INFO: Common Sense Wiring Tips

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• If you are unsure of what you are doing, get some knowledgeable help or hire a MECP certified installer.
• If you are unsure of the circuits you are working on, consult the applicable wiring diagram. You should be able to purchase a vehicle specific wiring diagram from any Toyota dealer.
• Disconnect your battery when working on electrical circuits.
• When running power connections (+12V) off the battery, always fuse the line as close as you can to the battery.
• When grounding a circuit, make the ground wire as short as possible and connect to a clean and solid chassis ground source.
• The ground wire for a circuit should be the same gauge wire as the power wire for that circuit.
• Consider the current draw and length of a planned wire run to determine the wire gauge required.
• Consider the wire gauge and the current flow (in amps) when selecting a fuse size.
• Always fuse a power wire after a SPDT relay.
• Always fuse a power wire after changing wire gauge.
• When tapping into an existing circuit to control additional lights etc., utilize a SPDT relay and a separate power connection from the battery or from a distribution block.
• When tapping into an existing circuit, verify existing wires using a multimeter or voltage meter.
• Solder and heatshrink wire connections if possible, tape is an alternative to heatshrink. 3M Scotchlok connectors are an alternative to soldering.
• When using wire nuts, use the correct size for the wire gauge and the number of wires being connected.
• Route wires in the engine compartment away from the heat (exhaust manifold) if possible- otherwise, protect the wire.
• Use a blunt object to poke through existing grommets when passing wires to minimize the risk of damaging existing wires.
• Place fuse holders and relays in accessible locations. It is better to keep relays within the confines of the cab, out of the weather when possible.
• Document you electrical modifications on paper (schematic), so you can refer to them later if needed.