Adding an extra fuse block

[zoom45]

I'm going to add an extra fuse block in my left side cover. There's plenty of room for it but it's kind of tight to run extra wires through and around the box. This will keep from having a bird nest of wires at the battery and fuses scattered around the bike. The block I have holds 6 fuses. Right now my accessory wiring is:

Stebil horn used with a relay (mounted near the ignition switch)
Accessory plug (mounted at the windshield)
Trailer wiring kit
Driving lights with a relay

Do I run the power wire directly from the battery to the block or should it have a fuse in-line there too? What gauge wire should this be?

What would be the correct size fuse for each of the above accessories?

Thanks,
Zoom45

[jandreu]

This is a good idea when running extra accessories. If it was my bike I would use 18 gage wire and put a 10 amp fuse between the new fuse block and the direct connection to the battery. As you are already using relays for the items that require extra amps this should handle the load and protect your electrical system.

[cactusjack]

What would be the correct size fuse for each of the above accessories?

It depends on the amp draw for each of the individual accessories. The Stebel horn needs at least a 15 amp fuse, if I recall. The driving lights depend on how many watts they consume.

There is a formula: Watts / Volts = Amps

So if you have a set of 50 watt driving lights, 50 x 2 = 100 watts, assume 14 volts (alternator output) 100 / 14 = 7.14 Amps, so a 10 amp fuse should be okay.

Do I run the power wire directly from the battery to the block or should it have a fuse in-line there too? What gauge wire should this be?

I would fuse the power lead between the accessory block and battery with a 30 amp fuse, you need that to be a large gauge wire, 8-10 ga.

I have 2 fuse blocks on my bike, one is half switched (it's on a relay) the other half is always hot. The other one is hot all the time. They are a very nice thing to have and can make it much easier to install accessories and trouble shoot problems.

[Cajunrider]

I have one fuse block on hand that I haven't installed yet. It has a #8 lead and has 6 circuits on it. It is good for a total of 40 amps. When I do put it in, it will have an inline 40 amp fuse between it and the battery. Haven't decided whether I will install it in the HL bucket or behind the left side cover.

[macmac]

I lioke Cj's best. "I would fuse the power lead between the accessory block and battery with a 30 amp fuse, you need that to be a large gauge wire, 8-10 ga. " I'ld lean hard on 8 Ga wire to it which will allow a 40 amp fuse if you ever need it.


If you added a high draw radio, you may find you need to monitor voltage. Towing a trailer, running a radio, and passing lamps begin to approach, all the gennie can make, Adding a 2nd set of passing lamps would force you to monitor voltage..

I have 2 sets of passing lamps. One is 55 watts x 2, which is just under 10 amps. The other are sealed beam and 30 or 35 watts x 2, just about 6 amps.

The combination is close to the total output. The bike will do it, but I can't add anything more at 10 amps.

I don't often run both sets of apssing lamps either, and so this year "Spirts Willin'" I will have the hoppy converter for a trailer set up. I already run a ciggy butt power take off for a volt meter. Jusy knowing you may need to manage draw might be worth knowing.

That horn is a hard hit, but for not very long..... right? I just friggin yell....

If that won't work the next thing a fool will hear is a very loud BANG..

[duneseven]

Mac maYBE YOU NEED SOME SUN youre sounding a bit cranky?

[Yellow Jacket]

Actually Mac is right. If the Stebel horn doesn't get their attention the report from a 44 Mag does wonders!

[clayton]

I too choose to place my fuse box and relay in the left side cover.
I followed these instructions at http://www.gadgetjq.com/fuse_block_switched_2.jpg
and so far no fires... :)
I will post some pics later after coffee.

[macmac]

Originally Posted by duneseven

Mac maYBE YOU NEED SOME SUN youre sounding a bit cranky?

No Sun is gonna help me... I have days like anyone else where I get cranky, but not because of the sun, receading glaciers, or the mood my wife is in.

Not sure why you would say so, but if it is the Bang thing, well lets just say if I have pants on I am armed...

Then there are some who would say I don't need any pants to be armed. The problem there is, I have no idea who those jerks were, and for some reason they never came back to bother me any more

[macmac]

Originally Posted by Clayton

I too choose to place my fuse box and relay in the left side cover.
I followed these instructions at http://www.gadgetjq.com/fuse_block_switched_2.jpg
and so far no fires... :)
I will post some pics later after coffee.

That will work.. The high draws of some radios at 16 amps, combined with a high draw horn can over load the fuse between the battery and the relay if you get noise happy and lay on the horn.

Adding other high draws like 55 watts passing lamps, maybe a up grade main hi beam to 110 watts, all must be monitored.

me: I just never use a horn, not even a beep to say hi... For most of my vehical life the only times I beep the horn is for state inspection, and then sometimes i find it won't beep at all.

I yell then too, since I see no sence in spending money on something I am not ever going to use. ::)

[billz410]

A loud BANG. HAHA. rotflmao!!!!!!

[macmac]

Oh, I've been known to make loud BANG noises on occasions. Most of the time it just wakes up the walking dead.

Like at a shop for car I ran down in Mass, before Mass was the soviet republic it is now.

There was a liquor store between us and the street, and a bar on the other side of the street a few buildings up.

Since we did cars like M Benze, Saab, Volvo, BMW, Bently, Jag, and etc etc, we didn't have much desire for drunks relieving themselves in our lot, and or on our customer's cars.

For some time I lived in the apt over the shop too.

One night some drunk broad was peein' between cars, and I got a bit miffed and fired a 12 ga in the air, not at her. It was pretty ammusing watchin her run with her panites down around her ankels. I don't beleive she ever came back either.

That was rare even for me, as most of the time just seein me mad, and with a gun, is plenty enough to get folks GONE.

Up in the ring dike we suffered fools enough, like really stupid fools who wanted to use my phone to call the cops on me, because I didn't have keys to the logging company gates.

i didn't ever work for the logging company, which seems to me a very good reason to not have their gate keys. But there are some who can't understand that idea.

Don't ask me why, but when I feel threatened by such fools who refuse to leave, and insist on using my phone, to call the cops on me, it just ain't gonna happen.

It wasn't like there was even cell phones back then. I think there might have been bag phones, but I never had either, and still don't.

Maybe I just attract wacko's, but all I really know is I sure don't get along well with wacko's.

At this point I have communicated with 3 wackos totally naked, except for my 2 pair of earring wires I made and wear to allow more silver junk hangin off my head at Battle Re-Enactments, and a gun... That's prety naked.. Wacko's hate naked guys with a gun really bad..

Now i don't go get undressed just to present myself to any wackos, but I tend to sleep naked with a gun. When I get rudely awakened, sometimes I forget to get dressed, or there just isn't any time.

Either way I find being naked has some definate advantages fer me They never come back so far as i can tell either.

I like that a lot..

Now if I don't know you from shinola, and you come on the run with 2 other real big guys and my wifess sees that out a window, she gets me my gun, and I stuff it in my belt to see what's up.

On certain occasions people were off the road or just wanted to know who owned that tee pee. Some of them are still my friends around here to this very day.

I ain't too sure how I really feel about that since these friends get broken down vehicals in winter and the vehicals can't move and I find myself flat on my back on the ice, fixin 'X' items in the cold.. I guess havin a few friends is worth a little cold ice on my creebly spine.

Anyone who knows me is more surprised when I am not armed, than they are when I am...

Last summer a buddy patted me down, and was shocked Miss Kimber wasn't in her normal holstered place! I just fooled him, and was still armed...

[dogdoc]

Lack of sun does make one cranky Mac, its called Seasonal disorder or some crap. get you a full spectrum light and meditate under it. LOL :-)

[traveler]

Hey ,Guys I want to install more lights on front lower crash bars . got the ones from Wally world for Christmas.Its time to put them on. Where do you recommend getting the fuse block, relay , & switch.

[audiogooroo]

Originally Posted by traveler

Hey ,Guys I want to install more lights on front lower crash bars . got the ones from Wally world for Christmas.Its time to put them on. Where do you recommend getting the fuse block, relay , & switch.

I picked mine up at Pep Boys. I think most auto supply places should have everything you need.