Joined: Sat Aug 19 2006, 05:03PM
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2919
Since it's pertinent, I'll add to this old thread...
I wound up doing a similar upgrade on one of my cars, but I grabbed the underhood power distribution center from a Volkswagen Jetta or Golf. It normally sits on top of the battery, but VW batteries sit with the + and - terminals backwards to our cars, so all the cables would've gone out in the wrong direction. I made a bracket to attach it to the drivers fenderwell and modified the base to attach with small screws.
The VW panel uses fusible link metal strips, plus three blade-style fuses. They are individually replaceable if one blows, and different values are available from NAPA using the VW part numbers. These are: 30A = N 104 249 01 40A = N 104 249 02 50A = N 104 249 03 60A = N 104 249 08 80A = N 104 249 04 110A = N 104 249 05 150A = N 104 249 06 175A = N 104 249 07
From one of the heavy-gauge connections I ran a wire across the firewall to the passenger side, connected to a Painless Performance #70207 Circkit boss. This provides more expansion circuits, about half of them switched with the key through a relay, so they don't add load to the ignition switch. I currently use two of those for my electronic ignition ECU and electric choke. http://www.painlessperformance.com/webcat/70207
If anyone is interested I can provide part numbers, pictures, wiring diagram, etc.
If I was to do this over again, I would probably start with one of these marine power distibution centers instead. (All the ones I linked are identical. Shop for the best price.) I think it has enough circuits for my present needs that I wouldn't need the auxiliary Painless box, but I would lose the key-on expansion circuits. http://www.littelfuse.com/products/dc-power-distribution-modules/fuse-only-pdms/lx.aspx https://www.bluesea.com/articles/1446 (Also known as Terra 880089 Power Distribution Module)
In my research I also found the Ripca #FHA00710 "Link Batt" module, which is similar to the module that Gregcon is using, as it attaches directly to the battery + terminal. Ripca is a European manufacturer and I couldn't get much info on this product, so I gave-up on it. http://www.ripca.com/nl_en/link-batt-kompleet.html
Joined: Mon Oct 10 2005, 10:24AM
Location: The Netherlands
Posts: 160
Nice upgrade. I've been wanting to install/upgrade a few of my cars with a proper distr.block, but I always have a hard time paying the price for the new ones offered. Maybe those Euro-style parts a more affordable since they are produced in bulk.