.

Puckstopper55 · Feb 2, 2024

Anyone have some suggestions on which fuse to use for the “switch on”? I’m adding an add-a-circuit fuse tap and can’t find anything listed as ACC or similar. I wouldn’t mind using an exterior circuit that comes on with the unlock button if possible. Thanks for the help.

Aux power for acc lights

Rbritt1268

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Badger 13

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inuyasha-rules

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ANGLICO

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hunterdan

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ANGLICO

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ConorToot

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GTyankee

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tnctx02

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Badger 13

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