Aux switch question

[Twisted Patriot]

I'm OK mechanically but electrical is not what I'm super knowledgeable on.. so a quick question for those of you who are. If I use a terminal block for aux switches under the hood, could I connect all 4 accessories ground wires to the terminal block.. then bridge the 4 terminals on the other side of the block and run a single ground wire to a grounding point on the Jeeps sidewall? Or do I need to ground each accessory individually? Just don't want to overload anything. I know I can run more than one accessory from a switch on the power side as long as I don't exceed the amp output for that switch.. but I'm wondering about the ground side.. just to make it clear what I'm talking about here is a hand written diagram about what I'm asking.. any info would be very much appreciated

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[jjmarkus]

That can work, just be sure you use a heavy enough ground wire from the block to grounding point for the multiple loads you might be having. Actually you don't need to have a separate ground lug for each of the 4 aux switches, all four or more could go to one lug. Of course in many cases it's easier to find a grounding point nearest the accessory you're adding versus running a ground wire all the way back to your block.

 

[Chip]

I'm OK mechanically but electrical is not what I'm super knowledgeable on.. so a quick question for those of you who are. If I use a terminal block for aux switches under the hood, could I connect all 4 accessories ground wires to the terminal block.. then bridge the 4 terminals on the other side of the block and run a single ground wire to a grounding point on the Jeeps sidewall? Or do I need to ground each accessory individually? Just don't want to overload anything. I know I can run more than one accessory from a switch on the power side as long as I don't exceed the amp output for that switch.. but I'm wondering about the ground side.. just to make it clear what I'm talking about here is a hand written diagram about what I'm asking.. any info would be very much appreciated

If I'm understanding you correctly, yes, you can do that as long as the final grounding wire connection from your ground terminal block to the chassis is sufficiently large to take the load of all 4 accessories collectively, powered on at the same time.

But, for ease of installation, most of the time, it is easier for me to ground accessories near where they are installed, to avoid unnecessary extra wiring and the labor / time of pulling wires. What accessories are you installing?

 

[Twisted Patriot]

I just have one set of Pod lights now.. but will be doing another.. then others later.. just wanted to know if I could run all to one ground instead of trying to stack 4 grounds into the couple studs on the Jeep engine bay.. but maybe I'll just use the relay for the hot wires

 

[Twisted Patriot]

That can work, just be sure you use a heavy enough ground wire from the block to grounding point for the multiple loads you might be having. Actually you don't need to have a separate ground lug for each of the 4 aux switches, all four or more could go to one lug. Of course in many cases it's easier to find a grounding point nearest the accessory you're adding versus running a ground wire all the way back to your block.

True.. I just grounded my Pod lights under the hood on the side wall.. are there easier spots to ground by where the Pod lights are? You make a good point

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I always run a distribution block. It makes it easy to find issues and change switches around.

 

[pinstripe2022]

@ParadigmDawg mind sharing a link to the switch blocks you have shown? Looking for that exact thing.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

@ParadigmDawg mind sharing a link to the switch blocks you have shown? Looking for that exact thing.

Hi,

Austin from NH Overland fabs up the brackets for our TRX Club. His website describes what distribution block he sends with his bracket. I am not certain he has any for Jeeps yet but he probably would. He built me a custom bracket one.

https://www.nhoverland.com/collections/jeep

https://www.nhoverland.com/products/copy-of-ram-trx-compressor-mount

I have the Grimm SPOD bracket on the jeep but I haven't decided what exactly I want to do with it so right now it just houses my ARB breather relocation and air chuck.

https://www.northridge4x4.com/part/...xsHWsukWVOaa6znRDfU_Tm7e-Tk697IBoCyooQAvD_BwE

 

[GrayWolf.Overland]

If you are using an aftermarket switch bank then its distribution box has the common ground. If you are DIY-ing this using some fuse blocks and wires, you still ground only the fuse distribution box, not each accessory.

When you connect accessories the red/load wire is the one you need to route aptly to where you are doing the distribution - the black, you can find the nearest ground terminal/bolt in the body frame (for eg. near the footwell corners inside the cab, or near the battery under the hood)

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