Re-building my Console Switchboard:

I've been adding some new electronics to my car and as such need to re-build my switchboard to accomidate them. I was never really satisfied with version 2.0 mostly because of the mis-matched top level and the use of vinyl to simulate the exture of the ABS plastic surrounding it.

The old version:


Version 3.0 is much more organized and made use of my new toy: A Vacuum Former!!





First i designed and built the Aluminum subframe then heated a sheet of 1/16" ABS in the overn at 450 degrees for roughly 2 minutes

After using the vaccum former the plastic looksed like this:





I used a blowtorch as a heat gun to form the edges just right. Here's what it looks like with all the components mounted:


And a few hours later I hooked up most of the electronics. The mounting location in my center console doesn't have the clearance for a traditional slide terminal so i had to get creative:


I'm expecting the final parts shipment on monday to finish this project.

I'd much prefer a lower profile board...if you need indicator lights, fine -- I have mine so that I can move it around very easily.

Looks sweet ... I did mine in Carbon Fiber ...

Nice job.

I wish I had a vacuum machine so I could vacuum bag CF.

Aken wrote:

Nice job. I wish I had a vacuum machine so I could vacuum bag CF.

they're not that expensive. This is the 12"x12" version:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vacuum-Forming-Machine-Plas...8%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

I'm using the 12" x 18" version. More fun to come later

Nice job with the vacuum formed panel,but no offence those toggles just look way out of place in a Vette and kinda cheesy.Also those indicator lights look to be entirely too large for such a small panel.It would look so much better if you used all matching small rocker switches.

You need a Vacumn Bagger System to do CF ...To spread the resin ect , pretty different from that ...

Tat2Dragons wrote:

Nice job with the vacuum formed panel,but no offence those toggles just look way out of place in a Vette and kinda cheesy.Also those indicator lights look to be entirely too large for such a small panel.It would look so much better if you used all matching small rocker switches.

the entire switchboard hides under the folding console lid/armrest. Most of the time it's completely out of sight:

well i like it

looks great.
nicely done.

Looks great.

Superbly done ! Great finished appearance and unquestionably better than 90% of the switch panels I've seen . Your old piece with the upholstery wasn't too bad either but this is definitely much cleaner . I don't agree that the switches or LEDs are gaudy; they aren't exactly the same as I'd use, but I don't see anything wrong with them . I especially dig that you've put this much effort into a piece that will be largely hidden during use .

Can you sand down the rough edges of the ABS or are they unnoticeable once you mount it in the console ? Also how did you get the holes drilled so accurately ? Drill press or just a really steady hand ?

Also, care to give a quick breakdown on what the switches go to ?

Come on it's OBVIOUS ....
From Left to Right :
Smoke Screen
Oil Slick
Machine Gun
Rockets
Ejector seat

Cooper wrote:

Can you sand down the rough edges of the ABS or are they unnoticeable once you mount it in the console ? Also how did you get the holes drilled so accurately ? Drill press or just a really steady hand ? Also, care to give a quick breakdown on what the switches go to ?

The pic was before i sanded down the edges. I used a graph layout and punch to make a pilot hole then used the drill press to actuall drill the hole. The versions before this were all done with a standard electric drill. the Press has made things SOOOO much easier and more accurate.

Circuitry breakdown

Level 1 (the 4 rockers)
1. radio override (turn on ONLY the sound system when the car's off)
2. Strobe Low power switch (reduces power to the strobe kit by 50% for long periods (like in shows etc)
3. LVL system for poor weather.
4. Reverse light override (don't tailgate me )

Level 2 (the toggles)
1. Crusing lights (interior LED cool-ness)
2. underglow
3. Vent lights (now featuring RPM sensitive sound module )
4. Warp Drive (no BS)
5. CCFL Angel eyes headlight halos

lets see this "warp drive" you speak of ....

DJTricky wrote:

lets see this "warp drive" you speak of ....

http://www.oznium.com/forum/topic18151

looks awesome!

Update: Switchpanel installed.

After removing a bunch of old wires, i finally managed to finish installing the new switchboard. It looks MUCH better than I'd planned. I'm farily certain this will be the final version mostly because there's no room for any more switches...lol



Looks even better in the dark:


....you'd never know it's there unless you knew where to look....*bwa ha ha*

LOVE It

excellent install

I vote do something to make the screws not stick out as much, other than that, amazing install. I love how you pay so much attention to making even the little things like this look good.

lbjshaq2345 wrote:

I vote do something to make the screws not stick out as much, other than that, amazing install. I love how you pay so much attention to making even the little things like this look good.

was thinking about painting them black....but i'm trying to decide if I want to leave them stainless....

Kudos, sir ! And you can just buy black screws so you don't have to worry about painting them super-accurately or chipping the paint off if you ever remove the panel .

Couldn't help but notice we have the same Momo brake handle . And we also seem to have the same problem mounting it properly and wrapping the leather . The stupid collar on that thing is crazy big . I had to roll the front hole in the leather in on itself to make it wider, and buy an extra-long leather skirt to still cover the whole handle mechanism.. pain .

One question, what is that red switch for? The one right before your console "hatch"?

Cooper wrote:

Kudos, sir ! And you can just buy black screws so you don't have to worry about painting them super-accurately or chipping the paint off if you ever remove the panel . Couldn't help but notice we have the same Momo brake handle . And we also seem to have the same problem mounting it properly and wrapping the leather . The stupid collar on that thing is crazy big . I had to roll the front hole in the leather in on itself to make it wider, and buy an extra-long leather skirt to still cover the whole handle mechanism.. pain .

Yeah the Momo was fun. I think i used electrical tape as spacers over the ebrake handle frame.

AutoAustin wrote:

One question, what is that red switch for? The one right before your console "hatch"?

Th big red switch is the "master arm" It give power to the entire switchboard and allows me to to turn everything off in a jiffy without opening/closing the console lid

I've been wanting to do something like this for a while now! Looks good man!

That looks really good, I think it has a retro 'Knight Rider' look to it, haha! I've never heard of having reverse lights also used as back off lights

The big red switch looks fugy. Other than that, good job

Kevin_S wrote:

The big red switch looks fugy. Other than that, good job

agreed, what does the button next to the main switch and the 2 toggles in the upper left hand corner do?

Kevin_S wrote:

The big red switch looks fugy. Other than that, good job

I was thinking about painting it black....but I'm a huge fan of the covered toggle switches.

the little black button is a surprise....TBA

does the black button turn on your brake lights for people that ride your ass a couple of my buddies did that

I still don't understand what a warp drive is!!!

Ryan88 wrote:

I still don't understand what a warp drive is!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warp_drive_(Star_Trek)

Mine is just an expensive-looking do-nothing

you are f'ing godly... can i touch you.... seriously...

i vote you make the warp drive an expensive-looking do something

knatebetz wrote:

i vote you make the warp drive an expensive-looking do something

I'm afraid I don't have access to the required antimatter reactor..not to mention I'm farily certain it wouldn't pass inspection.

fly below the radars bro

knatebetz wrote:

fly below the radars bro

go-go-gadget radar jammer

ha