ARB CKMTA12 Twin Compressor Wiring Thread

[Titanpat57]

Hi guys,

Tried searching, and there is some great reads out there regarding this compressor installed in our 5ths.

I guess my stumbling block is I'm not using it for lockers, and from what I can read the harness is somewhat complicated. My goal is to switch UNDER the hood, and not from inside the cab.

I'm thinking I have to raise the hood anyway to hook up the air hose, so why not turn it on while you're right there. I was thinking about using one of those resetting breakers as an on/off switch...too downtown?

Post up your diagrams, as simple as possible, with everything under the hood.

P.S.....I already own the world famous [MENTION=125603]bandi[/MENTION] bracket....world renowned fabricator and all around good guy. I'm hoping to consolidate this wiring info in one spot, thanks in advance for any contributions.

 

[reidbailey]

Hey Pat,

I installed mine with a Bandi mount too and used Blue Sea circuit breakers to protect it. It's switched by a SwitchPro but you could easily just wire up a simple switch. I hacked the harness and made it activate with +12V. Don't have a diagram but it was simple to do based on the provided schematics.

Not sure if these pics help but here's my install.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Titanpat57]

Hey Pat,

I installed mine with a Bandi mount too and used Blue Sea circuit breakers to protect it. It's switched by a SwitchPro but you could easily just wire up a simple switch. I hacked the harness and made it activate with +12V. Don't have a diagram but it was simple to do based on the provided schematics.

Not sure if these pics help but here's my install.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Helps immensely...exactly the kind of thing I was looking for....thank you!!

 

[TexasRangerT4r]

Hey Pat,

I installed mine with a Bandi mount too and used Blue Sea circuit breakers to protect it. It's switched by a SwitchPro but you could easily just wire up a simple switch. I hacked the harness and made it activate with +12V. Don't have a diagram but it was simple to do based on the provided schematics.

Not sure if these pics help but here's my install.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What Size Circuit breakers did you use? and did you use one or two breakers? i am looking to do the same

 

[nglayton]

I took one look at that wiring harness and said, "Oh Hell No!"
I bought a 40amp switch from amazon and mounted it right next to the compressor.

Big fan of K.I.S.S., so I went totally bare bones.
You can see the switch mounted just under the black and red compressor wire pigtail.

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.
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[rageandlove]

I took one look at that wiring harness and said, "Oh Hell No!"
I bought a 40amp switch from amazon and mounted it right next to the compressor.

Big fan of K.I.S.S., so I went totally bare bones.
You can see the switch mounted just under the black and red compressor wire pigtail.

.
.
.

[MENTION=67802]nglayton[/MENTION] - this is exactly what I was hoping to do. Any idea what switch you used? I can't find anything that looks somewhat water resistant and that is 40 amps. Second question - did you just put the fuse in line to the wire that went to the battery?

 

[nglayton]

[MENTION=67802]nglayton[/MENTION] - this is exactly what I was hoping to do. Any idea what switch you used? I can't find anything that looks somewhat water resistant and that is 40 amps. Second question - did you just put the fuse in line to the wire that went to the battery?

Here's the switch I used from Amazon. Still working great.

Yes, I just put the fuse inline (pos+) between the battery and the switch.

 

[SkateyNate]

I went through the same search process and didn't find exactly what I was looking for, so since I've figured out the simplest on/off switch setup, I thought I'd reply here. All I wanted was an on/off switch on the compressor...not sure why ARB doesn't provide an optional simple switch like this. I could see them building one for less than couple bucks.

So the long wiring harness (switch loom, part no. 180415) that comes with the unit (as well as the instructions) is ALL about 1) rear lockers + 2) front lockers + 3) and using the air compressor for inflating tires/operating tools +4) having these 3 switches driver-accessible in the cabin. If all you need is a simple on/off switch for when you're airing up, the included harness is major overkill.

For me, the confusing part was that the ARB switch provided requires power to the ignition line and they designed it to be run into the cabin and tied in to an existing 4runner wire that only carries power when the ignition is on.

Two ways to bypass this:
1) Assemble the entire harness with the provided ARB switch attached to the "isolation switch" wires...bundle all the rest of that crap up EXCEPT for the red/yellow ignition switch wire. When you want to use the compressor...alligator clip that wire to the + terminal on the battery.

2) completely bypass the entire harness and make your own switch. Or if you're willing, cut all the extra stuff off and just keep a foot or so of the black and purple wire and the plastic connector. If you look in the plastic female connector on the compressor, there are three poles. Connecting the left one to the middle one turns the unit on...simple as that. Up to you how you accomplish that, I manged to make a temporary one with stuff laying around the house (a crude V1). I plan to buy a simple on/off switch and install something more heavy duty that's fixed to the cover of the unit or the frame of the engine bay.

SEE ATTACHED PICTURES


Notes:
- I have no idea if this is dangerous, but it works for me. I plan to closely monitor the unit and the switch first few times I use it..
- the other harness that is for power, install it like normal, follow the instructions, it's pretty straight forward and my only gripe is that it's 6ft long when all I wanted was 1-2ft...but I crammed the excess in the back of the engine bay and it's fine. Might cut and splice it later, not sure.
- There are a ton of cool builds out there with different switch boards and wiring methods. I'm not claiming this to be the coolest way...by far it's not. But it's a simple workaround for those wanting to just have an on/off switch.
- [insert all other possible disclaimers here]

Nate