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DEPARTMENTS
RON FRANCIS WIRING sells more than the EXPRESS and BARE BONZ PANEL
wiring systems. The RETRO is a great choice for cost conscious
buyers who want an easy to install and reliable, yet not include all
the bells and whistles that make Ron Francis Wiring the top name in
aftermarket wiring. We also sell individual components and
installation aids as well as a selection of mini-kits for specific
applications .... all designed and created so that the finished
installation can be customized to the user's preference and needs.
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The Fuse Panel: Where Should it go?
by: Ron Francis
Where to put it where it should go?
Over these past 30 years I have been asked many times what I thought of
installing the fuse box in the rear of the car which I will refer to as
the trunk. There are many reasons some of which make good sense until
you consider the consequences. There are many things that get in the way
and use up dash board free space. Air Conditioners, Air ducts, Pedal
assemblies, Recessed fire walls, Ignition boxes hidden behind the
firewall and many more that really do seem like a good excuse to make a
decision that the wiring panel must go.
Let’s be realistic here guys and gals. certain vehicle components need
to be in a certain location with no excuses. I’ll get into trouble here
but the engine is always in the front. Sorry Corvairs I think yours
should be up front too. All of the items I mentioned above and including
gauges need to be up front and have a perfectly good reason to be in
front of the driver too. My humble opinion is that the wiring needs to
be in front also.
Ok, why? Think of where the big 10 (no longer the big 3) put theirs?
Under the dash? Under the hood? Under a seat? In the trunk? These guys
have spent a lot of time engineering the electrical system but you never
see it in the trunk.
Number one, with the fuse box in the front-left corner the wires are
physically shorter. The steering column dash gauges, dimmer and
headlight switch and other driver controls and switches are right there
too. This means shorter wires. Shorter wires mean several things, less
voltage loss (something known as resistance) which helps provide all the
juice your system can muster for the all important like cranking and
cooling fan power. When your high torque, high horse power and high
compression motor says: give all you have or I won’t start” you need as
much voltage as possible. If you have problems starting now, this could
easily be part of the problem.
Number two reason is to remember that the upholster does his thing after
the car is wired and is known for running that extra screw into the
transmission case, gas tank, thru a body panel, definitely thru that big
bulky wiring bundle running from the fuse box in the trunk and back up
front where everything else it located. Between voltage loss, physical
damage and lots more wires to run, I feel I have made my case.
I had a friend who came to me and insisted he could mount the fuse box
in the very back of the car and never have a problem. He obviously
survived the upholster that I talked about (or never mentioned it) and
several years of reliable service. BUT after a couple years he started
with the questions: I can’t figure out why my Alternator won’t charge
right. Then is was a light that was dim, cooling fan seems slow, or the
A/C motor that was getting hot (from low voltage)
Now some of these problems may have been generated from a bad ground
(which is another book by itself) but they are all compounded by the
combination of improperly installed components. Your best bet is keep
the wires short and up front. That way you don’t have to call us with
your serial number and hear the same thing I said here. I'm willing to
concede to under the drivers seat or forward. Maybe right behind the
front seat if that helps. REMEMBER, NO MORE SPAGHETTI.....
Thanks for listening,
RON
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Ron Francis Wiring
200 Keystone Rd
Suite #1
Chester, PA 19013 |
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The development of special hardware to fit custom cars and trucks
has resulted in a variety of unique components, many of which have
earned prestigious awards for the WIRE WORKS from the National
Street Rod Association. In 1982 the WIRE WORKS Trans-mounted Neutral
Safety Switch received "Product of the Year" award, and the WIRE
WORKS Bright Bulbs were picked as the Best "Safety Product of the
Year" in 1985. In 1994 the Wire Works Crash Relay received another
Best "Safety Product of the Year" award, and our electric gear shift
indicator show what creative designers we have. The RON FRANCIS
Company is a competitive participant in these programs every year
and maintains that status through design and development of new
products on a regular basis!!
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