Hey Guys,

I'm currently looking into getting a light bar...because the jeep isn't bright enough

My questions is how do YOU make your wiring jobs look more professional? Im referring mostly to under the hood and at the battery. Right now i've got 2 positive lines running to my battery. One for the bumper lights and one for the cb. It looks messy, not gonna lie (ill post pics tomorrow) Im thinking about adding 4 more lights (2 more lines running to the battery) and i see that getting a little messy.

There HAS to be a better way. Im by no means an excellent electrician but i know how to use the tools (solder, crimpers, cutters, shrink wrap, ect.) and im willing to learn. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Pictures would help as well!

 

i wouldnt say mine isnt super clean but i know what you mean i hate to see all the wires running around, so what i did for my lights is i got 14 gauge 4 strand wire (or u could get any amount) with the rubber out side shield from home depot. it looks like a black electrical cord. looks clean and is water proof n cut resistant.

 

I try to run wires inside the factory wiring harness covers if possible. If not use zip ties to tie them to existing harnesses to avoid having wires strung all over the place.

For the connections solder and heat shrink tubing looks the most like factory but crimp connectors are much faster and easier and can be covered by heat shrink too.

 

I guess im also asking is it OK to have the 4 positive leads running directly to the battery? They all have *would* decent grounds and have inline fuses.

 

Yeah you can run as many wires to the battery as you want as long as they are each fused according to their load.

I have 4 or 5 extra wires running off of my positive terminal going to various relays and such.

 

what i did is used a circuit breaker fuse off the battery and run wires off that

 

I got a dual post battery from a local shop. Autozone sells a piece you can put under the terminal on a top post, or a side post and it has 3 spade connectors on it. With the dual post battery, i have a set on my side terminals so i can just run spade connectors to them, not tapping into the battery terminals.

I can get photos if needed.

 

I installed an aux fuse block on the firewall, then used wire loom to run all the wires for my lights, OBA, ARB's etc. That freed up room at the battery.

 

First and foremost - don't wire everything directly to the battery! An accessory fuse panel will clean things up considerably, as will an accessory distribution post (but the latter does end up with an awful lot of loose fuses.)

For the wiring proper, I like to use SJOOW wiring available from the hardware store. The stuff is oil-, grease-, and water-resistant, and carries the advantage of multiple conductors in a single jacket. You can use 16/3 or 14/3 for all but the most ridiculous lighting setups, and it gives a clean assembly (and the extra insurance of having a heavy rubber overjacket over the conductors' individual jackets.) It is also fine-stranded, which makes it highly flexible. I also use the stuff for "remote lights" - since it retains its flexibility in extreme cold (making it easier to handle.)

If you have several going to a common area, bundle them up in a large convolute tube (the black rippled stuff you see over the OEM wiring) for an OEM appearance and a clean look. Secure with small black wire ties if you like (I usually do - spaced at about 12-inch intervals. I have a zip-tie gun, which makes it easier.)

If you want to look into fuse panels, distribution posts, and suchlike; click the link in my sig. If you don't see anything there you might think helpful; let me know so I can see about adding it! If you need design help, hit me backchannel and we can talk seriously.

 

Thanks guys.

I've been talking to people on here and with a buddy and it seems like a good idea to get an aux fuse box, which will help relieve some of the clutter. Keep the ideas coming!

 

I have a bit of fog lights on my rig and figured, if anyone ever worked on my car, i would want them to know what i myself worked on. I picked up some a 500 count colored zip tie package at home depot for 15-20 bucks. Every bit that i ran is covered by the plastic wire loom and has a colored zip tie every 12 inches. Small pink ones for the rear lights, small green for the fronts, and blues for the ones above. Just in case a shop or a friends works on my rig i can easily say, anything color coded, was my work.

 

Good ideas.

Do yourself and others a big favor and twist the tag end of the tie-wraps off, don't cut them. Cutting them leaves sharp edges that can rip nasty scratches down your arms.

 

When you run wires, think ahead. You need to plan it like a highway system. You have groups that follow a path inside wire looms, or armor if you will. This also makes it easy to tie down securely. Then you have exits to side streets, or branches that go to your accessories. These are also in smaller looms that when finished can be tapped together and wrapped with fabric and good electrical tape. This avoids the cluttered look. And as mentioned make a new power distribution center consisting of fuses and or circuit breakers with relays. They make nice plugs for relays that hook together in a nice neat row that you can crimp your new wires to.