How much clearance for aftermarket switches in OEM location?

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DeltaNu1142

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I'm working with a guy to design a panel to host a bunch of switches (his 3d fab company is mentioned on here a handful of times). My plan is to remove the OEM switch panel & 12V socket and put this panel in its place. The switches I have in mind are pretty deep, though: figure 2+ inches between the switch & harness. My LJ is socked away in a barn and I can't pull the panel out to look, but I want to be sure there's enough space for switches of that depth behind the panel.

Can anyone speak to the clearance behind the switch panel? Given that it sits in the same column as the stereo and the HVAC... I tend to believe there's lots of room back there, 4" or more, maybe?
 
I just had my OEM switch panel out.

Behind the cigarette 12V there is very little room. I think it's part of the AC duct there, and it has a quarter-sized, 1" deep divot molded into it, to allow the cigarette plug wiring to have some room to bend.

Higher up, behind the switches themselves, I think there is more room. Unfortunately I can't say exactly how much. There is room at least for the pigtail plugs, and then of course the wiring itself goes straight over that AC duct I just mentioned. Wish I could give more accurate measurements, but I don't think you're going to find as much room there as you'd like.
 
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If you scroll through there you'll see a few views of the area behind the panel when he takes it out.
 
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The OEM switches are pretty deep. And there is a bit or room behind them.

IMG_9521.jpeg
 
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NashvilleTJ said:
The OEM switches are pretty deep. And there is a bit or room behind them.

View attachment 496574
Click to expand...

Here is the closest thing I could find to a picture of what is back there. There is a bit of space, but not much as I recall. But - it's all plastic and can certainly be modified if necessary.

IMG_0036.JPG
 
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NashvilleTJ said:
Here is the closest thing I could find to a picture of what is back there. There is a bit of space, but not much as I recall. But - it's all plastic and can certainly be modified if necessary.

View attachment 496575
Click to expand...

A bit better pic - here you can see the recess in the top right corner of the pic which receives the back half of the switches.

Jeep - Spal Fan - 10-13-2021 (47).JPG
 
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NashvilleTJ said:
The OEM switches are pretty deep. And there is a bit or room behind them.

View attachment 496574
Click to expand...

Much more helpful than my post! But I guess let's keep in mind that the panel/mount that these clip into sticks out pretty far. As shown in a few spots in that video I posted above. So I suppose a lot depends upon how much depth there is to the panel that the OP is using.
 
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Guys, thanks so much. This is really helpful.
SSTJ said:
...I guess let's keep in mind that the panel/mount that these clip into sticks out pretty far. As shown in a few spots in that video I posted above. So I suppose a lot depends upon how much depth there is to the panel that the OP is using.
Click to expand...
Yes, exactly... the panel I'm looking at also sticks out a bit. I'm looking at dumping quite a bit into switches, so I don't want to do that only to find out they won't fit. Here are the switches I'm considering:

Switch.png


They're 1.66" deep, plus x for the harness. It looks like they might work based on @NashvilleTJ 's excellent photo.
 
Plenty of clearance behind... actually the one you need to worry about is in front!

I have to be very careful not to hit buttons when shifting.

I also can't let anyone drive my Jeep because despite telling them to be careful not to hit buttons they hit buttons.

Case in point the other day in the middle of our ice storm...in line at the gas station...had to jump out to get premium and asked my friend to pull it into the next parking space when traffic moved.

Came back 15 minutes later and the air compressor was running dead headed, front and back lights were all on. Least he missed the lockers.

If I had to do it over I'd 3d print for an Auxbeam panel and get it and inch deeper into the dash. That plus being able to set safeties with the Auxbeam.

-Mac

IMG20230706120736.jpg


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IMG20230622105436.jpg


IMG20230604080402.jpg
 
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macleanflood said:
Plenty of clearance behind... actually the one you need to worry about is in front!
Click to expand...
Heya Mac - yours looks like the panel I'm planning on! Jonathan doesn't have a panel designed for the Toyota switches, but I really like them and hope they work out. I don't think they stick out the front as much as Carlings do.

Good tip on the safeties... I'm planning on a "power" switch for the lockers and the winch switches. I'll make sure it fits and then prewire the thing to plug into, I dunno, probably a 12-pin harness to connect everything.
 
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DeltaNu1142 said:
Heya Mac - yours looks like the panel I'm planning on! Jonathan doesn't have a panel designed for the Toyota switches, but I really like them and hope they work out. I don't think they stick out the front as much as Carlings do.

Good tip on the safeties... I'm planning on a "power" switch for the lockers and the winch switches. I'll make sure it fits and then prewire the thing to plug into, I dunno, probably a 12-pin harness to connect everything.
Click to expand...

here's a measurement of the area behind that panel you're looking at:


Screenshot 2024-02-02 at 8.33.25 AM.png
 
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DeltaNu1142 said:
Oof. Well, that makes it look tight. But there's some additional space beyond that back plane of the panel... I hope?
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not much. you'll get another 1/8th inch or so from the mounting tabs but it's very tight and your wiring will have to be tidy for the amount and type of switches you want in there.

the lower row of switches you can't even see, and like Mac said, the top row has the opportunity to get hit while shifting if you drive a manual.

I scrapped this panel and went another direction. didn't like that I had to bend down to see what switch I was hitting and it was way too cramped with 13 switches.
 
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If you are resourceful .. you can fit 6 switches in an OEM 97-02 panel.

Not my Jeep but saw this on Facebook. The guy did some very careful sanding to make this happen. This is even nicer than the dual 97-02 pods side by side that @SSTJ posted above.

1706892642709.png


Also thought this below 3D printed version was quite clean, but I liked the above one better. Perhaps @Mike_H can do better :)

1706893337522.png
 
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psrivats said:
If you are resourceful .. you can fit 6 switches in an OEM 97-02 panel.

Not my Jeep but saw this on Facebook. The guy did some very careful sanding to make this happen. This is even nicer than the dual 97-02 pods side by side that @SSTJ posted above.

View attachment 496603

Also thought this below 3D printed version was quite clean, but I liked the above one better.

View attachment 496605
Click to expand...

that bottom one is clean.

here's what I ended up with


Screenshot 2024-02-02 at 9.10.18 AM.png
 
So there is room to run the Ethernet bulkhead out the side...and I wish I had done that because the radio cable usually runs over the buttons, HVAC, radio up to where I have my handset.

If I did it over I'd put my bulkhead connectors on the side.

My plastic also started cracking on the sides...I mixed up some JB weld, used self adhesive drywall tape and had to reinforce both sides.

I would move the seat heaters to the base of the shifter console just in front of the emergency brake. That frees up a couple of future switch spots...or you can do it later as needed.

IMG20231220171012.jpg


-Mac
 
psrivats said:
That looks good, I think. For 97-02 or 03-06? If you have an installed photo, would like to see that.

Also, CAT6 in a TJ? What are you doing with your vehicle :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO:
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my shit's a Frankenstein. 00 with 03-06 bezel. cat6 for radio mic.

don't have a finished pic but here's while I was mocking up everything and measuring wires for the harnesses I built:

Screenshot 2024-02-02 at 9.48.42 AM.png
 
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