Hey all,

I have a 6 circuit paneltronics switch panel. I'm not sure if I should get another panel (say 6 more circuits) or just group things onto the same circuits. Basically, here's what I need as far as circuits in the race car (did I miss anything?):

switched:
- wipers
- headlights, taillights (is this too much for 1 30amp CB?)
- defog fan
- rad fan
- aux1
- aux2

always on:
- brake lights
- cluster, gauges
- transponder
- DME
- fuel pump 1
- fuel pump 2

seperate switch and OE fuses:
- ABS (keeping stock fuses and relays, just adding an on/off switch)

I'm thinking that FP1 and FP2 should be seperate circuits (for redundency), but things like brake lights, gauges, transponder can all go on aux1, and maybe DME on aux2. If so, I could just use 2 additional fuses (or CBs) for the fuel pumps, and the 6 circuits I already have for everything else .... make sense?

Also, would it be a good idea to combine fuses for the OE components? For example, the stock gauge cluster uses a bunch of small fuses for the various lights and things ... can I just run them all through 1 CB? Same for the DME (mine has 3 fuses on it now).

bump ... any thoughts?

Is it a fuse or circuit breaker panel?

I'm a big fan of using a system independent of the stock fuse block. Further, I prefer using a relay for each switched circuit.

My experience lies solely with wiring warning lights, radios, and sirens for emergency vehicles - but systematically it is no different from wiring a race car. It's a safe and dependable way to do it.

As for combining existing vehicle functions onto fewer circuit breakers/fuses - it doesn't sound like such a good idea to me. The beauty of independent circuits is that one problem doesn't take out a cluster of systems - just one. Also, it lends the ability to quickly track down the problem circuit.

My race car experience is fairly limited, though I'm working on a friend's club racer now. I hope to learn a lot about the varied demands and concepts.

Good luck, and please be safe.

Ken

always on:
- brake lights
- cluster, gauges
- transponder
- DME
- fuel pump 1
- fuel pump 2


FWIW, I have my fuel pumps switched. After the car has been sitting for a few months, you can switch the pumps off, pull the plugs and crank the motor to circulate some oil before starting.

Is it a fuse or circuit breaker panel?

Circuit breakers ... the waterproof series. Ok, based on the above posts, looks like getting another 6 switch CB panel is the way to go, so each component is on it's own circuit. I'll probably use a relay for the lights, but everything else will just run through the switches, which are rated up to 30amp. There will not be any OE fuses (or fuse block) left, other than the 2 fuses and 2 relays for the ABS. The rest is all new wiring.