Fuse Tap or Bus Bar?
11-16-2017, 04:38 PM
#1
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Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L HO
Fuse Tap or Bus Bar?
Bus bars and Fuse tap
Hi all,
I have been planning a lot of electrical work on my cherokee for a while now. I was working on my wiring diagram and got to thinking which I should use, a Bus Bar with inline fuses, or a fuse tap?
This guy I work with (hardcore wrangler unlimited, prob $100k build) is an advocate for fuse taps, even for his winch.
The cop cars I work on (2011+ Imapalas) all have bus bars and inline fuses from the factory.
Which is better?
Last edited by Ozark Mountain Ranger; 11-16-2017 at 04:41 PM.
11-21-2017, 11:05 AM
#3
I used a fuse tap for my CB it works well and I don't get too much noise from it. I could see fuse taps being an issue once you start adding multiple taps, its already very crowded in there from one tap.
12-07-2017, 01:30 AM
#4
CF Veteran
There are fused bus bars in boxes available. Amazon is one place to find them. Ones with covers and labels. I would much rather do something like that. Cleaner and more professional looking.
03-27-2018, 06:04 AM
#5
This is probably my favorite modification I've done.
with this, I built a switch box for the inside of my XJ out of a pic lighting/switch gangbox from Menards, it's ugly, but effective. All of my accessories are on relays, all of the relays are fused, the only wire I had to run into the cab of my Jeep was a couple foot length of cat5e, the cat5e has 1 wire powered to light the 4 LEDs in my switch panel, the rest just ground the relays in the fuse box.
https://youtu.be/aG37G9dBXv8
with this, I built a switch box for the inside of my XJ out of a pic lighting/switch gangbox from Menards, it's ugly, but effective. All of my accessories are on relays, all of the relays are fused, the only wire I had to run into the cab of my Jeep was a couple foot length of cat5e, the cat5e has 1 wire powered to light the 4 LEDs in my switch panel, the rest just ground the relays in the fuse box.
https://youtu.be/aG37G9dBXv8
Last edited by skife; 03-27-2018 at 06:09 AM.
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06-11-2018, 04:52 PM
#9
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Year: 1998 (buggy), 1998 DD
Model: Cherokee
Fuse taps are "ok" for small amperage things, but are really for someone too lazy to do it right.
Not sure how he's using it on his winch, since fuse taps would be too small.
Bus Bars and fuse holders like those above are the way to go.
Bus bars are a little better for several higher draw items.
Otherwise feeding one power to the fuse block and going from there is much cleaner and easier to deal with.
06-14-2018, 08:59 PM
#10
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Year: 1998 Classic (I'll get it running soon....) and 02 Grand
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Must not have built it himself.
Fuse taps are "ok" for small amperage things, but are really for someone too lazy to do it right.
Not sure how he's using it on his winch, since fuse taps would be too small.
Bus Bars and fuse holders like those above are the way to go.
Bus bars are a little better for several higher draw items.
Otherwise feeding one power to the fuse block and going from there is much cleaner and easier to deal with.
Fuse taps are "ok" for small amperage things, but are really for someone too lazy to do it right.
Not sure how he's using it on his winch, since fuse taps would be too small.
Bus Bars and fuse holders like those above are the way to go.
Bus bars are a little better for several higher draw items.
Otherwise feeding one power to the fuse block and going from there is much cleaner and easier to deal with.
Yep. All of the above.
06-17-2018, 12:47 PM
#11
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Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: China Lake, CA
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Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L HO
Must not have built it himself.
Fuse taps are "ok" for small amperage things, but are really for someone too lazy to do it right.
Not sure how he's using it on his winch, since fuse taps would be too small.
Bus Bars and fuse holders like those above are the way to go.
Bus bars are a little better for several higher draw items.
Otherwise feeding one power to the fuse block and going from there is much cleaner and easier to deal with.
Fuse taps are "ok" for small amperage things, but are really for someone too lazy to do it right.
Not sure how he's using it on his winch, since fuse taps would be too small.
Bus Bars and fuse holders like those above are the way to go.
Bus bars are a little better for several higher draw items.
Otherwise feeding one power to the fuse block and going from there is much cleaner and easier to deal with.
I went with them because I want a central point where I'm not disassembling half the body panels to change a fuse, or just disconnect a lead.
