Wiring Clean Up Project

[Stinkbug]

After 20+ years of adding and deleting modifications on my 1997 TJ I think things are finally settled.

Now I am focused on the cleanup of my wiring. I am first tackling the replacement of my SPOD that is slowly dying one switch at a time. While I like the overhead mounting location and tactile feel of the switches, I have settled on the Switch Pro as the replacement.

On the SPOD all the grounds for each circuit were run from the accessory into the engine bay and grounded to the SPOD.

I now need to sort out what to do with those grounds. I have narrowed it down two choices:

(1) The easiest way would be to put in a grounding lug near where all the grounds terminate now and run a properly sized wire over to the negative on the battery. However that would double the number of wiring paths in the engine bay since the SPOD and Switch Pros mounting locations are about a far from each other as possible.

(2) The way I am leaning is to minimize the amount of additional wiring in the engine bay and grounding all the accessories (lights and e-lockers) near where they are installed.

I am curious what others have done.

 

[macleanflood]

2 with the exception of radios...I always run wires back to negative on batteries to reduce noise. Lockers are also grounded directly...but that's just because the SO cable that runs to each terminates next to the battery... that's where my relay box is mounted.

-Mac

 

[Stinkbug]

2 with the exception of radios...I always run wires back to negative on batteries to reduce noise. Lockers are also grounded directly...but that's just because the SO cable that runs to each terminates next to the battery... that's where my relay box is mounted.

-Mac

Like you, I have always run power and ground directly to the battery and plan to keep it that way. Grounding the lights is easy enough. It's more the lockers that have me curious about where others have grounded them other than back to the battery or at the switch/relay.

 

[Mike_H]

I’m sure you’ve seen it already, but take a look at what Blaine did with this new build

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads...ant-2005-tjr-impact-orange.80436/post-1629745

I’m sure a buss bar for ground would work very well, installed in a wire track like that.

 

[Stinkbug]

I’m sure you’ve seen it already, but take a look at what Blaine did with this new build

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads...ant-2005-tjr-impact-orange.80436/post-1629745

I’m sure a buss bar for ground would work very well, installed in a wire track like that.

I saw that pop up as his avatar and wondered where it was displayed. As is usually the case, that is enviable craftsmanship. The only thing holding me back from doing the same thing is my shit fabrication skills and short arms that can't reach the center of the engine bay. So that leaves me with this solution to mounting the SwitchPro.