Currently running rigid dually floods on my windshield. I now need to wire my 55 watt halogen bulbs in the rear LOD bumper carrier. I was also considering OBA no tank.

So my question is what are you technically supposed to use rather than running all wires to battery directly? I really didn't want to spend a lot of $$ but would like to do the job correctly. I would also consider getting a CB later on but that would be further down the road and only a maybe. I'm usually by myself so I'm not sure a CB would be of any help unless someone happened to be in the area on the same channel.

Thanks in advance for the advice.

 

Rather than type it again, check this thread...

https://www.jk-forum.com/forums/jk-t...4/#post4215996

 

I was hesitant about getting spod, but I'm glad I did. I got 40" led light bar up front, 20" led light bar in the back, CB radio, All connected to spod. I now think it was one of the best mods ever, because it makes wiring extremely simple. Get it!!

 

This is good. Thank you.

 

I know! Id love to have it but not for $500. Plus I'm not experienced enough to get it done myself so I would have to have a shop do it.

 

Good engineering practice is to install a fuse and relay block, run one heavy, fused wire to it from the battery, then connect each device to a separate fuse on the fuse and relay block. But not everything **needs** a relay. That is the downside of the sPOD and generic fuse and relay blocks. A relay **may** be used for a CB, for example, but it adds expense and complexity while introducing new failure points (thus lowering reliability).

So technically, you are **supposed** (that was your question) to have something that includes fused circuits (for devices in the cab--like a ham radio--including those that require high current--like a 500 watt linear for that ham radio), and fuse and relay circuits (mostly for devices outside the cab that require high current--such as off-road lights).

The sPOD is an easy compromise. If you wish, you could pick up a fuse and relay block from Blue Sea Marine, then build your own control circuits for it. Which is what makes the sPOD so elegant--those control circuits. If you have an approach to that--where you'll punch holes to mount switches, what switches you'll use, etc--the look at the Blue Sea Marine offerings. But, since you wrote elsewhere you don't think you could install the sPOD yourself, I suspect you'll soon figure out that designing your own alternative isn't any easier.

 

You don't need a Spod to run all your equipment. They just make it easier and neater for you. I have 2 light bars, rear lights, CB radio,front /rear E-Lockers and no Spod.

Most people are easily confused with electrical and if you mess up wiring it can cause damage to expensive things. This is why most people use the Spod it's middle ground between doing it your self and having someone do it for you.

I personally like doing my own electrical work. I know what has been done and I can trouble shoot it easier and I have no one to blame but myself if it was done wrong.

If you don't know how to read electrical schematics it can be quite confusing. I went to school for digital engineering so it's easy for me. But it can be a learning experience for you if you have time and patience.

 

I used this to wire my IPF lights:
Amazon.com: Pilot PL-SW29 4 Channel Wireless Remote Switch: Automotive
I can still hook up 3 more items I can control with the wireless remote. I did have to modify the IPF harness to work with the wireless controller but the IPF harness already had a relay and fuse so the wireless controller just basically acts as a switch. Plus I didn't need to run any wires into the cab.

I use this to run my CB and radar detector:
Quadratec JK-APT2011 - 12 Volt Power Adapter for 99-16 Jeep® Wrangler TJ, JK , TJ Unlimited & Wrangler Unlimited JK - Quadratec

And my ARB compressor is mounted under the hood. That took a lot of mods to the ARB harness to set it up the way I wanted. I hooked everything directly to the battery and to control it I just wired it to a rocker switch mounted to the under hood bracket mount for the Compressor.

If your not good with installing or wiring id suggest finding someone to help you or hiring someone reputable, bad electrical installs can cause minor issues up to vehicle fire.....so be careful. HTH

 

Wow I just got schooled in all of this. I think I understand completely. I did the wiring of the dually lights with a friend so in the included harness there is definitely a fuse. We put the switch under the steering wheel in the dash area.

I guess if I am going to have a shop do it I would see if they have some sort of cheaper option of fuse panel.

My JK is south of the border so keeping it looking like it doesn't have any extras such as SPOD switches is somewhat important to me. I don't want to draw too much attention or else it could disappear.

On a side note I did order the hood lock to protect everything underneath. I went with the mopar so I could key it.

 

I'm not experienced myself. I watch videos, read instructions, other consumers advises!! Spod was one of the easiest mods I've installed!!