How to install the AC-1200 Switch Panel in an' 07-'18 Jeep JK Wrangler？
How to install the AC-1200 Switch Panel in an' 07-'18 Jeep JK Wrangler？
There are several procedures involved in installing the AC-1200 switch panel:
- Installing the control panel
- Supplying the control box with electricity
- Using the firewall to link the control box and switch panel
- Installing the control panel into the cockpit
Mounting the Control Box
Regretfully, the mounting bracket that comes with the AC-1200 12-gang switch panel system is too lengthy to fit in the engine compartment, which is likely the only location where the system's colossal control box can be put. It is overly lengthy, as seen in the picture below, as it obstructs one of the hard A/C lines on one end and overhangs the fender on the other.
We'll create our mounting bracket because the one includes with the kit doesn't work in the packed JK engine compartment, which is actually the best place to attach the vast AC1200 control box. By following the plan in the document that is provided, this seemingly difficult task becomes quite simple. That document's plan is printed in full size, placed on top of a sheet of metal, traced onto it, and marked with holes. After cutting the bracket from the sheet, drilling the holes, and making two slight bends (which are simple to execute with a vice), you have a custom bracket that fits this spot precisely:
Powering The Control Box
The control box has two power connections: increased current power to run any system-connected peripherals and switched power to run the box itself.
Ledlightjeep provides heavy-gauge wires to link the control box to the Jeep's battery so that system-connected accessories can be powered. The control box should be installed farther from the battery than the length of the provided cables, which is regrettably the case. In order for the control box to supply accessories with the 100 amps of current it can, longer cables that are hefty enough must be used.
Starting with a set of jumper wires is an innovative technique to create new cables. This package, which retails for less than $20 and includes 4-gauge wire, is an excellent source of the necessary wire and can be found at stores like Walmart that sell reasonably priced jumper cables. Everstart-20-Foot-4-Gauge-Automotive-Booster-Cables: By removing one of the clamps from the jumper cables, cutting 6' of wire from the 20', and then reinstalling the clamps, you will have a 14' set of jumper cables and enough wire to connect the control box. Those cables are 20 feet long, but only about 6 feet will be needed to connect the control box to the battery.
Four ring terminals will also be required to finish each end of the six-foot wires. These ring terminals, which accept 4-gauge wire and have a 3/8" I.D. ring ideal for connecting to the control box and the battery, are available from auto parts stores like AutoZone and several electrical supply stores.
The finished wire used to link the control box and battery can resemble the one in the picture below and is constructed from a portion of a set of jumper cables. To show which wire is the positive connection, red heat-shrink tubing has been added to it. Additionally, black heat-shrink tubing has been shrunk over the ring terminals to provide protection. Although it is not technically required, the heat-shrink tubing gives the cable a more polished appearance.
As seen in the picture on the right, the circuit breaker will be installed in the circuit where there is a break on the positive side of the cable with terminals on either end.
Supplying Operating Power to the Control Box
To connect power to the control box, the kit included two relatively short wires. A fuse adapter is attached to one piece, and a control box plug is on the other. Providing switched power to the control box is made simple by the fuse adapter, but in nearly all installations, an extra wire is needed to link the two components. Choice 1 for wiring:
I was given an alternative wiring solution by Ledlightjeep when we met at the SEMA Show. This one features an inline fuse and a ring terminal on one end for direct connection to the battery, a control box plug on the other end, and a switch in the middle to turn on and off power to the control box. Most installations can be completed with the wires' length. This might be a better option for an overland or camping vehicle whose attachments may need to be powered at the campsite while the car is not running. However, it is essential to remember to turn off the switch if the system is not to be utilized when the engine is not running. If you don't want to use the system when the engine isn't running, you may also disconnect the ring terminal and attach that end of the wire to a switched circuit. Option two for wiring:
Either of the wiring techniques included in your kit will function well in the majority of installations; however, each has advantages and disadvantages.
Wiring option 1:
The Jeep's fuse panel receives the additional power connection needed to run the system, which supplies switched power. Power that is only active when the ignition switch is in the on/run position is known as switched power. This is advised to prevent the system from drawing power when the engine is not running, which could deplete the battery. The fuse box in the engine compartment, known as the "TIPM" in Jeep, is where switched power can be sourced in a JK Wrangler. Totally Integrated Power Module, or TIPM for short, contains much more than just the fuse panel; however, for the sake of this installation, we are just concerned with the fuse panel. Ledlightjeep provides the fuse adaptor that comes with the package; take the fuse out of position M7 on the fuse panel, plug the fuse tap into that location, and then put the fuse out of position M7 into the open slot in the fuse tap, as seen in the picture below. Fuse M7 is an excellent spot to supply power to operate the switch panel system because it protects the Jeep's auxiliary power outlet and is switched power (though some models have a dash setting that allows this to be overridden to constant power). Note: Make sure this circuit's power setting is switched, not continuous. Using constant power for the operation of the switch panel system isn't recommended because it could drain the battery when the engine isn't running.
On one end of the short red wire that Ledlightjeep delivers, there is a two-pin plug that inserts into a two-pin socket within the control box. Since the fuse tap wire and the control box wire are too short to reach between them, an additional length of red wire is needed. The other end of this red wire must be connected to the loose end of the fuse tap that is installed above. For this, red 16-gauge wire is available at auto parts stores.
Wiring option 2:
The second wiring option allows the switch to be positioned anywhere on or beneath the dash. This option connects the ring terminal to the battery's positive terminal and routes the wires to the switch via the firewall, as explained below. When the Jeep is not operating, the switch, which regulates power to run the system, should be turned off.
Connecting the Switch Panel to the Control Box through the firewall
The switch panel wire needs to pass through the firewall because the switch panel will be in the cockpit, and the control box is in the engine compartment. The JK firewall has holes in two locations, allowing cables to be run into the cockpit.
Firewall Hole on the Battery Side:
There is a hole in the JK firewall directly behind the battery (shown by the square in the picture below), which is an ideal location to run the wire that connects the switch panel to the control box. Pull back the cable and firewall insulation to gain access, then remove the plastic cable straps (arrows) from the firewall's studs. A strip of soft, pealing black self-stick plastic covers the hole.
Cut a hole in the firewall's interior insulation large enough to insert the plug through after removing the insulation and self-stick plastic. Cutting a hole in the plastic backing the insulation is necessary. To create extra space for the plug to fit through the hole, use needle-nose pliers to remove some of the insulation. First, push the wire through the monitor plug when the hole is big enough. Once it is pushed through, reach under the dash and pull it through from that side. Pull through the wire until the majority of it is inside the Jeep.
After the wire has been passed through the firewall, replace the cable straps on the studs and press the firewall insulation back into position.
Firewall Hole on the Driver (Left) Side:
The wiring option 2, with a switch mounted in the cockpit, is the most effective for this location. The switch's wires can run into the cockpit, which is located in the upper left corner, directly beneath the fender's curved section. The arrow shows the position:
The first step in using this area is to take off the dash's side trim panel:
It is best to slide a coat hanger or other rigid wire into the cockpit from the side of the engine compartment in order to run wires through this area. It is necessary to push the strong wire through the foam that is present in this area from the factory. In the picture on the right, a coat hanger has been forced through the opening into the engine compartment, while the arrow in the image on the left indicates the opening through which the wires will pass.
After the stiff wire is through, the cables that need to be run into the cockpit can be dragged through from the cockpit side and taped to the stiff wire. Once in the cockpit, the switch can be installed in a convenient location and the wires can be reattached.
If you're utilizing wiring option 2, take the switch off of the wires before you draw them through and then put it back on when the wire ends are pushed into the cockpit. The switch can be installed on the lower dash panel, which in this picture already has some outlets installed. Mounting the switch would only need adding another hole.
The cables from the option 2 wiring are seen in the following picture temporarily positioned in the engine compartment; the end with the control box connector goes to the control box, and the end with the ring terminal and fuse goes to the battery.
The end with the ring connector connected to the battery's positive terminal is seen in the above picture. If you wanted the system to run on switched power so it shuts off when the engine isn't running, you could also use a fuse converter to put that line into the fuse box.
Installing the Switch Panel
It's time to choose where to put the switch panel after the cable has been run into the cockpit.
It is a rather large panel with 12 oversized switch buttons that the driver in a JK can easily reach.
Some people attach it to the trim panel beneath the steering wheel and instrument panel, but it can be difficult to see and could distract drivers, so that might not be the best place. (The AC-1200 instructions, page 5, show a switch panel in this area.) In the JK, it can be affixed to the dash in front of or behind the dash-top tray, or it can be mounted directly in front of the shifter on the center console, as seen in the pictures below.
There are two additional choices for managing system-connected accessories.
You can utilize the included remote control as one alternative. The following picture shows the remote control in a mobile phone holder that is suction-mounted to the TJ's windshield. The only thing that is missing from this option is the labels on the keys, so you will have to learn what each button does. The remote can turn on or off any of the 12 circuits. You may remotely regulate the circuits, though, which is an extra benefit. For instance, if you have campground accessories connected to the Ledlightjeep system, you can turn them on or off while you're sitting by the campfire. Campsite lights are mounted on the Jeep's roof rack.
Alternatively, you can use the Ledlightjeep Switch Panel app on your iPhone or Android device. In the following image, the application is running; the top half of the screen displays the twelve keys. You may label the keytops on the screen using the same labels you may have applied to the actual switch panel. Additionally, you can operate the system from any location that has a Bluetooth connection.