Headlamp Relay Behind Dash?!

[aragno]

I bought a boomslang relay kit from Rovers North. Now I know a little more and would like to put the relays behind the dash/instrument/gauge cluster.

Does anyone have a good step by step on how to do this?

I’d prefer this wiring is addressed behind the dash vs in the headlight space/cavity/well and running wires around the engine bay.

 

[expanse]

My $.02 is to keep behind the dash as clutter free as you can. it's tight and a pain to work in unless you have small hands. Sausage fingers (my issue) and it's going to be a battle.

Guessing you bought RNA0330, from the image it appears this is setup to house the fuse/relay up near the lights and you need to run a longer +12v feed up to it from battery/aux fuse block. To get the desired behind the dash, You'd be better off building your own wiring harness as everything is going to need to be extended.

Wiring is a bit of an art IMO. thinking long term is a big help so you're not running wires for days only to redo them a year later when adding more accessories. As an example, one of the last trucks in for wiring, I built this panel to house all current and future accessories. It's not a solution for everything electrical on the truck, but just demonstrating the forward thinking bit.

hope some of this helps

 

[aragno]

where did you mount this?

I was hoping the power could be intercepted behind the dash and avoid placing additional electrical components where they could easily come into contact with water, etc.

 

[expanse]

where did you mount this?

I was hoping the power could be intercepted behind the dash and avoid placing additional electrical components where they could easily come into contact with water, etc.

For this panel setup, I mounted under passenger seat (right side of seat box).

There are points to pull signal from behind cluster/dash, but i'd skip higher amp pulls. add old wiring and things can get spicy quick. I'm not sure what the specs are on your head lamps, that is assuming the units will pull a good amount of amps

Without writing a small book on wiring, if you mount this relay kit up near the lights, all you need to do is run a longer +12v from the battery to feed the fuse/relay, that is if the wire is too short.

Dash option is to extend a lot of wires/modification to this kit, might as well build a new harness at that point

 

[aragno]

For this panel setup, I mounted under passenger seat (right side of seat box).

There are points to pull signal from behind cluster/dash, but i'd skip higher amp pulls. add old wiring and things can get spicy quick. I'm not sure what the specs are on your head lamps, that is assuming the units will pull a good amount of amps

Without writing a small book on wiring, if you mount this relay kit up near the lights, all you need to do is run a longer +12v from the battery to feed the fuse/relay, that is if the wire is too short.

Dash option is to extend a lot of wires/modification to this kit, might as well build a new harness at that point

I am definitely open to building a new harness and don’t have to use what I have. I would like to think starting from scratch could yield a simpler design that leverages the existing 4 fuses and adds the relays in a place where we can keep them away from water.

 

[expanse]

I am definitely open to building a new harness and don’t have to use what I have. I would like to think starting from scratch could yield a simpler design that leverages the existing 4 fuses and adds the relays in a place where we can keep them away from water.

It's a simple build, just will take time. I'd start by making your wiring diagram and follow up with locating all the parts needed. I like Waytek wire for these types of jobs. easy to use site/catalog.

 

[aragno]

It's a simple build, just will take time. I'd start by making your wiring diagram and follow up with locating all the parts needed. I like Waytek wire for these types of jobs. easy to use site/catalog.

I think it’s the wiring diagram that I am not clear about….

 

[WreckITFrank]

It's a simple build, just will take time. I'd start by making your wiring diagram and follow up with locating all the parts needed. I like Waytek wire for these types of jobs. easy to use site/catalog.

i have a cart for Waytek for literally this same project. My PO made some crazy field fix harnesses on my 130, with 2 relays flopping around behind each headlamp. im making entire new wing harnesses though and incorporating them, using deutsche connectors.
@aragno im putting a blue sea 4 way fuse block, and a GEP triple relay block on the inner fender. LHD or RHD there is room on left side towards the front to put in a bracket. All will be weatherproof.

 

[aragno]

i have a cart for Waytek for literally this same project. My PO made some crazy field fix harnesses on my 130, with 2 relays flopping around behind each headlamp. im making entire new wing harnesses though and incorporating them, using deutsche connectors.
@aragno im putting a blue sea 4 way fuse block, and a GEP triple relay block on the inner fender. LHD or RHD there is room on left side towards the front to put in a bracket. All will be weatherproof.

If I am retrofitting to an existing OEM harness, would placing relays behind the gauge cluster be a bad idea? Should they be more accessible?

As I started poking around this weekend at things, the wiring appears to have lots of splices and repairs done to it.

Can a complete new wiring harness be installed without disassembling the entire vehicle?