Batboard

If a piece of equipment calls for an electrical connection to be made to the vehicle’s ignition, where is the best place to physically connect the wire? In this case, it’s a 2002 Ford F-150 pick-up.

If in the cab, tie into a fuse that's hot w/key on. If you need higher current, tie into the ignotion switch directly.

If underhood, you can get solenoid turn-on power or other 5A or lower power at the ignition noise filter near the coil.

It all depends on what you are doing and how much current you need.

I can tell you just the ticket: a fuse (blade-type, of corse) with a pigtail made into it. Several different fuse values are avalible, and they work better than all of the other "fuse panel taps" I have ever seen. Don't know where to tell you to find them, but they are made by Accele Electronics, Inc.

you can also use the poke and wrap method that verizon uses.

find a wire comeing off the key switch 10ga cut a small section off. poke a hole wrap the wire around tape it and use 3 tie wraps

When I take ignition off the steering column. I try to find the wire that is hot in "run" Cutting and wrapping and tape is bound to fail. The way I feel is best is to strip away the isulation about 1/2 to 3/4 in on a 10g or heavier if possible feed. connect the size wire you need then solder and then heat shrink it , then tie it with a cable tie to an existing wire or loom. Ive never had one fail yet.

The intergral fuse with pigtail assembly is in fact made by accele and can be ordered through tessco, of course.....As for as the poke and wrap method, it is terrific..When I was doing alarms we used that all the time, but we went a step further and soldered that connection before wrapping it in scoth 33+ electrical tape (by the way the only worth while tape to even use, all else is found to be crap after much testing)...There is one advantage to using the ignition from under the column (from the switch), that is in most cars there are usually multiple different leads from the switch for ignition,,,,,One of them you can find to be constantly hot thru crank...Which means if you have ever noticed a ignition tap out of a fuse panel iginition comes on, but when you go to crank it cuts out then comes back on again...Not good for the radios. So find that wire that is hot thru crank and use it, youll be glad you did...Just a thought.

"Poke and wrap" method ????

We'll classify this under "tales from the ghetto!"

More like tales from the Stereo shop install.

Okay, So the poke and wrap method even with soldering is turning you guys off....So riddle me this, If you had to do a mid-run tap how would you do it....I know many other methods, but I am interested to see what other ideas people have.....I personally know that there is no other better connection then bare conductors and solder....So lay it on....BTW,,,,,This question is out of pure curosity??? I don't want to start an angry thread..

Solder and shrinkwrap is the way to go. You can get any more secure than that. If you need to in a pinch tape works well as long as it isn't sloppy.

You could always use the Instant Snap-'n-Splice gizmos (the things with the little blade and you clamp it down). Those things seem ingenious but they have caused me more grief.....

"T" taps... They work great for realy low amp draws. The only time I use them is for mobile camera installs to sense the emergency lights, Brake sense and siren sense.

Other than that they never fit, close or pop open and fall off..

Well when i worked for Bell atlantic. thatw the way they wanted it doen and no way else..they said they did extenisve studyin on it and found ti to be the leas daminging to cars.

but i rare use it now.

Extensive research and that's what they came up with????

I HOPE they didn't pay some engineer more than about ten minutes of labor for this one!

"poke and wrap" is okay as long as it's soldered and properly wrapped. Shrink tube is better, but you'll need to break the lead to get the tube over it. I sometimes use 'cold shrink' tape for the wrap.

I'm not sure about this particular vehicle but in most vehicles the cigar lighter or radio fuse is where I get my ignition 12v's. Make sure its fused properly though.


My $0.02
- Nick

Remove 1/2 inch of insulation then Poke & Wrap
Then Solder Then Insulate.
This Is In Our Training Manual.

Heat Shrink is Good But WE like Liquid
Tape First.This Is A Must On OutSide Wires.

When You Live In The Great White North
(Canada I Mean) Salt,Salt,Salt Is Very Bad.