The 8100 is a nice unit but the sPod was better at organizing the incoming wiring since it had negative and positive terminals for connecting your accessories. It was tedious and I’m satisfied with the results, but since I like clean installs I’m already contemplating re-doing the layout for an even cleaner install. Consequently, I needed to remove and reorganize the wiring to connect it to the newSwitch Pro 8100. Mine was a bit more difficult because I had all my accessories hooked up to the sPod. This gives you the ability to organize your wire routing to keep it clean and plan for future accessories. That’s why I recommend an all-in-one solution like the sPod or Switch Pros to many friends starting out. Installation is easy, even for the electrical novice. Had I left the mounting tabs on the sides of the panel it would have been wider than the vent’s width and looked goofy. Switch Pros will be providing forthcoming versions with no mounting tabs for more installation choices. I used a razor blade to make a clean cut around the edge using the panel’s edges as a guide for the blade. Using a band saw, I cut off the mounting tabs on the sides then I sanded and wrapped the entire sides of the panel with black decal vinyl for a clean look. I used 3M VHB double sided tape to mount the switch panel. I drilled a hole large enough to route the harness through the vent and it provided a clean install with no exposed wiring. In return, the buyer gave me his untouched driver’s vent, so in return and I had a new,clean surface to mount my 8100 switch panel. I sold my sPod and included the driver’s vent with the six installed switches. I used the same hole I used for my sPod in the main firewall boot to pushthrough the significantly smaller 8100 switch panel harness. This is one thing the sPod does well because it provides screw terminals for ground and positive. So, having two matching terminal bus bars, one for ground and one for positive is the way to go. The buss bar allows for all connections to be made at a screw terminal so further wire organization is possible on the positive side. There was an “ aha” moment after finishing up my install I may re-do the positive connections with a small bus bar so that the connections are not permanent. I tidied up the wires by bundling them with several zip ties to keep it neat. This bit of work helps keep things organized when making the final butt connections. I labeled each wire with a label maker and did the same to each wire for each accessory. I wanted all my roof lights on the top row and the bumper lights on the lower row. Using the diagram in the instructions I noted which wires on the switch module corresponded to each switch on the switch module. I connected all my exiting ground wires from my accessories to the new Blue Sea terminal buss. It provided enough surface to mount the switch module and the Blue Sea terminal bus. I found an L style bracket in the lumber section of Lowes where all the angles, clips and straps are for tying lumber together. I decided to install a bracket on the rear firewall of the FJ where my sPod was previously installed. The control module contains the brain, has a positive post and waterproof harness connection. In a few of the installs I’ve seen, the control module was mounted near the battery. There are plenty of offerings from basic do-it- yourself relays and fuse boxes to the sPod, but there is a new kid on the block with something up its sleeve. Here was a new company flipping switching control systems on it’s head. Whenever I see innovation in our market it gets me giddy. It had 8 switches, 2 more than the sPod, and could be customized with the included sheet of switch decals. There was only a small wire harness containing 4 small gauge wires to route into the cab of the vehicle and the switch module was small for easy mounting. The brain was small andcould be mounted virtually anywhere. I just saw the future in a solid state, modern switch system by Switch Pros. The funny thing was that sPod’s booth was just across the road and they were showing off their newest touch screen module, but I wasn’t interested in something built on the older relay/fuse system. A quick demo at the Pelfrey Built booth had me hook, line, and sinker.
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