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custom switchbox

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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 12:23 AM
  #1  
radwebster's Avatar
radwebster
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From: lakewood, NJ
Default custom switchbox

yaaaa i figured why the hell not, i had relays and switches all over the place, maybe should consolidate?? so i did....

only thing i couldnt find was a decent box in the size i needed, sooo for $5 i decided to go ahead and try out the cool ole' rubbermaid container at home depot not the coolest looking, but hey, gets the job done

i used 8 switches, and drilled them into the lid. i then added 2 18 lug bonding strips for power and ground, and added a 2 lug bonding strip for ignition power. i popped in 8 relays, mounted everything securely, then set about wiring.

i have a fused power and ground coming in straight from the battery, using 6 AWG welding wire.
the switches are ALL wired to relays, and as such only are carrying about one tenth of a volt. so i used 18 AWG for those.
power, ground, and output wires to the relay are all 10 AWG.

assuming that all these relays may generate some heat, i also mounted a computer fan to one side of the box, and is wired to turn on with the ignition, sucking any heat right out. i also had to construct a small barrier on the fan as shown, to keep any wires from contact the blade.

CB is mounted on top of the box, and the cupholder still opens all the way!

i have one cooling fan wired to a switch that feeds from the ignition power, so i can leave the switch on all the time, and the fan only comes on with the ignition (but i can flip the fan off with the switch whenever i desire).
the second 19" fan, as well as my 4 front lights and 2 backup lights are on seperate switches. that means i am only using 4 of the 8 switches so far, giving me plenty of room to expand in the future.
also, the 4 unused switches and relays are fully hooked up, so if i do expand with any other equipment, i simply have to run one wire to the relay, and i'm done.

overall, i dont think its a bad mod for the grand total of $5.

only thing i shall do down the road is take it out and paint it black.


now here's some pics


[IMG]local://upfiles/28056/7188C20047DA4414A97FE8D8B591ACDB.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/28056/75D7C643325F4C5B9AEAA1C15DDBF739.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/28056/32346811B40949C789937EA9C28DAD86.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/28056/70D9E0A50CBB408FA9F2F9E597CD80F1.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/28056/805788587E8A4AE5BE72DE562E4F0CFE.jpg[/IMG]
 
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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 12:23 AM
  #2  
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radwebster
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Default RE: custom switchbox

more

[IMG]local://upfiles/28056/736B1F201DC744F084239A502F01CE9A.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/28056/FDC016BBADBE4AB3B943AC906E505D23.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/28056/BB441540929044D281E147685F1A7F29.jpg[/IMG]
 
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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 12:28 AM
  #3  
radwebster's Avatar
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From: lakewood, NJ
Default RE: custom switchbox

few more... oh yea, check out the new back window! i had accidently ummm ..removed.. the passenger side pane of glass with an errant pallet, and rather than spending the $250 for a new back window, i cut down a piece of plexiglass and siliconed it in place. then tinted the whole back window with some 2.5% limo tint (dark!), and added some sweet stickers what ya think??

[IMG]local://upfiles/28056/5CF1AA73E2AE43068F5509AD3E11AF74.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/28056/DA7A9E38276247EF8F918F0C6F80E6DB.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/28056/66F8D063A6CB41B098B8309A69B60DC6.jpg[/IMG]
 
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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 12:34 AM
  #4  
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Default RE: custom switchbox

Looks damn nice atually! Good idea. Spray paint it black and it won't looks like a rubermaid home depot box lol

The back window looks awesome too, can't even tell its not factory. Good work.
 
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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 12:37 AM
  #5  
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Default RE: custom switchbox

here is what i did, the relays are all under the hood on the pass fender there is a cover to go over it too i just have it off for the pic

[IMG]local://upfiles/27664/55C597F8CD51410A8C5B2953FB13B96E.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/27664/9D36F68929C64777B3E5401C5C47FFC8.jpg[/IMG]
 
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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 12:52 AM
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Default RE: custom switchbox

My radio is a little big for that, I think all get the manuals cupholders (the ones on the floor), and mount mine to the cupholders on the dash.
 
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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 12:53 AM
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From: Sycamore, Illinois (displaced to Arkansas)
Default RE: custom switchbox


ORIGINAL: radwebster
i cut down a piece of plexiglass and siliconed it in place. then tinted the whole back window with some 2.5% limo tint (dark!), and added some sweet stickers what ya think??
How much HP did those stickers add?

Looks good.
 
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Old Nov 8, 2006 | 01:23 AM
  #8  
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Tani1500
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Default RE: custom switchbox

hmmm, ill give ya an A for effort but in a wheelers stand point, i would see that being a water problem since now you have alot of electric current sitting on the floor, even though im sure if the box was still sealed it wouldnt be that bad. i agree paint it black and it would look cool, i like how easy you can get it open. ok i cant take it, ( its looks like something a hick would do, but its not all that bad lol )
 
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