Ok, I bought one of those fuse panels that you can get from JCW, 10 fuse positions-160 Amp max. hopefully enough, lol! Not planning on going extreme, just wanna have options open fo who knows what crazy idea i come up with.

Ok, my Q is what size wire should I run from my battery to the new fuse panel. 4 gauge starter cable is convienant, it comes in the right length and has both ends crimped on already. Overkill?

Also do I need to run a fuse inline from the battery to the fuse box? I was at autozone today looking, and thay did not carry any 160A fuses/holders. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Nik

Go to a stereo shop that specializes in those annoying boomer stereos (there is more to music then bass). <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> They have some big fuses/breakers. You really do not need 160 amp; 80-100 would be fine

You don't really have to fuse the line from the battery to the new fuse panel since everthing ran off the panel will be fused from the panel its self. If you are going to run the lead a long ways, under the rig, through the firewall, I would run it through a pies of hose.

Fusing should always be done to protect the entire wire length by fusing at the power source... Any accessory wires connected directly to the battery should be fused as close as possible at the battery.. to minimize the length of unfused (and unprotected) wiring.

That's what Toyota has done for years with their fusable links right at the battery..

As Dave mentioned above, the stereo shops or www.partsexpress.com are a good source for large capacity, "ANL Wafer fuses".. These are reasonably priced protection against fires..

Using adhesive heatshrink to seal and insulate the cable end connection makes for a better looking job. MilesTek.com sells good quality 3/4" 3:1 adhesive heatshrink at the best price I've found.

There's a bolt right on the battery clamp (where Toyota bolts the replacable fusable link section) that's handy to bolt a wafer style fuse as shown below...

I ran my 6-fuse block off of a circuit breaker:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTricks/PowerPoint.shtml

I completely agree as long as you're doing a simple fuse box for <30A power distribution, use some form of fusable link. 180A is total overkill. Remember, your alternator probably provides between 60-80A.

On my junk I use one of those large gold distribution boxes to do two things:
1) Provide a point where I can break out power to my starter and power to my winch.
2) Provide a set of fuses for the rest of my truck accessories.

The 4ga wire (might be 2ga) from the battery is not fused.
My winch can pull up to 450A, so a fuse between them isn't going to work.

Double insulate that cable and make sure it doesn't rub.