Standalone E-Locker wiring DIY

[Malleus]

Hey Ken! I know more now than I did then. Today, I would design a purpose-built PCB with relays or a motor controller from Sparkfun.

I want one. Or maybe two.

 

[NeverFinis]

Don't we all! I still remember that day back in... 1998? when we stabbed that new e-locker into your rear axle in my driveway.

I made my relay box from scratch, it's still in the back of my '87 Xtra cab, which is now residing in Tucson AZ.

Do you still have the white 4Runner? Did you ever get the Supra motor finished up?

Interesting project with the LX, hope it all goes as planned!

I still have the 85 4Runner, shown in my profile pic, and I haven't touched it in years. It might be my next project. I will probably not use the Supra motor and do a LT 4.3 V6 or LM2 duramax conversion instead.

The LX450 is done as any project could be and I have about 3500 miles on it. It is a beast and turns heads wherever it goes. Probably taking it to Cruise Moab next year, or Alaska..or both..lol

 

[mudgudgeon]

Karl? Is that you? Whoa... flashback!

The debate of relays vs no relays has been waging since these lockers appeared on the market back in the later 90's. I always did the relays, some of it because of the reasons stated here. "Toyota didn't run full motor current through the limit switches, so neither was I" was my final answer. Besides I like doing fun electrical wiring and over- complicating things.

I agree with your logic. If for no other reason than Toyota electeic engineers know more than I can hope to comprehend

If i did this again, I'd print out/ etch my own PCB, and use soldered in relays. It could be an extremely compact control unit, easy to tuck under the dash, or in the engine bay.

There's very compact solder in board mounted relays available suitable for this sort of thing. The toyota locker ECU uses very compact relays.

I made circuit board for relays for audi electric seats i out in my 80. Used solder in relays. After doing this project i found much smaller relays that could have made the board half the size

 

[landcrshr]

Just so all you board builders know, the PCB connector for the diff lock ECU is available from Toyota.

This was the first plug-n-play controller I made to work with ARB compressors and solenoids. It uses the magic dial and makes all signals available at the front locker harness under the hood (as well as on the board mounted screw terminals). It also uses transistors to light up the dash icons.

That was before I went all crazy with the full logic version...

 

[Malleus]

Now you're just showin' off.

 

[landcrshr]

Now you're just showin' off.

Yeah, you're probably right. It's hard to deny that feeling of validation that comes when someone hits the "like" button.

 

[40LandCruising]

I just like to avoid wiring and keep things simple, there are definitely more advanced ways with more fail safes that y'all have mentioned.

I just wanted to show the simplest way to do it in my opinion, that lots of people run, and even companies (LROR, 12V Guy) have sold harnesses just like for years.

So to each their own, glad some cool ideas were brought up though.