12V Distribution Box

[Jim Dow]

I have just started (purchased the components) to construct a new, separate 12V distribution box (including circuit breakers/fuses) to support the addition of some extra LED lighting around the TT.
1) Step Light
2) Work area lights (propane tank area [both], front storage compartment, sewer dump, spare tire, hitch area, etc.)
3) Backup lights
4) Rear Scare light
5) Decorative lighting
6) Extra 12V receptacles (front storage compartment, inside TT)
7) Other (as needed)

I plan on documenting this project with pictures.

Does anyone have any great ideas before I start putting this stuff together?

[commish]

plan it out on paper before you start. I am doing leds in our Montana and do to the low powerdraw I have taken the power from existing systems.
Make shure you have removed any power to the areas that you are working in.
Good luck and enjoy your project.
Mike & Karol
Pacific Northwest

[kampfitt]

I put 4 backup lights on my 5th. one beside each front landing leg so you can see where your tires are going, and 2 under rear bumper angled about 30' out so you can see backing into your site. Powered from 5th batt. switch in drivers side front compartment so i stop turn lights on ck out site then back in. also i can use them when not hitched to truck.

[JRTJH]

plan it out on paper before you start. I am doing leds in our Montana and do to the low powerdraw I have taken the power from existing systems.
Make shure you have removed any power to the areas that you are working in.
Good luck and enjoy your project.
Mike & Karol
Pacific Northwest

I agree with your analysis on using existing wiring. You can easily double the lighting fixtures/lights when using LED's and still use less amperage than the original incandescent system. LED's use about 70% less energy, so doubling the number of fixtures would still only be using just a little over half as much amperage as the original number of incandescent fixtures.

[Jim Dow]

I don't plan on drilling any holes in the TT.

I hope that I don't mess up any existing wiring/function.

Therefore, NO Holes/No Errors = Separate 12V System, at least in my mind.

[Anson9110]

I've been getting everything ready to do the same thing.. Just collecting pieces so far and doing a little research. Any photos of the project yet?

[Jim Dow]

I haven't made any yet; but I will make some this weekend. It's a weekend project of mine.

Also, part of it is already assembled in the TT. I'll be going down to the TT next weekend; and make some more pics and post them.

How about you doing the same?

What are you working toward? What type of extra lighting, accessories, etc.?

I want to see if I can power some LED colored/decorative light strings with this new setup; but I'm more interested in getting some lighting for areas where I have none now.

[Jim Dow]

Well, I am now assembling my 12V power distribution box to go in the up-front storage compartment of my 2011 Montana High Country.

An earlier post explains my intentions.

So far, I've completed the following:
1 - Purchased the main box (plastic electrical box) and mounted a standoff hinge so that the lid moves completely off the box when it's open.
2 - Installed a single-position (on/off) battery switch. An "on" indicator light will be added later. I fused this with a 125 amp fuse.
3 - Installed a Blue Sea (marine) power distribution panel with 12 fused contact points (125 amp) inside the power box. Switches will be located near the lights/element on each circuit. Circuits on this panel will be "hot" at all timies except when the master power switch is off. This panel is intended to provide a general "always available" 12v power supply "on demand/when needed".
4 - Installed 2 Blue Sea (marine) waterproof 12v outlets on the power box.
5 - Assembled two 60 amp fuses that will supply each of the two legs of another "work light" 12 contact point distribution panel. Each contact point has a lighted switch/circuit breaker. This distribution panel will be mounted accessible on the outside of the power box lid so that I can control all of its work light circuits from one position - standing in front of the trailer. I hate to carry a flashlight in my teeth when I'm trying to work.

Check out the pics to see how far I've come so far.

[filmtex]

That's a clean looking box. Do you have a schematic, I'd like to see your whole plan?

[Jim Dow]

Well, I've finished the power distributiion box except for
a) mounting the new exterior distribution (primary switched lighting) panel after cutting a hole in the box lid to provide access to the switches without opening the box,
b) actually mounting the box in the front storage compartment, and
c) applying 12v power by directly connecting the 125 amp fuse to the master battery on/off switch - not to the battery switch in the convenience cabinet of the TT. Note: When the master battery on/off switch is in the "off" position, there will be NO 12v power to anything in the TT.

In these most recent pics below, you can see the 125 amp fuse wired to the local (box) on/off switch which is connected to the base (bottom) of the fused power distribution panel. This is the new "bulk" power distribution panel to be added to the TT.

Hopefully, within the next couple of weekends, I will finish the project.

I will have several external/internal work lights and plenty of 12v circuits I can work with without disturbing the original 12v circuits in the TT and without drilling any holes in the TT - yet.

Note the two cylindrical 60 amp fuses mounted to the side of the box. The primary switched lighting panel is split into two halves, hence to two cylindrical 60 amp fuses providing independent power to each half of this switch panel.

[Jim Dow]

I installed (but did not mount) the 12v power distribution box this weekend with the front light switch panel on the top of the box.

Wired up and tested several lights and rear-view camera:
1 - two extra backup/scare lights mounted on the ladder
2 - step light
3 - one work light in each of the gas cylinder storage areas
4 - one work light in the front storage compartment
5 - one rear-view camera

I've got a couple more work lights to go before I actually mount the box on the rear panel of the front storage area.

No holes drilled in the 5er; and not other 12v wiring disrupted.

[Jim Dow]

Well, I finished the 12v distribution box.

I posted a note last night; but I don't know where it went. So, I'll redo it.

The box is installed and functioning - but not yet mounted.

In the pic, you can see the front panel with lighted switches. All "extra" lights are controlled right on the front panel; so I'll know if any are left on.

No holes drilled in the 5er and no previously existing 12v circuits disturbed.

[Jim Dow]

Well, this past weekend I finished the buildout of the box and connected up the lights - see attached pic. Outside switch panel to control lighting and inside fuse panel for new circuits. Master switch shuts off everything.

Next, I'll hang the box on the back wall of the front storage compartment.

No holes in the 5er; and no interrupted 12v wiring.

[Jim Dow]

This is the 3rd time I have tried to post the finished pic of my 12v distribution box. I don't really know why I'm having so much trouble.

Here is the finished box - with the light switches on front.

No new holes in the 5er and no disturbances to the original wiring.

[denverpilot]

It showed up on every post above for me.