Auxbeam vs switch pro

I do not recall on the 9100 but in the RCR Force 12 it comes with the connector off and you just install it after feeding it through.

This is for the communication harness which is perfectly fine for the application.

What I am having problems with is the 20 pin main connector harness. Of the 20 wires 17 of them need to go to my panel just behind the battery and I am between 2-3 inches from being long enough. The other 4 pin harness for the 10 AWG wires is plenty long enough, if only they came to a happy medium between the two harness lengths. Obviously not a concern to them.

I just had a shoulder operation so a lot of time to think about this, not wanting to redesign everything under the hood just because I swapped the Switch Pros 9100 for the RCR Force 12. I really thought it would be all the same lengths etc… Nope

 

my bad was thinking of sPod I get that mixed up with switch pros.

 

my spod install was very easy. connect to positive terminal and connect to frame ground. Control wire from cab to control unit by battery (comes with a cover). plug in and you are done other than wire routing and installing the switch panel. all lights etc get run to the unit by battery - just positive and negative.

 

Has anyone extended the cable from the switch panel to the controller in the engine bay? I have mine mounted near the D/S headlight and will be installing the switches near the map lights on the headliner. Going to the B pillar then up and into the headliner . The cable is a foot or two short.

Edit: the instructions say not to, and I see a 5th non insulated wire along the black one in that harness.

 

I have mounted here and reached. I do have the switchpro mounted on the fuse box lid tho.

 

Mine is about a foot further way from the firewall. I don’t think I need a lot of extra, but I also haven’t fully accounted for all the twists and turns of the routing.

 

Yea I know where you use yours.
Your probably using the sdhq mount? I had that first and really disliked it.

 

I do have the sdhq mount coming, not yet installed.

 

Spoke with SwitchPro’s. I ended up buying a new, longer cable. They convinced me to not cut and extend my existing switch to module cable. In essence told me to put down the wire cutters and not try it..

 

What's the measurements, auxbeam controller panel vs switch pro? I'm leaning towards the auxbeam but want to use the sdhq switch pro mount.

 

Here for the great conversation so far on a future mod for me.

 

following. Currently looking at these 3 options as well. Like the cleanliness of the auxbeam and spod for the wiring, don't like how you need other terminal blocks etc to use the switch pros unless you want a mess of wires just tied off somewhere.

 

You need all of that terminal blocks etc., it depends on what you want. For the SP9100 you can easily wire the harness of your lights directly to the harness of the switch pros and you’re done. Everything needed is in the solid state 125A power module. With the SP9100 once you wire the lights the button on the panel for these lights are now fixed for that light. If you want to move from one button to another button position you will need to cut the wires and retire accordingly. This is why the first time I wired one I went the terminal strip route because it was much easier to debug and modify.

The RCR-Force is a different animal and you can program which button on the panel easily (relatively) and you would not need a terminal strip. I already had one installed so I used it because within 5 minutes I can disconnect all wires from my lights to the Switch Pro module. Just easier to maintain and disconnect to move while working, etc.. Just your preference and what you want from it

 

Ran an spod on the old man’s rig with tons of issues. Switched to the switch pro never looked back. I run a switch pro in mine with no issues. Fully sealed from the elements etc is a plus

 

Where did you mount your SP9100 and terminal block? That's the route I'm looking at going, but trying to find an alternative to using the fuse box cover to mount the terminal block. You have a picture?

 

Do you have a picture of how you mounted the harness and terminated the wiring?

 

I didn’t do a terminal block on my setup. I used the SDHQ mount. I’ll see if I can snag a pic of my old man’s setup he used a terminal block but not on the fuse box to not inhibit access

 

Just 2 cents from someone with some background in electronics:
Auxbeam(and 20 other chinese clones): best bang for the buck, basic, work fine, cheap enough to be disposable (especially if you buy a few for you and your buddies, check alibaba)
Voswitch: probably the best constuction/design/cost balance option (if I ever replace my auxbeam will probably go with this), can still get them with relays (at least last time I checked) instead of transistors (its a plus in this application)

If cost is no issue:
Spod: massively overpriced, but at least the pcb isnt potted. Has some fancy functionality you'll probably never use.
Switch Pros: bragging rights? I try not to comment on these for all the rage it causes lol

 

Very expensive, agreed. Also when calling and ask a question they treat you like an idiot and not a customer. I will not be purchasing from them any more, I don’t like to be looked down on or give me a dirty look or… well you get where I am going LOL

 

So did you just terminated the wires together and zip tie or secure somehow against the SDHQ mount?

 

Extra wires I didn’t use I wrapped together into a loom and zip tied into a secure place. The wires used I also loomed and ran to the needed accessories. Nice clean no issues.

Also added pics of his block which is temporary as all the electrical will get moved when they cut out all the wheel well.

 

Thank you for that! Looks really clean. Makes me lean a little more back to switch pros. Did you solder connections or just crimp and heat shrink?

 

I crimped and heat shrunk with electrical grease etc

 

Hey sorry to hear about your guy's sPod experiences. Baja Designs recently acquired the company so they are in the house with us. This being said If anyone has any questions or concerns about the company or its products you can contact me. We are on track to get sPod as recognizable for their customer service and reliability as Baja Designs and in doing so we have already extended the warranty on this product to 5 years.
Best,
Brandon

 

Hey @Gravy, with pricing in mind there are some noticeable differences that will be required to run some of the competitor's products that are not visible in the initial buy-in price that sPod is being compared to. Some components that will be required for other companies that aren't presented when purchasing are Terminals blocks, busbars, and fuse holders which will bring additional costs. While sPod does have a visibly higher advertised price this unit is ready to be installed directly after purchase and does not require any add-ons. It also features an industry-leading 5-year warranty.
Best,
Brandon

 

I went with the SwitchPro and have been very happy with the results. I bought the engine bay mounting bracket along with the 3D printed dash mount from SDHQ.

https://sdhqoffroad.com/collections...ilt-complete-switch-pros-sp-9100-mounting-kit

 

Glad to see a reputable company that's well-loved by this forum pick up spod. Electronics, pcbs, components etc are dirt cheap even with this crazy inflation, so lets not bullshit the forum members here. I do like spods use of milled aluminum housings, and those can cost some money to make, so I factor that in. I've never had a spod setup in hand to look over, so I can't give a full cost-benefit analysis but from the info I can find on the ol' internet, they are still massively overpriced. Capitalism is great, make a profit, make a healthy profit, but the prices I'm seeing are predatory.

Add On Switch Panel For 8 Circuit Systems sPOD | 4x4 sPOD

Add-on panel for 350$... f%$#ing absurd!

HD BantamX Vehicle Kit - Toyota 2022-on Tundra | 4x4 sPOD

1055$ for a vehicle lighting controller, are you kidding me?


Baja Designs is loved by Tundras.com members, my advice, drop your prices to be competitive and make this forum appreciate your company even more.

Fancy functionality, rgb lighting, bluetooth capability and microprocessor control might sound like expensive advanced technology to the average joe, but last I saw all those chips could be had for the cost of a good lunch.

Prove me wrong. This is America (for most of us at least), we all expect a business to make profit, most of us are willing to pay more to keep cash and jobs in America. Show us why a lighting controller should cost 1000$ more than an expectedly lower quality comparable product from China that can be sold at a profit for <100$ on Alibaba.

Better yet, send me a 8switch panel and controller, and I'll take it apart and see whats so special to warrant that pricing. If I find some amazing secret sauce inside, I'll happily eat crow and profess my foolishness to my fellow forum members.

 

I have designed PCB’s for over 40 years and you are correct, the prices of the components are not bad at all during these times. The costly ones are new IC’s and that costs a bundle. Nothing new like that with sPod so that is not a cost driver.

 

This is my setup:

 

Looks great. I like having it all on 1 tray and the addition of the ARB, i just wish there was a bracket that did not mount over the factory fuse book. I've seen the mount for ARB that goes on the passenger side, and thier is another forum member that has modded up a panel that installs up past the fuse box, closer to the brake system, that fits an spod perfect.

Really good info and input on this forum, thank you all!