Fuses...Grrr

[t0m541]

Ok, this is a bit of a rant but also advice too
I was adding a USB port into the supply to the 12v power port inside the cubby box on top of the instrument cluster on my 2015 Custom.
I already have that converted to a 4.2A dual USB port, which also shows battery voltage, which is very handy.
The port I was adding today I've fitted on top of the cover where the led display is for the SYNC system, it'll supply the dash cam and sat nav when fitted, without having long cables draped all over.
Anyway, as I was plugging in the last connection, I saw a tiny blue flash, and sure enough had blown a fuse as the port no longer lit up.
This is where the rant/advice comes in.
I assume most folks know where the fuse boxes are on their vans, on the Custom, behind the lower dash panels above the pedals.
There is another large fuse board behind the glove box on the BCM and one under the bonnet near the coolant tank.
The big fuse board nearest the gear lever, the mini blade fuses can be (just about) accessed and pulled using a pair of long needle nose pliers.
However...the fuse/s for the power outlets are of the mini sqare type that need to be prised out with a small flat screwdriver, these 3 live at the very top on that fuse board.
To access these beauties, the whole of the lower dash and it's support frame needs to be removed on the drivers side, including the dash end cap with the cup holder in, which has to come out as there is a screw underneath it.
Also the gear mechanism plastics need to be popped off it's retainers and propped out of the way get enough clearence to manipulate said screwdriver into the correct place.
The cubby box fuse is the very top 20a mini square fuse, so make sure you have a spare before you undertake this soul destroying mission.
There is another fuse board on the right hand side of the steering column where the ODB port is, this too needs the same dismantling to access the fuses there.
I don't really know how or why Ford thought that making these so inaccesible would be a good idea, especially if you're stuck broken down with no tools etc..

[Altransit]

It's quite simple really

They don't want us owners doing our own maintenance and repairs, because they want you to book it in and pay for their labour. I've been moaning (to myself really!) for years at how difficult, or just time consuming it is, to change lightbulbs on the road. These now often require tools, to get at them, and most of us no longer carry tools, as there is nothing we can fix easily, any more.

I have at least four different boxes of sets of fuses, acquired over the years on different vehicles, but don't have any of those square ones anywhere

[t0m541]

It's quite simple really

They don't want us owners doing our own maintenance and repairs, because they want you to book it in and pay for their labour. I've been moaning (to myself really!) for years at how difficult, or just time consuming it is, to change lightbulbs on the road. These now often require tools, to get at them, and most of us no longer carry tools, as there is nothing we can fix easily, any more.

I have at least four different boxes of sets of fuses, acquired over the years on different vehicles, but don't have any of those square ones anywhere

Luckily, I did have a selection of the square ones, but it had to make do with a 25a rather than the 20a I took out.
I also have a good selection of fuses, including the glass ones and plastic bullet ones, the consumables catalogue at my old job was a good source of oddball stuff