Vetteman61

iTrader: (1)

Where did the original under hood fusebox get its power? I've got the wiring harness laid out, but I can't find a wire that looks like it would have powered the original box?

I plan to run a welding wire from the hot side of the battery straight to my new bussmann box. Is this overkill?

Thanks,
Brandon

Michael Yount

iTrader: (1)

How many amps will potentially have to be handled by the box? How far does that wire have to run from the battery to the box? Use those answers to size your power feed. I don't think I've seen any more than an 8 gauge or 10 gauge feeding a fusebox/power distribution junction.

Vetteman61

iTrader: (1)

Did the original power for the underhood fuse block come straight off of the alternator?

33willys

iTrader: (1)

The welding cable should go to the starter solenoid, from there run a 12 gauge wire to an inside insulated terminal lug then to the fuse box. Use the terminal lug to take raw power to the ignition switch and headlights (with fuse). Never run anything off the alternator. Run a number 8 wire from the alternator to the solenoid.

1964SS

iTrader: (1)

If you are powering your electric fan or fans off this box also then I wouldn't run anything smaller then a 10 gauge from starter to fuse box. 8 gauge is ideal if dual fans are being used.

33willys

iTrader: (1)

Yes, above is correct 10 or 8 gauge wire. My bad!

Vetteman61

iTrader: (1)

As of now, I'm planning to use my original wiring to power the starter so I don't have to rewire anything to the ignition switch. I have the hot wire from the donor vehicle (2004 avalanche) that went from the battery to the starter, so I can reuse that. And according to what I read above I'll run an 8 gauge wire from the start to the underhood fusebox. I ordered a breaker box to wire inbetween the starter and the fusebox.

Vetteman61

iTrader: (1)

To update, I'm going to end up using 4 gauge welding wire from the battery to the under hood fusebox, with a breaker in between.

ls1nova71

iTrader: (4)

Just curious, but why put a fuse before the fusebox?

Vetteman61

iTrader: (1)

I called the company that makes the bussmann fuseboxes and they recommended putting a breaker between the battery and fusebox. I can't remember the terminology the tech used, but it some something summarized as the power coming from the battery to the fusbox is with large wire and called direct power, and that needs to be fused, and then each smaller wire is called distributed power, and that also needs to be fused.