Let me see your electrical accessory setups (inverter, additional 12V, USB)

[LX Avalanche]

I am researching how to get some additional 12V sockets, add USB ports, and an inverter or two and would like to see what guys in the club are using and how they have their's setup. If you wouldn't mind posting up some pictures and some information on your setups that would be great. I saw Blue Sea mentioned for fuse blocks, I saw Phil post up the Xantrex inverter for sale, I guess I would like to know if all inverters are created equal or not, where/how you installed the inverter, fuse block, 12v ports, usb ports, etc. Also the best place to source these items. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Some information on what I plan on running:

Hooking up my air compressor
CB
small LED light bars
winch
have the ability to charge laptop, tablet, phones, GPS, etc.
I'd also like to have the ability to hook up a fridge in the future

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

I like Blue Sea products
Up front 4 12v outlet and 1 dual USB all on separate auto reset breakers. Included on my list of auto reset breakers is my HAM and CB
After dumping my 1500W inverter (for lack of use) I replaced it with a Xantrex portable 400W inverter. Many inverters produce noise when used on music device and will not charge some chargers.
At the rear I have another Optima Blue battery (wired in parallel with main) tied into 100W of solar power
The rear battery powers my PUMA via an Anderson plug given me the ability to unplug and power a large inverter if needed.
I have 12V outlets at the rear but I waiting on a new panel (pictured below and not Blue Sea) for the rear upgrade

 

[LX Avalanche]

Thanks Phil!

 

[sdnative]

Blue Sea is coming out with a new high current USB charger (1039/1045) next month. They look to be high quality, as with most all Blue Sea products. I will be picking up one or two of these when available. Be careful if trying to charge the newer iPads/iPhones, some of the chargers out there wont do it. Need a charger rated for them (>2.1A @ 5V I believe).

USB Chargers - Blue Sea Systems

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

From what I was told an USB outlet needs to be equipped with something special for Apple devices to take advantage of a 2+amp port

 

[LX Avalanche]

Still waiting on pictures of everyone's setup

 

[dtchevy42]

I just did 12V outlet install a few weeks ago. I used a BlueSea Megafuse holder at the battery and bolted it to the plastic battery tray. Seems sturdy enough. I've seen some people use the metal battery hold-down clamp for mounting accessories...but having just replaced the radiator, I appreciate being able to remove the whole battery box quickly. The Megafuse is 100A. I'll never need that much, but maybe I'll need more than the typical 30A of the ATC blade fuses in the future.

Then, I installed a 6-fuse BlueSea distribution block on the front passenger seat shield, per Slee's instructions. The passenger seat comes off with (4) 17mm bolts. It was pretty easy to route the hot wire under the carpet from the engine bay.

All buttoned up:

Next, I installed a BlueSea dual USB outlet at the front of the console. This came in handy during a road trip I took to Lake Tahoe last week. With five people in the Cruiser for two days each way, somebody was always charging their phone. Plus, this kept passengers from using this square compartment as a cupholder. Which irritates me to no end because I spent big money for the in-dash cupholder above the radio!

Unfortunately, USB ports tend to have that stupid light in them. So, I ended up running a relay (I Mickey-Moused into the Rear Heater fuse with a fuse tap for the ignition-hot).

One note - I had to relocate the parking brake lockout relay to do this. Searching the forum, I couldn't find any reason why this would case a problem, and others have moved it without issue.

I am one of the few who still uses his 3rd row bench. For the benefit of the poor fool stuck in back, I installed a 12V BlueSea cig outlet. The plastic panel comes off pretty easily and it's simple to route the wire under the rear passenger door threshold.

Not the most professional setup but hope this gives you some ideas!

 

[LX Avalanche]

Thank you for that write up! I also use the 3rd seat on occasion.

 

[LX Avalanche]

Where do you guys run your cables for the inverter through the firewall? Or any wires for that matter.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Firewall for me

PUMA electrical wiring for Dummies

 

[LX Avalanche]

Thanks Phil

 

[1Louder]

I have a Blue Sea fuseblock by my brake pedal in my FJ. 2 extra dual USB ports installed (Bluesea, 1 is always on) but have given up on my dual battery setup. I now have an ArkPak with my group 34 battery in it. I plug the fridge into that if I am camped for multiple days. I rarely need an inverter but the ArkPak has one. I also have solar.

 

[Luke84]

I haven't wired this yet, but I pulled my rear ashtray and made this out of 0.118 Kydex- no drilling or cutting the stock panel required! I do wish I could have made it a little cleaner though. I feel like it's a little off center

 

[Luke84]

What would be the best way to wire these though? I have the Blue Sea 6-circuit box, and I'm leaning towards splicing both of these together so as to only take up one circuit bank. I was going to try to ground it on the chassis in the rear as well