Electrical bus bar

[Rita Runner]

So I have now added 4 or 5 devices to the Jeep (lights of all kinds, electric steps, winch power solenoid…), and looking to add a couple more. The posts on the battery a chassis grounds are getting crowded. on our Sailboat we had both a positive and negative bus bars. Is using a bus bar something done on jeeps with lots of accessories?

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[Atomic-Mouse]

My JLs don’t have many accessories but my jk got crowded with two winches, air compressor and other accessories. I added a bus bar for the winches and compressor leads because those items I wanted disconnected by a shut off solenoid. I have had no problems with the bus bar during a few high load pulls with the winches. Another option that might work for you are multi port battery terminals. I added moroso terminals to my jk as well and they give you more options to make connections.

The bus bar I used says it’s rated for 300 amps but the bus bar itself is a pretty stout piece of metal, much thicker than the stock battery terminal connections. If the thin stamped metal factory terminals can stand up to a winch this bus bar should not be an issue.

This was the best option I could come up with for disconnecting three high amp draw accessories with one shut off solenoid. It’s been three years since I did this and so far no issues or regrets. Good luck with your project.

https://www.amazon.com/Joinfworld-Waterproof-Distribution-Terminal-Positive/dp/B0B2ZZWW9S

https://www.amazon.com/Moroso-Battery-Termial-Multi-Power-74098/dp/B09PGW7Q49

 

[THAW]

So I have now added 4 or 5 devices to the Jeep (lights of all kinds, electric steps, winch power solenoid…), and looking to add a couple more. The posts on the battery a chassis grounds are getting crowded. on our Sailboat we had both a positive and negative bus bars. Is using a bus bar something done on jeeps with lots of accessories?

Use a fuse block - not a busbar - for the B+ connections so you can individually fuse the wires/devices. A busbar is a good option for the grounds.

I have a pretty complex electrical setup under the hood of my JL, and I use a couple different Blue Sea fuse blocks and busbars.

 

[pwh1990]

I’m interested in getting the Epic Adventure Outfitters Wizard bus bar set but for $162 American, I’m hesitant to pull the trigger. So I’m waiting to see what others think of it.

https://epic-4wd.com/en-us/products...n-block-kit-for-jeep-wrangler-gladiator-jl-jt

 

[lashlee]

Yikes!! That Epic Wizard buss bar is impressive, I believe that's not as safe as what @THAW recommends with using a Blue Sea distribution block. A buss bar is great is there are many components with a heavy current draw (read: multiple winches that could be used at the same time, you also would need multiple fuses), but for most people the Blue Sea versions make things much easier and typically look better in the long run, especially if you use one that is for power and ground.

 

[Rita Runner]

Use a fuse block - not a busbar - for the B+ connections so you can individually fuse the

B+ ?

the blue sea fuse block is similar (obviously) to what we had installed on our sailboat. As i put in my original post, i was wondering if it was acceptable to use a marine block for automotive applications. The one in the boat isnt subjected to the engine heat as this one would be. How has yours held up?

 

[Terrymo]

B+ ?

the blue sea fuse block is similar (obviously) to what we had installed on our sailboat. As i put in my original post, i was wondering if it was acceptable to use a marine block for automotive applications. The one in the boat isnt subjected to the engine heat as this one would be. How has yours held up?

Total overkill but I already had this Blue Sea safety hub from another project

I used this bracket from 813 Fabrication https://www.813fabrication.com/product-page/underhood-electrical-accessory-plate
and modified the footprint slightly with some 1/4” ABS sheet to accept a Blue Sea Safety Hub 150
https://www.bluesea.com/products/7748/SafetyHub_150_Fuse_Block
I mounted a Warn solenoid under the 813 bracket for my Warn winch. It’s connected to Aux switch 4

 

[gek]

This thread is about aux disconnect but it has some suggestions in it.

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/ess-battery-cable-change.86624/post-2121349

 

[Rita Runner]

Very nice. Just what i was looking for.

 

[oceanblue2019]

I’m interested in getting the Epic Adventure Outfitters Wizard bus bar set but for $162 American, I’m hesitant to pull the trigger. So I’m waiting to see what others think of it.

https://epic-4wd.com/en-us/products...n-block-kit-for-jeep-wrangler-gladiator-jl-jt

Overpriced massively, as well as not very safe.

 

[GATORB8]

Mine is similar to Terry's with Blue Sea stuff and the 813 mount. I used a breaker for the compressor instead of fusing.

EDIT: I bussed the grounds on the bottom of the panel with a bolt setup. Chassis ground has a single run to that bolt and the other items attach there.

 

[THAW]

B+ ?

the blue sea fuse block is similar (obviously) to what we had installed on our sailboat. As i put in my original post, i was wondering if it was acceptable to use a marine block for automotive applications. The one in the boat isnt subjected to the engine heat as this one would be. How has yours held up?

B+ = battery positive.

Engine bay heat hasn't been an issue. The Blue Sea blocks I used have the following specification: "meets ISO 8846 and SAE J1171 for use in a gasoline engine compartment". Technically, the standards are for flammable gas safety, but clearly the components are designed for conditions found in engine bays.

 

[Rita Runner]

Thanks all. I have a good idea how I am going to approach this.

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