Fuse Boxes And Bus Bars

[MogLite]

I need to start gathering components for wiring up MogLite.

What I'd like is to run a big fat cable into a fuse-box and get maybe 8-10 fused circuits out

Going trough a separate bus-bar seems messy, as does pulling a load of wires off of the positive terminal on the battery.

Anyone got a neat solution to this ?

[siggy]

have a look here

[MogLite]

have a look here

I've been a Vehicle Wiring Products user for years, alas they don't have a neat solution

[rtbarton]

Found something similar in a 1990 Metro (K-Series), but only with 4 Maxi-Fuse outlets.

Maybe a browse round a scrappy may turn something up.

I keep stackable fuseholders in stock, but making a common bus would be messy.

[PeterW]

have a look here

I've been a Vehicle Wiring Products user for years, alas they don't have a neat solution

Autosparks here may have something...

Cheers

Pete

74 SIII

[Tonk]

cant u just use rangie/disco one? whichever u have from breaking

[MogLite]

cant u just use rangie/disco one? whichever u have from breaking

There are about 20 fuses in the Rangie one, and each has a separate feed

[Ivan]

What about the front fuse box in a Disco (the one under the bonnet just behind the battery).

Ivan

[minivin]

I tend to use Ward Brooke terminal blocks breaking out to the VWP fusebox:

WB 1146

twenty terminals, 10 rows by two columns, 8/32 UNC terminals, luvly

Dunno what the option for purchase is though as Ultra Electronics tend to only deal with the industry, you might be able to get a sample if you play your cards right with them

[Mark90]

For the additional fuse box in my 110 I have one of these from here. I have 2 2mm cables from each of the 4 small ports going to an 8 way VWP fuse box. Not the best solution, but like you I couldn't find a fuse box that took one single big input cable and supplied all the outputs. I shall probably do similar when I fit a secondry/accessory fuse box in the 90, unless someone comes up with a decent single supply fuse box.

[Roman]

Hello,

If you want to keep the existing installation and only add new circuits, it's uselful to run one power cable from battery to a distribution point and split the output via two separate relays controlled by ignition and lights . A compact alternative to a bus bar (if fitted inside the cabin) is here: http://img-europe.electrocomponents.com/la.../R423958-91.jpg

[wormhole]

I have used this fuse box from VWP (at the bottom), provide the best solution for my leisure battery, might not be ideal in your case though!

[Outrage]

How about my solution, takes a bit of fiddling to get it right but works a treat. The holes in the bus allow for a ring crimp, secured by a bolt and nylock that provides the input power.

The bus was made up by flattening a piece of 15mm copper pipe (giving double the thickness). cut the pipe into a combe shape to match the terminals on the fuse carrier and then solder on to the terminals.

Downside's are that you will need to make up a cover to prevent it coming into contact with any stray steelwork, but thats quite simple.

looks ok in the dash:

Hope this helps.

[MogLite]

There have been some fine suggestions, but nothing like what I was after.

Is there any reason why, I can't use a "Bus Bar" like this

and run it into a conventional 10 way fuse box ?

It looks bootie, but I can't see why it wont work.

Obviously insulation would need to be more than a wrap of insulation tape, but that isn't difficult.

[Outrage]

can't see why not, but you will still need to mount it and protect it from any stray metal. Ive used a similar method behind my dash to common up all my earths.

[rtbarton]

Probably better using copper or brass washers.

Keep it blathered in Vaseline to stop corrosion.

[mpb]

I was thinking of doing much the same with a bolt. I was going to mount it in a Plastic Project Box from Maplin Electronics, to stop it touching the bodywork.

The other advantage of this system is, its easy to add extra wiring.

Martin

1996 Defender 90

[minivin]

There have been some fine suggestions, but nothing like what I was after.

Is there any reason why, I can't use a "Bus Bar" like this

and run it into a conventional 10 way fuse box ?

It looks bootie, but I can't see why it wont work.

Obviously insulation would need to be more than a wrap of insulation tape, but that isn't difficult. 

it will, until rot gets at it, four star connection is the max for a safe long life with the connections as fuss:

\ /

\/

O

/\

/ \

The ring crimps then sit on each other with no packing washers required, this then means you don't suffer from dissimilar metal corrosion as all the crimps are together.

[Outrage]

I went down this route originally, but with all my electrics mounted on the back of the dash panel i didn't have anywhere to mount the seperate busbar and 16 wires all going from the same point on back of the dash to the same point on the front seemed wasteful and was a pain in the ass to get the dashboard front back on!

I was going to use these to bus together the cables from VWP:

They are meant for linking earths but as they're on a plastic base would work ok.

[minivin]

oh kay, lets try that again as we got auto-format for text on here.....

[roguevogue]

As has been said, the 300 tdi discovery under bonnet fuse box from behind the battery is the answer.

[PaulMc]

Have a look at this page of VWP's catalogue - Modular fuse and relay housing system

A modular system for mounting combinations of fuses and relays.

Two types of housings are available; 4 module or 5 module.

Six types of modules are available which accept various combinations of maxi-blade fuses (FBX),

mini-blade fuses (FBM), micro relays (MR15, MR25), standard relays (R20B, R30A etc) and maxi relays (high current relay R70N).

The modules are wired from underneath.

Terminals are crimped or soldered onto cables then pushed into place.

Tabs on the terminals latch them into place.

Order all parts separately:

(Housing + Cover + Modules + Terminals).

Four module housing and cover. (Accepts any 4 modules)

Mounts flush to bulkhead and is wired through a cutout in the bulkhead.

Dimensions: 165 x 100mm exc lugs. Height inc cover 66mm.

Housing Ref: 1520X £7.20

Cover Ref: 1530X £4.89

Five module housing and cover. (Accepts any 5 modules)

Has stand-off mounting lugs that allows for wiring from under sides.

Dimensions: 200 x 100 exc lugs. Height inc cover 96mm.

Housing Ref: 1450X £8.32

Cover Ref: 1540X £5.19

Modules.

1. Accepts 6 maxi-blade fuses. This module has an integral busbar that feeds all 6 fuses. Common feed is by an M8 stud. Ref: 1470X £15.50

2. Accepts 20 mini-blade fuses. Ref: 1460X £6.66

3. Accepts 10 mini-blade fuses and one maxi-relay. Ref: 1510X £9.12

4. Accepts 6 micro-relays. Ref: 1480X £9.12

5. Accepts 2 standard relays. Ref: 1500X £9.12

6. Accepts 1 standard relay and 1 maxi-relay. Ref: 1490X £9.12

Terminals.

Terminals for maxi-blade fuse modules.

Order 1 terminal per fuse.

Maxi blade fuse modules have integral busbar feeding all six fuses.

Ref. Cable. Ea. 10.

3-7650 1.5-2.5mm2 66p £4.96

3-7660 4-6mm2 66p £4.97

3-7670 8-10mm2 68p £5.09

3-76710 16mm2 £2.09 £15.70

Terminals for mini-blade fuse modules.

Mini-blade fuses can either be fed individually or adjacent fuses linked by busbar.

Order 2 terminals per fuse unless using busbar.

Mini blade fuse terminals.

Ref. Cable. Ea. 10.

3-8331 1-2mm2 15p £10.98

3-8332 2.5-4mm2 15p £10.86

Busbar terminals. (Strip of 10)

Ref. Cable. Ea.

3-8335 1-2mm2 £1.91

3-8336 2.5-4mm2 £1.89

Terminals for micro and standard relay modules.

Micro relays require 2 x 6.3mm terminals and 2 or 3 x 4.8mm terminals.

Standard relays use 6.3mm terminals.

4.8mm blade.

Ref. Cable. Ea. 10.

3-5620 0.5-1mm2 30p £22.14

3-5630 1.5-2.5mm2 30p £22.14

6.3mm blade.

Ref. Cable. Ea. 10.

3-2050 2.5-4mm2 60p £45.21

Terminals for power circuits on maxi relay modules.

For coil circuit use same as standard relay (Ref: 3-2050).

9mm blade.

Ref. Cable. Ea. 10.

3-07740 2.5-5mm2 69p £25.83

3-07741 6-8mm2 70p £26.31

I'll be using them in any future wiring projects.

Paul.

[Niall_CSK]

That is very neat & quite reasonable.

Wish that was available when I started the project, then again Edison was still kicking around when I started mine

[Becks]

If you don't like the gold plated car hifi stuff, you can use a marine distribution stud like this neat one from Bepmarine. For the outgoing cables are insufficiently protected by the big main fuse they should be run as short as possible and well fastened to a generic fuse box.

Accessory bus for small cables:

[john cranfield]

I have used exactly what you were asking for. A single heavy feed to eight spade fuses.

I can't remember the supplier but I have my local parts store that got it for me looking it up.

Will post when the info come in.

John .