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Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: Mex-Busnut on September 01, 2011, 04:07:28 PM

Title: I need some ideas for a vehicle fuse panel.
Post by: Mex-Busnut on September 01, 2011, 04:07:28 PM
Dear Friends,

You may or may not believe this, but there is a large electrical panel on the driver's wall, but no vehicle fuse panel anywhere on my bus. Zilch. Nada. Is that normal?

And in the huge bunch of cables we have running (under the center floor) from the dash back to the engine compartment, there are at least a dozen that are already melted or charred.

Where can I come up with some kind of a universal fuse panel, where I can fuse such things as brake lights, turn signals, etc.? Or what type of truck may I search in a wrecking yard to find something that will work?

Thanks in advance!



Title: Re: I need some ideas for a vehicle fuse panel.
Post by: demodriver on September 01, 2011, 04:32:57 PM
Look on Summit Racing or Jegs website. They are performance parts dealers for hot rods and such.  They sell aftermarket fuse panels and wiring kits. I will search and see if I can find a link for you.
Title: Re: I need some ideas for a vehicle fuse panel.
Post by: robertglines1 on September 01, 2011, 04:37:15 PM
are you sure there are not self resetting breakers in the system? Maybe bypassed by someone?
Title: Re: I need some ideas for a vehicle fuse panel.
Post by: demodriver on September 01, 2011, 04:40:01 PM
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HLA-002290001/ (http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HLA-002290001/)

Here is one. There are several others available.

You might try searching ebay also.

Eric
Title: Re: I need some ideas for a vehicle fuse panel.
Post by: Boomer on September 01, 2011, 05:00:22 PM
Cole Hersee will have what you need.  www.colehersee.com (http://www.colehersee.com)
Title: Re: I need some ideas for a vehicle fuse panel.
Post by: Lin on September 01, 2011, 05:02:21 PM
Seriously doubt that it was manufactured without fuses, or more likely breakers.  If there are none there, then someone has improved the system by getting rid of them.
Title: Re: I need some ideas for a vehicle fuse panel.
Post by: Mex-Busnut on September 01, 2011, 05:56:32 PM
Robert and Lin:

I am sure there is nothing protecting the wires, as we have traced them front to back, and the charred/melted cables tell me no breaker or fuse is in line. As you say, Lin, maybe somebody "improved" the system.
Title: Re: I need some ideas for a vehicle fuse panel.
Post by: TedsBUSted on September 01, 2011, 09:53:52 PM
I think I can see a couple of stray "afterthought" breakers in the panel and at the top left it looks like a row of OE circuit breakers. Anyway, it definitely needs some tidying up.

Ted
Title: Re: I need some ideas for a vehicle fuse panel.
Post by: Cary and Don on September 01, 2011, 09:55:20 PM
If you are going to do this much work on the wiring, take the time to remove everything you do not need.  We did a lot of work on the wiring on our 4107 and didn't know that much about it when we started.  We always wished later that we had removed all the old stuff that we didn't use.  It makes for a much cleaner job with fewer chances of problems in the future.

Don and Cary
1973 05 Eagle
GMC 4107
Neoplan AN340
Title: Re: I need some ideas for a vehicle fuse panel.
Post by: Busted Knuckle on September 02, 2011, 06:31:51 AM
If you have access to a bus yard or knw where a wrecked or parted out Dina (Viaggo mid 90's) is they have a nice fuse block over the drivers head in the front of the two compartments.

Also Setra's have a nice breaker set up and if you come through here on your way from WI to the BCM rally I'll let you have the one out of our parts bus!
(I'd prefer you take it out that way you know how it was set up, and what ya got! )
;D  BK  ;D
Title: Re: I need some ideas for a vehicle fuse panel.
Post by: bevans6 on September 02, 2011, 06:36:57 AM
MCI's like mine have essentially no fuses but run everything through auto-reset breakers.  I highly recommend that approach.

Brian
Title: Re: I need some ideas for a vehicle fuse panel.
Post by: TomC on September 02, 2011, 07:16:53 AM
I used two 10 block fuse blocks from Colehersee and converted them to manual reset circuit breakers.  Each block can handle up to 150amps total.  I also installed a knife switch (simple from Camping World) to be able to turn off all electrical as needed.  Good Luck, TomC
Title: Re: I need some ideas for a vehicle fuse panel.
Post by: Mex-Busnut on September 02, 2011, 05:24:04 PM
Dear Friends

Thanks for all your input!

We got a fuse panel off a Mercedes Benz pop truck at the wrecking yard, and did our usual cleanup with a bunch of Windex® window cleaner.

We will probably use a combination of both fuses and breakers .