Is there a good spot under the hood to tap into for power? Do these trucks have a junction that is protected from running the battery down?

You might want to see if you can get this moved to the ask the techs section.


Max Power seems to know a bunch about the electrical wiring in these trucks, and I see him post quite a bit there and in accessories. Or one of the other tech guys might be able to point you at a convenient tie in.

All connections made on the battery side of your electrical system could run your battery down, how fast depends on what you hook up and how often the batteries are charged. If you connect on he igniton side of your electrical system you will only draw curent from that point when the igniton(Key) is turned on. If your not familar with the truck elecrical system get some help/gidance. if you short those batteries out and you could cause a big fire, maybe even a battery blowout/explosion if your short is big enouugh, like a wrench fron battery positive to ground whil the battery is still connected to ground. I actually welded a pair of pliers to the fender liner once by beoing careless. Luckily the battery wasn't very good and crapped in a hurry.

What are you trying to hook up?

I thought he was refering to an old Cummins under therehttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Confused.gif

Just looking for 12V power source. It will run through a relayed circuit to power my backup lights. Also be used for mag light charger, air horns, etc. Nothing fancy. In the F350 I just went off a battery post. I had read here somewhere that there was a place under the hood that would "timeout" after the key is out so that it doesnt get 12V all night long if I were to accidentally leave the backup lights on. From the lack of responses, I will assume this wasnt a true statement and use the battery post or the big post marked 12V on an odd huge bracket on the drivers side of the engine. I have no fears of my accessories draining batteries, just thought that "feature" could add some protection.

Well there would be a source that would shut off but I'd have to find one. I don't know off hand. I can look into it if you wish.

It took me a while but I found the post:
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">


Just a personaly opinion, but any time I need power, I go directly to the terminal under the hood. These new trucks are equiped with features that won't let the battery run dead even if you tried. I don't like to rob power from any of my exhisting components just to do something quick and easy.


Like I said, just my two cents worth and no offense to anyone.http://dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cool.gif


-Zorganov</BLOCKQUOTE>


From that, I took that there was some magical place under the hood that would prevent any 12V run down accidents. Edited by: TEXMudder

You would have to tap off a line that feeds an accessory that has rundown protection.

No thanks, I'll life life on the edge. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif

It took me a while but I found the post:
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr style="MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">


Just a personaly opinion, but any time I need power, I go directly to the terminal under the hood. These new trucks are equiped with features that won't let the battery run dead even if you tried. I don't like to rob power from any of my exhisting components just to do something quick and easy.


Like I said, just my two cents worth and no offense to anyone.http://dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cool.gif


-Zorganov</BLOCKQUOTE>


From that, I took that there was some magical place under the hood that would prevent any 12V run down accidents.


Yes they will not run down, But at about 10.5-11 volts the truck will not start. And the run down protection is somewhere in that neighborhood.


My truck starts sluggish of late and I do not have anything running while the engine is not. I guess that in the next couple months I'll have to break down and purchase two new batteries.http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Cry.gif