I've recently purchased a 2020 Silverado and I have an electronics compartment on order that sits under the back seat. My radio will be installed in the electronics compartment. Has anyone run large gauge battery cable from the engine bay to the back seat? I had a 2016 RAM and there were floor drain plugs/grommets under the back seat that I was able to use but I haven't located any in this truck. Does anyone have any other suggestions for running 4 AWG cable from the engine bay to the back seat?
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2020 Silverado Power Wire Run
- Thread starter alexjusti
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mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
I've never run a #4 on these trucks, but I have run a #6. It'll take some extra work to run the 4 gauge, but the same routing should work.
On the passenger side of the truck in the engine compartment, behind the battery and a bit below, there is a large feed through for vehicle wiring. On that feed through is a nipple that sticks out into the engine bay. It's on the inboard side at about 4 o'clock, if I recall correctly. Cut the end off that. I've had no major issues getting the 6 gauge through there, but I did have to run a pull wire to get it started. A bit of silicone grease on the beginning few inches helps get it started.
It'll come out behind the glove box. A bit of a pain, because you cannot see it. I had to use a flexible inspection camera to find it and pull the pull wire down.
Once I have it through, careful/steady pulling and having an assistant guide the wire through from the engine compartment will do the trick.
Once you have it inside the cab, you can run it down the passenger side kick panel and under the door sill plate. Once to the back of the cab, it's pretty easy to get tucked up under the trim and behind the seat.
I've done a couple of these now. All used 6 gauge, but you can probably make the feed through a little larger and get 4 through there.
On the passenger side of the truck in the engine compartment, behind the battery and a bit below, there is a large feed through for vehicle wiring. On that feed through is a nipple that sticks out into the engine bay. It's on the inboard side at about 4 o'clock, if I recall correctly. Cut the end off that. I've had no major issues getting the 6 gauge through there, but I did have to run a pull wire to get it started. A bit of silicone grease on the beginning few inches helps get it started.
It'll come out behind the glove box. A bit of a pain, because you cannot see it. I had to use a flexible inspection camera to find it and pull the pull wire down.
Once I have it through, careful/steady pulling and having an assistant guide the wire through from the engine compartment will do the trick.
Once you have it inside the cab, you can run it down the passenger side kick panel and under the door sill plate. Once to the back of the cab, it's pretty easy to get tucked up under the trim and behind the seat.
I've done a couple of these now. All used 6 gauge, but you can probably make the feed through a little larger and get 4 through there.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Oh, forgot, as you can see in the first photo, it really helps to remove the battery. Gives you a lot more room to work.
For the fuses, my understanding is a MIDI size fuse will fit in the slots on top of the battery. Haven't tried it yet, but I finally got some in. I think GM makes a kit that makes it a bit easier to attach the power feed, but haven't found the correct part number yet.
For the fuses, my understanding is a MIDI size fuse will fit in the slots on top of the battery. Haven't tried it yet, but I finally got some in. I think GM makes a kit that makes it a bit easier to attach the power feed, but haven't found the correct part number yet.
Where did you catch the positive power? There are some auxillary studs on the side of the battery but they're only rated at 175A and I'm afraid to use them. I'm looking to catch a total of 70A.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
I wonder if power can be drawn off of the posts labeled 1, 2, and 3
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
If they are not currently in use, sure. That truck had the Diesel, so some of those were for glow plug circuits and other high draw devices.
I'm going to do some investigating. These new battery systems and GM vehicles in general are new to me
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Yeah, kind of an annoying setup. If you blow one of those fuses, you have to replace the whole module. Not sure how much one of those costs.
That's my fear. I'm going to get a hold of someone at the local chevy dealer to get their opinion.
mibzzer15
Member
GM has their upfitters guides here. You can find the general instructions PDF here and go to section 12. If it helps, here are the GM electrical best practices PDF.
General Instructions
Chassis Info
Electrical Information
You'll want to get GM part #84669070 and follow this guide for install for aux fuses. The beginning part of this video shows an install of that GM F block, video.
I do NOT recommend using any of the studs labeled 1, 2, or 3 in mmckenna's picture as #1 is fused for the alternator and fuse block, #2 for the power steering control module, and #3 for the starter motor. Those are all high draw components and might blow the fuse if 70A is added to it.
For running the wire, maybe use this YouTube video > Youtube (disclaimer: I didn't watch the full video but it looks like it explains the way mmckenna did it)
Have fun!
General Instructions
Chassis Info
Electrical Information
You'll want to get GM part #84669070 and follow this guide for install for aux fuses. The beginning part of this video shows an install of that GM F block, video.
I do NOT recommend using any of the studs labeled 1, 2, or 3 in mmckenna's picture as #1 is fused for the alternator and fuse block, #2 for the power steering control module, and #3 for the starter motor. Those are all high draw components and might blow the fuse if 70A is added to it.
For running the wire, maybe use this YouTube video > Youtube (disclaimer: I didn't watch the full video but it looks like it explains the way mmckenna did it)
Have fun!
This pretty much cleared up everything! Thanks! My one question is, those fuses should be able to be interchanged correct?
RFI-EMI-GUY
Member
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2013
- Messages
- 6,868
Can you share details of the electronics compartment you have ordered?
I bought a vehicle-specific compartment from 1st In Emergency Products (1st In Emergency Products | Electronic Compartments) and I haven't received it yet so I'm unable to review it. There is a video on their Facebook page showing an installed unit in a Silverado.
mibzzer15
Member
You should be able to. If you are looking to put a 70A fuse where the 60A fuse is, you should be safe to swap that out but I wouldn't put like a 100A fuse where the 60A is. Those studs would probably take the load just fine but I wouldn't know for sure. You can swap out the 200A for anything less more than likely, only thing you would be looking at is maybe the size of the stud and if the fuse will fit on it.
mmckenna
I ♥ Ø
Current carrying bolts
The smaller bolts are 6mm, and according to the chart linked to above, that would be good up to 125 amps. Pretty sure it's a MIDI fuse. MIDI fuses are available up to 200 amps. (see below *) If the rest of your wiring is capable of supporting 200 amps, then you should be fine going up that far. https://www.littelfuse.com/~/media/...bolt-down-fuses/littelfuse_midi_datasheet.pdf
The larger bolts are 8mm, and the bolt size/current capacity says those are good to 150 amps. Haven't researched what size fuse that is yet.
* But GM is running 200 amp fuse on the larger one, so they are likely not relying on the bolt as a current carrying device, just using it for clamping force to hold the fuse to the buss plate.
jhooten
Member
Yes there are plugs in the floor under both front corners of the back seat. Pull the door sills, lift the floor covering, they are a few inches in from the cable tray that is under the sill pieces.
As said above, GM P/N 84669070 is the snowplow power kit. It adds a 60 and a 200 amp fuse to the power center. Instructions here: https://www.gmupfitter.com/files/media/photo/1143/UI Bulletin_147 Snow Plow power provisions_V2b.pdf.
Took me about ten minutes.
This one https://www.gmupfitter.com/files/media/photo/1314/UI Bulletin 153_wip.pdf
shows the location of the factory poser cable pass through under the dash on page 4 if you want to run the cable throuh the cab instead of under it.
As said above, GM P/N 84669070 is the snowplow power kit. It adds a 60 and a 200 amp fuse to the power center. Instructions here: https://www.gmupfitter.com/files/media/photo/1143/UI Bulletin_147 Snow Plow power provisions_V2b.pdf.
Took me about ten minutes.
This one https://www.gmupfitter.com/files/media/photo/1314/UI Bulletin 153_wip.pdf
shows the location of the factory poser cable pass through under the dash on page 4 if you want to run the cable throuh the cab instead of under it.
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