Tapping into fuse blocks?

[Munky]

I want to tap into my fuse block for a few things I'm putting in my Sonata. (I've never done this before, as I've always ran power wires from the battery with inline fuses.) I want my radar detector to come on with the car, as well as whatever else I put in there.

What's the best place to tap into? How exactly is it done? I was under the assumption you just stick one wire in each side and hold it in with a fuse, but I didn't think it would be that easy. Any insights?

[maral01]

If I were you, I would still run a primary wire from the battery. However, you could tap on an accessory that comes ''on'' with the car to activate a relay that would bring power to your accessories at the same time as you turn your car on. Therefore, you run less chance of blowing your fuses due to too much current being drawn plus you can put a fuse just for that or those extra accessories you want to give power to.

[Tommy]

I actually just hardwired a 1 to 2- outlet cigarette plug thingy behind the dash. Just spiced straight into the wiring for the AUX power plug.

Gives me 2 hidden outlets and 2 external outlets. I have my GPS and my XM radio plugged in behind the dash.

[Munky]

I actually just hardwired a 1 to 2- outlet cigarette plug thingy behind the dash. Just spiced straight into the wiring for the AUX power plug.

Gives me 2 hidden outlets and 2 external outlets. I have my GPS and my XM radio plugged in behind the dash.

You know, that's not a bad idea, I was thinking of doing that. I did something similar in the Elantra..I wired a 4-way to a switch.

How did you tap into the power?

[Tommy]

Cut the hot wire, spiced it back together with the positive from the adapter, then grounded the other wire to the chassis.

[park15]

you can also use a device called "add-a-circuit". i wired up a radar detector and 2 sets of neons with switches right to my fuses. its really easy to use

[cobase]

Fuse taps - they plug into the fuse socket and give you a 12V wire, and they have sockets for two fuses - one for the original circuit and one for the additional thing you're adding. They're like $10 or less at auto parts stores. I think I got mine at Advance Auto or Autozone.

I used one to connect the cig lighter circuit to the CarPC power supply logic, so it knows when the ignition is ON/OFF and boots/shuts-down accordingly.

I've wondered if it makes a difference plugging it in the wrong way, and how to tell what the right way is. Still don't know.

[hyunelan2]

Shouldn't make a difference if you plug it in backwards. It's all positive power, and the fuses are just like "interrupts" in the power line.

[Ugzz]

ive done all three. power taps are nice, but i only did this once cause people are too lazy to go get them lol.

did a small 35x3 amp in my dads 98 elantra wagon. just ran the wire into an open fuze spot, jammed the fuze over the wire and voila. Ideal? no.. functional. Yes.

I also spliced my cigarette into two when i was 18 and obsessed with neon lights. i just used a wire tap to split the line, ran it to an on off switch hid in the ashtray then to one of the small wire blocks. Its a single hot input with like 10 really tiny high gauge outputs It came with a neon set. Open the ashtray, flick the switch and the neons all kicked on.

al three are fine. wire into the fuse was the easiest, but the most ghetto. Also make sure everything is secure, dont want anything falling out :P -and on the 98 there were a good 3-4 empty fuse slots, i assume for options this car didnt have or something.. so i just used one of those.

[rckozma]

Shouldn't make a difference if you plug it in backwards. It's all positive power, and the fuses are just like "interrupts" in the power line.

Not true.

If you plug it in backwards then the fuse will basically not work as the 'leg' of the adaptor with the wire will always be on the power side. You want the 'leg' with the wire on the opposite side of the power, therefore the fuse will trip if it ever shorts......does that make sense?

[hyunelan2]

You're right^

[i8acobra]

If you plug it in backwards then the fuse will basically not work as the 'leg' of the adaptor with the wire will always be on the power side. You want the 'leg' with the wire on the opposite side of the power, therefore the fuse will trip if it ever shorts......does that make sense?

This is only true if your device isn't fused. I always run an inline fuse between my device and power tap.

[rckozma]

The device we are talking about is what cobase posted a pic of, it already has a fuse built into it, I was just pointing out how it needed to be installed so that the fuse on the adaptor actually works

[CornbreadXD]

so how will cobase know if he has it in right?

[i8acobra]

The device we are talking about is what cobase posted a pic of, it already has a fuse built into it, I was just pointing out how it needed to be installed so that the fuse on the adaptor actually works

My point was just that if the device is fused, it doesn't matter if the one on the adapter works or not.

so how will cobase know if he has it in right?

When you pull the fuse out to install the adapter, use a circuit tester light to determine which leg of the socket is hot. One side will be hot, the other not. Install the adapter so that the red wire is on the cold (ground) side.

[hyunelan2]

Through the awesome, awesome power of my pen and scratch paper at my desk, I think I have illustrated how this works.

[i8acobra]

A true arteest.

[rckozma]

My point was just that if the device is fused, it doesn't matter if the one on the adapter works or not.

Nope, you are right I do the same thing. I was just explaining the device.

[cbogg]

go with the fuse tap, they work, and they're easy. just don't try to run your 1100 watt jl amps off em. you'll go through a lot of fuses that way. and **** starts to smell funny...

[Munky]

Thanks for the replies and awesome artwork, guys.

This will only be for my radar detector, and possibly GPS as well. No amps or anything this way..if I get a system put in here it will be done the right way.