TECH question RE wiring for an ARB.

[01sahara]

TECH question RE wiring for an ARB.

First
I have an ARB wiring harness set up for two lockers, but for now my jeep will only have a rear ARB. The wiring harness has a place for an Isolation Switch.
Do I need to put a switch in for it to work with one locker?
Can the Isolation Switch connections be left disconnected?
 Do I have to close the Isolation Switch circuit for it to work with just one ARB?

Attached is a link to the wiring diagram for the system.

http://www.offroaders.com/tech/ARB-air-locker-diagrams.htm

Second
On a TJ where is the best place to tie in the connections for the dash lights and for the ignition. As shown on the wiring diagram.

Thanks,
Blair

[BlackYJ]

TECH question RE wiring for an ARB.

First
I have an ARB wiring harness set up for two lockers, but for now my jeep will only have a rear ARB. The wiring harness has a place for an Isolation Switch.
Do I need to put a switch in for it to work with one locker?
Can the Isolation Switch connections be left disconnected?
 Do I have to close the Isolation Switch circuit for it to work with just one ARB?

Attached is a link to the wiring diagram for the system.

http://www.offroaders.com/tech/ARB-air-locker-diagrams.htm

1.  From that diagram and my setup, the isolation switch is for the compressor and the lockers will not work unless the compressor is on.  Even if you have the locker engaged and you shut off the compressor, the locker will disengage.  If you trace the wires in the diagram you can see this from the yellow wire
2.  You can just leave the harness for the front disconnect.  However, the ARB harness is system so that the front only works if the rear is engaged.  So you need to make sure you connect the right switch. 

I can dig out my ARB wiring diagram if you want Blair, I still have all of it at home.

[01sahara]

1.  From that diagram and my setup, the isolation switch is for the compressor and the lockers will not work unless the compressor is on.  Even if you have the locker engaged and you shut off the compressor, the locker will disengage.  If you trace the wires in the diagram you can see this from the yellow wire
2.  You can just leave the harness for the front disconnect.  However, the ARB harness is system so that the front only works if the rear is engaged.  So you need to make sure you connect the right switch. 

I can dig out my ARB wiring diagram if you want Blair, I still have all of it at home.

Thanks Scott. Can you tell from the online diagram if the rear set up in the wiring harness is for Switch #1 and Solenoid #1?  The wiring harness has them labled #1 and #2  not front and rear.

If I understand your answere correctly then I need to put in an Isolation Switch in to the system to function property and it is used to turn the pump on and off?

Thanks,
Blair

[fug]

You will need 2 switches. 

One (the isolation switch) will turn the compressor on and off.  Turn it on when you may need your locker... the compressor runs for a little bit and pressurizes its tiny internal tank.

The other switch is what you use to engage/disengage your locker... labeled switch 1 on the arb harness.  Hit that and the locker engages (providing you've turned on the pump already). 

ARB setup their wiring harness so that switch 2 doesn't work unless switch 1 is on.  If you wire things up the way they want (switch1=rear and switch2=front)  it keeps you from engaging the front locker unless the rear is engaged.  It actually makes no difference what locker you operate with what switch... as long as you realize switch 2 isn't active until switch 1 is closed (its possible to modify this so they work independently... there are diagrams on the web).  I have mine setup so switch 1 runs the front locker (cause my rear leaks so bad its un-useable at the moment). 

I tied the wire for the ignition into the hot wire for my power outlet (aka cigarette lighter) and the wire for the lights I just tied into one of wires for the lights on my heater control.   I just used the cheesy little plastic wire taps ( pic here).   Seems to work well so far.

[01sahara]

Thanks Robin.

Next Item, I need to mount the switches.

I have an ARB locker switch that would fit into an opening on my dash next to the rear wiper switch. But now I need to add a second switch for the Isolator Switch .  If I have room I may add a few extra switches for future lighting.

I was told that some jeeps came without the ash try in the dash and had more room for switches. Anyone have one of the non ashtray dash components in there garage collecting dust?

                                                                                          or

Are there any shops in town that specialize in auto electric components. Switches and mounting plates that may have a wider variety than PA does? 



 

[fug]

There's a few choices for switch mounting locations.  I went with the Kilby switch center because I wanted to use my spiffy ARB supplied switches and I didn't really care if I lost the little change tray on the top of the dash.  I think Dava has a set of switches mounted in the windshield trim that he was looking to get rid of. 

Check this thread out on JF .. has some pics of different mounting ideas http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=500343&highlight=switch+mount

[01sahara]

There's a few choices for switch mounting locations.  I went with the Kilby switch center because I wanted to use my spiffy ARB supplied switches and I didn't really care if I lost the little change tray on the top of the dash.  I think Dava has a set of switches mounted in the windshield trim that he was looking to get rid of. 

Check this thread out on JF .. has some pics of different mounting ideas http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=500343&highlight=switch+mount

Thanks Robin thats great. I like the mod with the lighter. The finished product looks great.

[01sahara]

I tied the wire for the ignition into the hot wire for my power outlet (aka cigarette lighter) and the wire for the lights I just tied into one of wires for the lights on my heater control.   I just used the cheesy little plastic wire taps ( pic here).   Seems to work well so far.

S0 I built the new switch pod that Robin had indicated in his thread. It is 7:00 on Sunday morning and I am off to the garage to complete the wiring for the ARB, front fog lamps, a future rear back up lights and several items that need re wiring.

As Robin indicated in the quote above he used the keyed lighter to tie into the ignition power  and he tied into the dash illumination circuit on the heater control panel. I can not find my Haynes manual to identify the correct wire on the   heater control for dash illumination.

If someone has a copy of a shop manual and has a moment to look up the colour code for the correct wire please call my cell #. Its a 2001 TJ Sahara with the AC option.

Thanks
Blair
607-7354