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Old 01-03-2016, 02:27 PM   #1
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Dedicated accessory power in a '15 RAM 2500?

I want to run dedicated power for my dash cam and trailer TPMS in my 2015 Ram 2500. I'd planned on tapping the power from the fuse panel, but then discovered that it's been moved to the engine compartment next to the battery.

How are you guys hooking up your extra gear? Does anyone make a pig tail that can be plugged in between some component's plug? I'd rather not splice into the wiring and void the warranty (brand new truck).

Yeah, I could just run the wiring from the dash cam down to the cigarette lighter, but that looks so cheesy.
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Old 01-03-2016, 09:33 PM   #2
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All my permanent accessories are hard wired into a fuse block in my Ram 3500. get a fused accessory box from an auto part store and mount it under the dash by the knee plate. Run 12guage wires from the battery with inline circuit breakers and your set. There is a hole in the firewall where the clutch pedal would be mounted. If your handy it's less than an hour of work.


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Old 01-04-2016, 09:46 AM   #3
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I would check out Geno's Garage .com, they offer a device called Painless wiring fuse block. The Painless wiring block is offered in 3 or 7 circuit that offers fused power connections for electrical attachments.


I have one on my 08 and I installed this back in 2011, to operate my air bag compressor and an extra 12-volt supply for my radar detector. What is nice about the Painless wiring fuse block is they protect the TIPM (total integrated power module) that Ram uses for the wiring on the truck.
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Old 01-04-2016, 09:51 AM   #4
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In my Ford, I ran the power for dash cam and tpms to the back of cig plug.
Going to do the same in my ram 3500.
You won't void the warranty by splicing into the cig plug.

The other option is to run a wire through the clutch knock out, drivers firewall to the battery.


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Old 01-07-2016, 09:38 PM   #5
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Steel, Jim - several guys on the TDR forums recommended your Painless wiring block suggestion, so that's probably how I'll go.

Kenny - I can't get to the cigarette lighter. I think I'd have to disassemble part of the dash and it's just not worth the risk of tearing up the new truck.

I'll buy the 3 circuit wiring block and run it through the firewall.
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Old 01-07-2016, 09:43 PM   #6
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Steel, Jim - several guys on the TDR forums recommended your Painless wiring block suggestion, so that's probably how I'll go.

Kenny - I can't get to the cigarette lighter. I think I'd have to disassemble part of the dash and it's just not worth the risk of tearing up the new truck.

I'll buy the 3 circuit wiring block and run it through the firewall.

It's 10 mins work to get at the plug.
A third the work of pulling through the firewall.
I have to remove my radio for other reasons anyways, so I'm there anyways!


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Old 01-07-2016, 10:36 PM   #7
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Saw this on Amazon -
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=sr_1_5&sr=8-5
Seems a good solution, though I haven't tried it.
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Old 01-07-2016, 10:49 PM   #8
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Steel, Jim - several guys on the TDR forums recommended your Painless wiring block suggestion, so that's probably how I'll go.

Kenny - I can't get to the cigarette lighter. I think I'd have to disassemble part of the dash and it's just not worth the risk of tearing up the new truck.

I'll buy the 3 circuit wiring block and run it through the firewall.
It's really easy to get to the cig lighter in the Ram. First time will take about one minute and once you've done it the next time takes about 30 seconds.

At the top of the facia above the Uconnect you'll see a little "tray". Remove the rubber mat in the tray and you'll find two "star" screws there. Remove both screws, hold onto the tray edge and just pull (sorta "pop it") it out. The entire facia assembly will come out and you can easily get to anything behind it...including the lighter wire at the lower left corner. The first minute of this YouTube video will show you how easy it is to remove:

For your dash cam install, remove either the left or right windshield pillar cover (two bolts, 8 or 10 mm IIRC). There is a big hole that will now be exposed at the top corner of the dash where you can run the power wire for the dash cam.

If you're using the cig lighter plug for power, just run a big heavy duty tie-wrap (18-24 inch) down through that hole. You'll see it come out below the dash and you can tape the cam connector end of the power cord to the tie wrap, then pull it up. Once your wire is pulled through the pillar area, just gently pull down on the very front of the headliner and work the wire in above it.

Works great and you'll never see any wiring except for the last couple of inches where it comes out from the headliner to plug into the cam.
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Old 01-08-2016, 04:34 PM   #9
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Holy cow, Emm-Dee! That's great, thanks!


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Old 01-08-2016, 04:36 PM   #10
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Saw this on Amazon -

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=sr_1_5&sr=8-5

Seems a good solution, though I haven't tried it.

Unfortunately, the fuses are in the engine compartment next to the driver side battery in the new rigs. I was going to do this, until I found the fuses were no longer by the driver's door!


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Old 01-08-2016, 04:58 PM   #11
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btw, thanks for asking this. I'd like to install a dash cam myself.
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Old 01-08-2016, 09:58 PM   #12
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btw, thanks for asking this. I'd like to install a dash cam myself.
Here's a pix of my dash cam install in the Ram. Wires are completely hidden until they come out of the headliner to attach to the cam. The cam is mounted slightly right of and in front of the rear view mirror (to comply with a strong "suggestion" by a highway patrol officer who said mounting it within the line of sight of the driver is not acceptable. Where it's located now means I can't even see it while driving.

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Old 01-08-2016, 10:26 PM   #13
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That's where I plan to put mine.
I had it down low on the Ford, annoyed me more than anything, seeing the screen.


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Old 01-09-2016, 06:58 AM   #14
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So I gotta ask? What's the purpose of having these dash cams?
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Old 01-09-2016, 08:03 AM   #15
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So I gotta ask? What's the purpose of having these dash cams?

Idiots.....

Also, when you film said idiots, you put it on YouTube!


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Old 01-09-2016, 09:59 AM   #16
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Gotcha! That's what I thought but was thinking there was another reason.
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Old 01-09-2016, 11:14 AM   #17
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Unfortunately, the fuses are in the engine compartment next to the driver side battery in the new rigs. I was going to do this, until I found the fuses were no longer by the driver's door!


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Since you are a member of TDR contact Geno's Garage for help on your wiring issues. I do not know about the fourth gens that much and the use of the BCM ( Body Control Module ) on the truck now. But on the Third Gen trucks with the TIPM (Total Integrated Power Module) it was very easy to destroy the TIPM by adding additional electrical components to the vehicle. Replacement cost for the TIPM the last I check are will north of $700 + labor.

For less than $80.00 you can save a very expensive trip to the dealer for a replacement of the BCM, if this is like the old TIPM on the third gen trucks.

Just my advice.
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Old 01-09-2016, 11:24 AM   #18
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For free, you can tap into the power point.

For anything other than a camera or tpms monitor power, I would run a dedicated fuse box.
But, those two draw so, so little.


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Old 01-09-2016, 11:52 AM   #19
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For free, you can tap into the power point.

For anything other than a camera or tpms monitor power, I would run a dedicated fuse box.
But, those two draw so, so little.


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Kenny, I know of guys who have replaced their third brake light with LED's lights and burn out the TIPM. They have also used RECON HID lights and have had issues to.

The Ram uses a CANBUS system and several components are communicating within the same wiring circuit. As small as a .5 Volt difference will cause an issue some times. The TIPM on the third gens is the central module that gets feed back from the components and if the voltage is incorrect it will trip. After tripping and being reset for three times it goes by, by and you need to buy a new one. The TIPM will automatically reset so by time you catch the issue you are buying a new one.

Just saying
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Old 01-09-2016, 12:24 PM   #20
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Dedicated accessory power in a '15 RAM 2500?

Ok, but changing a lamp on the can bus will cause problems.

What's the purpose of a power point?
To supply current up to the fuses capacity.
No different hard wiring the camera, or plugging it into the socket.

Lamp replacement and tapping into the power point, completely different.


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