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Tapping into fuses for a CB+PA Speaker/LED lights/Air horn.. which fuses are best to use?

LDelSanto86
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LDelSanto86 Enthusiast

LDelSanto86

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I’m looking to use some “Add-a-Circuit Fuse Taps” to power a CB with PA speaker, a set of LED lights, and a cheap airhorn on my 2016 Silverado LT.. I’m looking to have these only powered on when the key is turned to ACC/On/ or the truck is running. I’ve never done this before and I’m not the best with electrical. Any tips on which fuses to use? Should I up the size of each fuse or do they generally have some wiggle room when it comes to how much load they can handle?

 

Thanks!

 

 

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Racindave Enthusiast

Racindave

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Don’t up the size of the fuse. I would use something that won’t leave you stranded if you were to blow them and not have a spare fuse. (Radio, Heater, etc..). For my LEDs I tied into the trailer running light fuse under the hood so mine would come on when the lights were on. (My leds are mood lighting in the floorboards.) they have a separate switch so I can turn them off if I’m tired of them.  

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LDelSanto86 Enthusiast

LDelSanto86

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Don’t up the size of the fuse. I would use something that won’t leave you stranded if you were to blow them and not have a spare fuse. (Radio, Heater, etc..). For my LEDs I tied into the trailer running light fuse under the hood so mine would come on when the lights were on. (My leds are mood lighting in the floorboards.) they have a separate switch so I can turn them off if I’m tired of them.  

Thanks for the reply! The radio is a good idea, I’ll check into the fuse location for that! Dumb question but is there a way to max out the load on a fuse to immediately see if it can handle it? Or is it just something that can fail over time? I’ve got a buttload of spares and don’t mind blowing through them to find out what works - if I can find out in my driveway, not on the highway [emoji23]


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Racindave Enthusiast

Racindave

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I personally wouldn’t try to blow it myself. Just try to find a fuse that is rated to whatever your gonna try to power. The add a circuit will only carry so much also... from what you say you want to power they should be fine. I’m not sure about the air horn but you might could just go straight off the battery with an in line fuse in the new power line. Put the inline fuse within 12 inches of the battery though. Take your time and do it right. Don’t burn down your rig trying to do more than the wires can handle...Have fun. 

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LDelSanto86 Enthusiast

LDelSanto86

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Thank you, I didn’t know in-line fuses had to be so close to the battery, that’s good to know! Yeah I think I will run the horn straight from the battery..I have a switch for it that lights up, which is why I wanted to go off an accessory fuse for it but now that I think about it I’m sure the light from that switch would take weeks to drain my battery so I probably shouldn’t have to worry about that being on constantly.


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Snowcamo Senior Enthusiast

Snowcamo

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If you are not into electrical wiring I suggest not taping into the trucks fuse box. It's more safe( large margin for error) to run power/w fuse @ batt to a stand alone fuse block. Then from there you tap your accessories into. You can fry stuff quick if you know not what you do...?

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LDelSanto86 Enthusiast

LDelSanto86

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If you are not into electrical wiring I suggest not taping into the trucks fuse box. It's more safe( large margin for error) to run power/w fuse @ batt to a stand alone fuse block. Then from there you tap your accessories into. You can fry stuff quick if you know not what you do...[emoji58]

Thanks for the tip. Is it possible have things still switch on and off with the ignition that way? That’s the only reason I’m looking into tapping into fuses instead of going directly to the battery.


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lonestardiver Enthusiast

lonestardiver

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Tap into a circuit that is on when the ignition is on or the engine is running. Use that to trigger a relay and run your own circuit to the battery with its own dedicated fuse near the battery. This prevents overloading your vehicle systems/wiring and keeps your accessories on their on dedicated circuit.

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Snowcamo Senior Enthusiast

Snowcamo

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4 hours ago, lonestardiver said:

Tap into a circuit that is on when the ignition is on or the engine is running. Use that to trigger a relay and run your own circuit to the battery with its own dedicated fuse near the battery. This prevents overloading your vehicle systems/wiring and keeps your accessories on their on dedicated circuit.

This^^^ if i could like it a 1000 times i would. My thoughts exactly.

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