Constant +12v under the dash?

[autumn walker]

Hi Folks,

I'm looking to install a radio that my club uses. Apparently it is fairly high powered. I'd like to run it from something already into the passenger cabin (under the dash) rather than trying to poke a hole through the firewall and run straight from the battery.

The radio will have an in-line fuse, so I'm not worried about damage to the truck.

Suggestions on where best to pull from for constant +12v? I don't want to go from the stereo, mostly because of how much of a PITA it is to remove the center console / dash to get at it. If there is something in the driver's footwell (perhaps the panel where the offroad / trailer brake controller plugs into?). I know there are a lot of "spare" and "accessory / option" fuses in the truck, just not sure what is what.

 

[f5moab]

Can you better define "high powered?" What is the actual amp draw. Having the fuse in the radio circuit will only protect the circuit from the fuse to the radio, the circuit from where you tap in back to the fuse panel is not protected by that radio fuse.
If the radio pulls high amps, it might pull too much for any circuit someone would recommend. (With most solid state radios, amp draw is not a large consideration, unless the circuit you are tapping into is already close to or at max amp draw.)

 

[twinmill28]

I too, have been wondering what other power I could pull from that connector panel in the footwell where the brake controller plugs in. Seems there's some empty sockets, what are those for?
In my case, I just need to run power to the overhead light bar that used to plugged in where the brake controller now lives. Odd on that panel that it's the only place where one or the other can go.

 

[autumn walker]

I too, have been wondering what other power I could pull from that connector panel in the footwell where the brake controller plugs in. Seems there's some empty sockets, what are those for?
In my case, I just need to run power to the overhead light bar that used to plugged in where the brake controller now lives. Odd on that panel that it's the only place where one or the other can go.

I'm thinking exactly the same thing. I also find it strange that the offroad lights go into the same socket as the TBC and it can only be one or the other.

I ended up finding a little gromit just up from the main harness that I pulled wires through and went straight to the battery. The radio only has a 15A fuse in it - I think the guy who told me it was "high powered" was exaggerating a bit.