Looking for a fusebox to get accessory power

I post this pic about once a week in these forums.

 

Thanks - but as a reference, it's hard to tell what and where these are (I get it's drivers side, and the bigger red makes sense for power - but I can't tell what the other is...

Also, what taps are you using? They look small and very useful!

 

I think they're called T-taps...I found these:
K-Tool International KTI01621 14-18 AWG Blue T-Tap Connector - Qaantity 1#

 

There is a fuse box close the the drivers kick panel.

 

It does not matter where you tap in for power. The one thing you do not want to do is tap into a thin wire and use a large load. An 18 gauge wire is rated at a max of 2.3A, A 14 gauge wire is rated a max of 4.7A. Pick right wire for what you are doing.

Most of the accessories people use are less than 1A. If you really want to tap directly into the fusebox you have two choices. You can use fuse taps. These are messy and not very reliable. You can also remove the fusebox and either solder or tap the into the wires going to a fuse. This has the same effect as the taps you see in my pic.

 

Some of the seat heaters specify 12A fuses and 12AWG wire... if you're thinking about seat heaters.

 

I do not think that is what he is talking about. I thought he was talking about electronic accessories like a radar detector, cell phone charger, MP3 power source.

If you need something that consumes 12A you should take a different approach.

 

I installed a dashboard cam and wired it to the kick panel fuse box. I used add a fuse to tap into the ignition power source (power supplied when car is on).

edit: I think I wired it to one of the two fuses labeled ECU/IG. You'll see'em labeled on the fuse box cover.

[ame=http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=add+a+fuse&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#q=add+a+fuse&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&prmd=ivns&source=univ&tbm=shop&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=NDClTdWuIov6sAOaqKj6DA&ved=0CCsQrQQ&biw=1356&bih=663&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=2c1304d622775efd]add a fuse - Google Search[/ame]

 

Two seats = 5 X 2 = 10 amps? (Of course I have exactly these same questions and am trying to ride your thread )

 

A little advice. If you are asking a quesion about installing heated seats in your Prius you should word the questions that way.

 

A long revered Secretary of Defense said something to the effect that, "There are things we know, things we don't know, and things we don't know that we don't know." However, I doubt the Secretary drives a Prius

On the other hand, you could use a voltage doubler and halve the size of the conductor.

 

The car provides 12 volts. If you used a voltage doubler you still need to start with 12 volts at 5A. The connector and wire you would tap into would have to be rated for 12V and 5A. If you doubled the voltage it would be 24V at 2.5A. After the doubler the wire and connectors could be smaller.

This does fix anything. He still would have to connect to a wire rated at 5A. Or maybe 10A for two seats.

I probably would have helped him out with a few recommendations, but he does not know how to ask a question.

 

Gee... I thought my last post would elicit a bit of judgement from "judgeless." But the bait was not taken

So seriously... if you go to:

Toyota Service Information

On "Search By Category," for Vehicle select Prius, and then click SEARCH, you'll find all kinds of good stuff.

About 2/3 of the way down you can download a pdf entitled Seat Heaters PZ457-G0310-00 Installation Manual. More detail than I can handle, but this gives you Toyota's official installation procedure.

------

Oops! We cross posted

 

the easiest way for me to find the acc power was through the dimmer switch. tap 1 wire and acc power is good to go....

it's pin 10 or something like that right on the harness and super easy to find.. attached a pdf for reference

 

Does anyone know where I could tap into a constant power source in the engine compartment so I don't need to fish wires through the firewall? I am going to install an LED scanner behind the grill Knight Rider style and need to connect only a ground and power. The unit functions on a remote control so I don't need to wire up a switch so would like to keep the whole installation both temporary and simple and tap into something in the engine compartment- maybe in the fuse box. Any help would be appreciated.

 

There is a tap in the fuse box under the hood that has a constant 12v. Follow the Fog Lights link in my signature.

 

Need pics!