I'm currently working out the wiring details for a nitrous install in my C5.

Since the bottle is going to be in the very back of the car, the wire for the bottle heater element will need to be about 10' long.

My question is, where should I put the relay, in the front near the battery, or in the rear by the bottle?

I'm also thinking about building a fused power distribution panel in the rear, cause eventually some amps are going back there also. Anyone have any experience on building this and/or where to get the parts? This ?? might be better in another forum, but thought I'd start here and see what you guys think.

 

I know NX suggests to put relay near the heater/bottle, why I am not sure. I allways put mine near the battery. Here's why, well the high amp wire that supplies the heater is not hot when system is off, whereas, if you do like NX then you have a high amp positive wire running through your car at all times. Anyway, it has worked fine putting it in the engine bay for me on evry set-up I have done. maybe ricky will chime in and explain why NX likes it back by the heater.
Robert

 

In our custom built harness we sell we put all the relays together up at the front of the car. It really does not matter as long as you use the correct amperage of wire.

Our custom harnesses come with circut breakers and all.
http://www.nitrousoutlet.com/catalog...roduct_id=1220
Dave

 

You can install a relay anywhere in the line path it will not matter. What does matter is the size of the wire. And I think you should install a fuse close to the power source.
Now the wire being hot all the time is no big deal as long as the wire is properly installed. Just like when a battery gets relocated there is a hot wire running through the car all the time.

When ever I wire a car, I put all the relays in one location, and circuit breaker them. This allows me to wire the car fast and helps IF there is ever a wiring problem.


Ricky

 

Here's my relays/fuses and WSs and most wiring in one spot.

Robert

 

I added a fuse panel in the battery area, the heater relay I have mounted on the bottle bracket. What I like about that is when I pull the bottle out for when I go to work (becomes the wifes car), I just disconnect the relay harness from the heater relay and stow the mainline, opener, N2O pressure transducer, and heater wires in the passenger cubby hole in the trunk area when the bottle is not in. Drop in the center cover and nothing nitrous related is visible, she is free to use the trunk area at will.

When I come home it takes me about three minutes to set the bottle in place, thumb screw the opener on the bottle, connect the heater and mainline/blowdown hose, and I am back in business.

 

Battery box here too. Relay is just behind the fuse box. Nitrous line comes through the firewall behind the battery. Power in/out through the same hole. Window switch visable in pic.