Space efficient switch panel

jangoforhire

jangoforhire

New member
Anyone know where I can find one?

With all these mods that I will be doing in the next few weeks the number of switches I need is starting to add up.

I original was going to build a custom switch system with an Android tablet (with custom app) and Arduino, but I couldn't get them to communicate properly (I had a whole huge plan for this, and everything else was working well except apparently only a small amount of tablets have the ability to communicate with Arduino over USB and these were all 10" + tablets so I couldn't get one that would fit in the car). So now I am back to "old school" switches, and I don't know where I am going to fit them all if I use traditional rockers.

Heres what I am looking at:
-Roof Lights (Front)
-Roof Lights (Left Side)
-Roof Lights (Right Side)
-Roof Lights (Rear)
-Rock Lights
-Reverse Camera Switch
-Compressor
-Rear Locker
-One or two left open for when I want to expand and add something else

SO that totals to about 9 or 10 switches (not to mention a dual battery controller I am going to have to add in here at some point)

Also yes, I want to have the left and right roof lights independently controlled, I like to camp and it would be nice to be parked at a campsite and shine light on your camp area to the left without blinding the group in a tent to your right. Also it's way cooler.

I have a hard time seeing how I could cram ~10 OTRATTW switches in my lower left dash.

I am aware of the Wired HDH panel (<a href="http://WWW.wiredhdh.com/switchpanels#!__switchpanels">found here</a> ) but that thing is VERY expensive and I don't want to have to use that if I don't have to.

Another option could be the ARC 8000D switch panel (<a href="http://www.jegs.com/p/ARC-Auto-Rod-Controls/ARC-Flat-Touch-Switch-Control-Panel/757613/10002/-1">found here</a> ) but the 8 switch panel is 8.75" long, so I don't know where I would even hide that - it is JUST to long to put in the lower left dash.

Anyone have any brilliant ideas? I am open to anything at this point. Thanks!
 
Register to hide this ad
I'll be running that many too, as of right now I'm just using the stock switch banks and a ottratw 3 bank. I was thinking of putting them in the center storage on the little platform where the divider goes. I think you can fit 6 there.
 
This is what I use. You can mount them anywhere. They look good. And they're tiny. You'll have to label them or just remember what they do.

If you have an aftermarket radio, you can mount at least 8 if not 10 of them on the sides of your radio.

ORACLE Flush LED Illuminated Ring Switch

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/eAGUVqSQMjA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
adio3x said:
Cause the OP already posted that link lol
Click to expand...

Oh whoops.... Just went back and looked... I know it was mentioned that it was expensive but
add up switches, relay's, fuse panel, and all the do dadds to wire up that many switches and it adds up real quick... Also factor in the time to do all that...
 
jangoforhire said:
Anyone know where I can find one?

With all these mods that I will be doing in the next few weeks the number of switches I need is starting to add up.

I original was going to build a custom switch system with an Android tablet (with custom app) and Arduino, but I couldn't get them to communicate properly (I had a whole huge plan for this, and everything else was working well except apparently only a small amount of tablets have the ability to communicate with Arduino over USB and these were all 10" + tablets so I couldn't get one that would fit in the car). So now I am back to "old school" switches, and I don't know where I am going to fit them all if I use traditional rockers.

Heres what I am looking at:
-Roof Lights (Front)
-Roof Lights (Left Side)
-Roof Lights (Right Side)
-Roof Lights (Rear)
-Rock Lights
-Reverse Camera Switch
-Compressor
-Rear Locker
-One or two left open for when I want to expand and add something else

SO that totals to about 9 or 10 switches (not to mention a dual battery controller I am going to have to add in here at some point)

Also yes, I want to have the left and right roof lights independently controlled, I like to camp and it would be nice to be parked at a campsite and shine light on your camp area to the left without blinding the group in a tent to your right. Also it's way cooler.

I have a hard time seeing how I could cram ~10 OTRATTW switches in my lower left dash.

I am aware of the Wired HDH panel (<a href="http://WWW.wiredhdh.com/switchpanels#!__switchpanels">found here</a> ) but that thing is VERY expensive and I don't want to have to use that if I don't have to.

Another option could be the ARC 8000D switch panel (<a href="http://www.jegs.com/p/ARC-Auto-Rod-Controls/ARC-Flat-Touch-Switch-Control-Panel/757613/10002/-1">found here</a> ) but the 8 switch panel is 8.75" long, so I don't know where I would even hide that - it is JUST to long to put in the lower left dash.

Anyone have any brilliant ideas? I am open to anything at this point. Thanks!
Click to expand...

I don't know how computer literate/logic oriented you are, but a friend of mine used this Micro800 Control Systems to take the place of various switches in his vehicle. It would be simple enough to do to take the place of 10-100 switches with a little touch screen mounted in the dash. Now, this friend also mounted a FLIR (forward looking infared Radar) so he could see deer at night too lol. But anyway, if you want to be different, and you want to solve a problem, and you like to learn new things (ladder logic programming) then this is for you! I don't think they are super expensive and you could mount the components anywhere. Just imagine - using your touch screen (3"X5") to page through everything you wanted to turn off or on -
 
Last edited:
The switch placement tips I read and was given was to make sure they are labeled and don't put potentially hazardous switches mixed in with others. Really good info over on the FJ forum on this.

Potentially hazardous such as the locker(s) and blinding super bright driving light switches accidentally turned on at the wrong time could lead to a bad day. My top LED's are double switched as they would literally blind oncoming traffic being at least 10 times brighter then high beams!

And not a good idea to put them where they could accidentally be bumped and switched on unless they are protected by a cover,like the center console.
 
Wow lots of great posts, thanks guys!

1engineer said:
I don't know how computer literate/logic oriented you are, but a friend of mine used this Micro800 Control Systems to take the place of various switches in his vehicle. It would be simple enough to do to take the place of 10-100 switches with a little touch screen mounted in the dash. Now, this friend also mounted a FLIR (forward looking infared Radar) so he could see deer at night too lol. But anyway, if you want to be different, and you want to solve a problem, and you like to learn new things (ladder logic programming) then this is for you! I don't think they are super expensive and you could mount the components anywhere. Just imagine - using your touch screen (3"X5") to page through everything you wanted to turn off or on -
Click to expand...

My original plan was to have something similar to this. Mount a small 7" tablet in the lower dash and have it run a custom app that I was building to communicate with an Arduino to control relays for switches. I had the circuits built and the tablet app functioning but my Arduino and the Android ADK (accessory development kit) were not getting along. It looked like it was take way more time that I wanted to devote to it for me to get it to work so I scraped the idea. I will look into this as a possible alternative though, could be pretty cool.

The switch placement tips I read and was given was to make sure they are labeled and don't put potentially hazardous switches mixed in with others. Really good info over on the FJ forum on this.

Potentially hazardous such as the locker(s) and blinding super bright driving light switches accidentally turned on at the wrong time could lead to a bad day. My top LED's are double switched as they would literally blind oncoming traffic being at least 10 times brighter then high beams!

And not a good idea to put them where they could accidentally be bumped and switched on unless they are protected by a cover,like the center console.
Click to expand...
This is very true, I am going to mount some secondary switches in the cargo area and I will definitely have these protected so cargo can't trip them. This is a good point and I wil definitely keep that in mind.

Do you really need all the switches for the roof lights?
Click to expand...
Well, If I've got all the lights up there, I want all options possible to control them.

Oh whoops.... Just went back and looked... I know it was mentioned that it was expensive but
add up switches, relay's, fuse panel, and all the do dadds to wire up that many switches and it adds up real quick... Also factor in the time to do all that...
Click to expand...
No worries, it is a good switch system - the best part is that all the work is done behind the scenes, you can just stick this panel literally anywhere. But I am using this as a last resort.

This is what I use. You can mount them anywhere. They look good. And they're tiny. You'll have to label them or just remember what they do.

If you have an aftermarket radio, you can mount at least 8 if not 10 of them on the sides of your radio.

ORACLE Flush LED Illuminated Ring Switch
Click to expand...
Thanks for posting this link, I actually looked through your build the other day because I remembered those switches, I might use some of these. The only issue is how to label them...I might come up with something.

I'll be running that many too, as of right now I'm just using the stock switch banks and a ottratw 3 bank. I was thinking of putting them in the center storage on the little platform where the divider goes. I think you can fit 6 there.
Click to expand...

This is an idea that I like. Unfortunately, I have a LTD so I have a 120V outlet there, so at most I could fit 2, maybe 3 (see picture).

switch2.jpg


I am thinking about maybe dremeling out this space in front of the shifter and maybe mounting some switches or a panel here. I just need to take the dash apart to see what the clearance behind there is. I think Harper7 or Ducmonsta mounted a PA control box here, I can't remember exactly where I saw it.

switch1.jpg
 
jangoforhire said:
I am thinking about maybe dremeling out this space in front of the shifter and maybe mounting some switches or a panel here. I just need to take the dash apart to see what the clearance behind there is. I think Harper7 or Ducmonsta mounted a PA control box here, I can't remember exactly where I saw it.

switch1.jpg
Click to expand...


That's where I have my roof light switches. I will be replacing them with OTRATTW switches eventually...of course, the SR5 space is smaller, so to make up for it, my pic is much BIGGER!


100_3457.jpg
 

Attachments

  • 100_3457.jpg
    100_3457.jpg
    129.1 KB · Views: 2,189
Last edited:
There should be enough space underneath, but- I'm pretty sure the flat area that my switches are mounted in isn't wide enough for the OTRATTW switches.

It's gonna take a custom panel and some cutting, but I'm sure I can get them to fit. :)
 
Last edited:
On the limited you can only fit otrattw switches there if you mount them sideways, or fab a new insert with a wider "trench ". I looked at that location when I installed my switches

Okki
 
I'm working on a switch mount in the center console where the 12v lighter and aux are located. I removed that bottom portion, and am planning on replacing it with a piece of 1/8" ABS plastic that fits right in there. I'm using OTRATTW 6 panel and 3 panel switch holders, however ill probably be leaving the 3 panel one covered for now. I'll try to take some pictures later today.
 
Antman said:
There should be enough space underneath, but- I'm pretty sure the flat area that my switches are mounted in isn't wide enough for the OTRATTW switches.

It's gonna take a custom panel and some cutting, but I'm sure I can get them to fit. :)
Click to expand...

this is where I plan on mounting my 3 switch holder...yeah you'll have to cut out the coin holder completely but it looks like there will be enough clearance underneith. I'll post pics and some details once I get my battery tray and start wiring everything :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

No members online now.
Total: 401 (members: 2, guests: 399)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,304
Messages
3,554,041
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top