Last year I finally installed my first attempt at an overhead console switch panel. It looked so nice, but failed miserably on the trail. I had reused a stock overhead console, trimmed the storage spaces, and crammed 24 switches, a cig lighter port and whatnot into it, while retaining the map lights. It failed due to the sheer weight of the thing riding on the single screw in the front.

So, back to the drawing board. The current switch panels I'm building are called 1U 19" rack panels, roughly 2" wide. I'm using two of them side by side, with the mount holes the front and rear. That's the easy part.

I had origionally thought I would just use some C channel, angle iron, or bent aluminum sheet metal for the mounts, but after playing with some Kydex recently, I'm thinking of building a mold and making a nice, enclosed console with recesses for the switch panels, mounting space for the CB, a mount location for a Panavice camera mount, and LED lighting pads. Since I would have the mold, I figured I'd see if anyone had any ideas they might want to see as part of the console, and how much interest there would be in buying them.

General details:

-Meant to be mounted without headliner, with option for screwing though roof, double-back tape, glue or reusing existing mounts.

-Lightweight but sturdy

-flat zones for the addition of a variety of surface mount LED illumination, cameras, or CB radio.

-Able to accommodate two 1U or one 2U 19" rack panels. (Currently, this allows for up to 34 switches in one configuration, or 36 in a different configuration TOTAL)

-Panel area with recess to provide protection of wiring from rubbing the roof.

-Accessory port (cig lighter), maybe 2



If there is room, stowage area would be nice, but I'm not sure what I would store there on a regular basis to know what form it should take. I would like input on that part.

If it were to be available for sale, I would only supply the console itself, templates for cutouts, and sources for the planned parts that would go on it. This is due to the variety of uses it might be subject to.

No, you would not need to put in 36 switches, that's just how much room there would be. Careful planning might allow for more, and standard switches are just an example. Lights, dimmers, and other do-dads would be at home.

I'll try to plan for an option for just a blank area instead of rack panels. I want to use rack panels so I don't have to take the whole console down if I need to rewire a switch or fix something.

 

Interested in knowing what all these switches will be controlling?

Did you say 24 switches.

And as far as weak single front screw just mod it up stronger. Many ways.

 

I might be Interested.

 

Out of complete wonder... What would you need 36 switches for!? Turning on every single light individually are we?

 

You would be surprised at what people come up with regarding switching

 

Well, 24 switch positions, not all are filled or wired up yet, and about a third of them are breakers, but here's a summary of what I have so far:

4 forward light switches (roof)
4 extra light switches (will probably be sides and rear)
2 double throw, center off switches for dome lights
breakers for above (3)
breaker for CB
accessory outlet, breaker, and switch
Air horn relay switch
That's 17 or so, and I think I have two different 12v circuits running it, each on their own breaker, so it fills up quick.

Yes, it's kinda ridiculous, but I like switches, and I had the breakers laying around. Of course, each switch has a cover too...

As to what anyone else might use the space for, it's just blank space, you could put anything there, GPS mount, cameras, phone storage, whatever.

I guess I should draw up what I'm thinking and then you guys can see if there's anything that could be better.

I just started off this time with the 19" rack panels because they were laying around, sturdy, and easy to work with. The first time, using the stock console, I just wanted to see how many I could jam in there. 3 banks of 8 and still would have had room for indicator lights.

 

 

That's the lower console. We're talking about the upper console!

 

Here's what the old one looked like

 

Got one side drilled, still need to set hole size for LEDs and ACC port

 

Way overkill on the switches IMO, but it does look cool, and I like that CB mount location. Might have to do the OHC mod on mine just for that reason.

 

Nothing is overkill lol. I can envision myself actually having 25 switches lol

 

No licorice dispenser!?

 

Hahaha

 

I'd say that might work if it's got the headliner installed to help hold the rear up better, after seeing what mine did. The back is stouter than the front, though, so you might not have issues. The switches and wiring probably weighed more than the CB.

Just for the record, I peeled the headliner off of the console, sanded it down, and sprayed it with bed-liner. I might have primed it first, but I can't remember. I wouldn't do that step again, the bed-liner tried to orange-peel.

Ok, where do I get one? heh heh.

I'm not sure how many switches will go in this time, I did a plan for it at one point, but I figure I won't fill it all. I just would rather put blanks in, have it all look nice, and pop out a blank if I need to add a switch instead of taking it all apart to drill more holes. Most indicators, breakers, pushbuttons, and whatnot will fit in a standard large-format toggle switch position, is the theory.