Tapping Unused Factory Switches on a 280DA- aka- EIMs and Wiring

[KHARRIMAN]

If anyone missed my post on finding a shorted out dvd player this is the background.
http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?p=292399

I really wanted to put the TV and DVD combo on a switch. As many of you know the 280 has a multitude of unused helm switches with amperage capacity built in. After my above troubleshooting I found out that the TV is on a circuit that is constantly "hot"(12v recept- which powers your TV,DVD, Glomex, and cigarette lighter plug under the drivers' seat forward), and that there is an available wire from the forward EIM. I pulled the EIM:

Although it looks intimidating the wire numbers AND a brief description is printed right there on the wire.(can't see well in photo). The wiring schematic indicates a red/violet wire #535 that is "coiled and terminate".

I undid the loom and electrical tape and about 4 inches in found this:

After that I simply cut the #590 red/violet 12v recept wire and spliced them together. Now the TV/DVD is controlled by the button that says "forward acc" on the Port switchpad. Both the 12v recept and the forward acc are 15A, so it's an even trade, plus both the TV and the DVD player have in-line fuses behind their cabinet. For those who wonder what is inside the EIM.... It's really just a fancy circuit board with breakers that are easily removeable and changeable and all clearly labeled..

I hope this helps you in case you would like this mod OR to add a fishfinder/radar/light etc... etc.. to your existing panel
--Kevin

 

[Half Off]

Thanks Kevin, good info.

 

[trdehmer]

I used the same wire to hook up a charger for my IPOD and flip a relay for the radio. When I press the "forward acc" button it charges my IPOD and flips a relay for the old radio so I can play the IPOD right through the old Clarion factory radio...

 

[richcam1]

Great Post, thanks for sharing!