How to run power from fuse box?

**armysgt** · 05-14-2009, 02:08 PM

I'm an idiot when it comes to car audio/video hookups. I just got my car pc from mo-co-so. With the M2-Atx power supply built in. The instructions supplied say this:

3-2.1 Red Wire – Your constant power should be taken directly from the battery or from an auxiliary fuse location with a minimum of 15A of dedicated power. Do not use any kind of cigarette lighter plug. Your constant power should come directly from the battery using 12 or 14 AWG wire. This line should have a 15A fuse in line as close to the battery as possible. When running the constant power line, do not insert the in line fuse or connect it to the battery until the computer is properly grounded and all of the connections have been made.

I know how to connect it to the battery with a fuse but how exactly do you connect it to a fuse box? my fuse box is to the bottom left of my steering wheel and it's a 2003 hyundai tiburon if that helps. I just figure the fuse box is closer and it's one more wire I don't need in myt engine bay. Thanks in advance!

**DarquePervert** · 05-14-2009, 02:36 PM

Save yourself the headache and run a waire straight to the battery.
It's easier than it sounds and you know the gauge of the wires from the power source are suitable for powering your equipment.
If you tap into a fuse box, you are relying on the OEM wiring harness, which could be much thinner (higher gauge) wire that is capable of pushing less amperage. That would create a risk of wires overheating, which is a fire hazard.
Personally, I think running wires back to the battery is the easier method, but others may have different opinions.

**armysgt** · 05-14-2009, 02:45 PM

Yeah good call. Thanks man

**black_mamba** · 05-14-2009, 07:56 PM

Yeah, running the wire straight from the battery is better and there's no question of the wire's quality, since you ran it yourself. That being said, I have ran wires from the fuse box before and it's not very difficult at all. Most of my experience has been on Honda/Acuras and Mazdas but they should be pretty similar. Most fuse boxes have 1 or 2 main wires coming in and they are normally affixed with screws. Just unscrew one of them and add your own wire with a ring or spade connector and screw it back down.