Date:         Mon, 1 Jul 2019 08:58:13 -0700
Reply-To:     Steve Williams <sbw@SBW.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steve Williams <sbw@SBW.ORG>
Subject:      Re: Clean up Fuse Block under dash?...maybe add dielectric grease?
In-Reply-To:  <CACARJKrzCxL-AnGpmYvX=4RRqDJDmuZuk6O-C1=1KwMSpuxpNQ@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed

On 7/1/2019 6:24 AM, Alex MeVay wrote:
 > I've been
 > interested in upgrading to a modern ATO/ATC blade fuse block.  Has
 > anyone found a replacement of this style that fits well?

Just over a year ago, while I was on a long trip with my '84 Westy in
the midwest, one of the tabs in the fuse box melted.  The windshield
wipers stopped in the middle of a severe thunderstorm.  I think the
heater fan is on the same fuse, and we were running the heater fan on
high to try to keep the windshield from fogging.

So I bought a replacement fuse/relay panel for from GoWesty for $40:

https://www.gowesty.com/product/fuse-panel/19627/fuse-panel-?v=

I haven't installed it yet.  I'm quite sure I'll get one of the
connections wrong, and troubleshooting will be a pain.  I'll take photos
and try to take notes before I disassemble it, but I still think I'll
make mistakes.

Now I'm thinking it wouldn't be that much more trouble to install a
modern fuse block like this one:

https://bandc.com/product/fuse-holder-8-20-slot/

That's available with 12, 16, and 20 slots, so it could provide some
spare fuse positions or allow a few circuits now on one fuse to be split
across multiple fuses.

It looks like it wouldn't be hard to cut the relay panel off of the OEM
panel and somehow mount both of them.  Of course, it's pretty tight down
there, and none of the wires have any extra slack, so I might have to
rearrange things.

Thoughts?