Wiring Delima

I have just purchased a Warn Multi Mount winch that comes with 2 gauge wiring to connect from the battery to the winch mounted in a front receiver. I also purchased a 24' 2 gauge wiring kit to run to the rear so that the winch can be operated in either location. Additionally I purchased a Blue Sea 12 curcuit fuse panel and Bussman 100 amp breaker. Can you give me some ideas on how to land the 6 cables (4) 2 gauge and 2 (4) gauge to the battery. Shoud I be looking for a 4 post battery?

 

BUMP - for some input

 

Did you google search for it?
http://www.etrailer.com/faq-how-to-wire-an-electric-winch.aspx

 

Yep, actually I found that exact site, good info by the way. However the part I'm not sure of is how to connect up all these wires to two battery terminals. Did you notice all the different stuff I listed to connect? As I see it, 4 - 2 gauge wires for front and rear winch connections, 2 normal battery connection wires for starter and ground, 2 - 4 or 6 gauge for the auxiliary fuse buss. Whew - Help

 

Are you thinking that you need to hook up 3 positive wire and 3 negative wires to your battery? The grounds can be tapped off of the truck frame at any point. No reason to connect grounds to the battery.

Next, how many amps will your fuse panel handle on any given circuit? enough to handle the winch?

Look at "pullpal.com/terminals" I think this is what you are seeking.

 

Good point about the grounds, but I have heard it's always better to go back to the battery for best and surest ground. IDK.

The fused panel is capable of 12 circuits each carrying a max of 30 amps.

Interesting link for battery clamps. Thanks

 

If u do that i would run a heavy wire from the frame to the batt

 

slo13zx3,

I agree about the heavy wire from battery to chasis. Also clean and maintain all connections on a regular basis.

Nick54,

Consider tapping the positive feed for the rear winch off of the connection at the front winch. You could do both positive and negative rear winch feeds from there as well. Again, always keep the connections clean.

 

I think I see what your saying, however I guessing your under the impression I am connecting 2 winches (I think). 1 Winch move it front to rear.

 

My superwinchLP8500 draws 320amps at rated load. You need larger breakers. Mine came with a gang of three, auto-reset breakers on a buss bar.
You'll have to make your own buss for that many cables. Connecting them at the battery will be a cluster F. Run a main cable to a buss on the fender well. Just make sure you insulate and protect it well.

 

I am using quick disconnect plugs, and a cutoff switch to keep it dead when not in use. That'll keep corrosion to a minimum, along with copious amounts of dielectric grease and RTV on the QD's.

 

I'm not connecting the winch to any of the 30 amp aux circuits, those are for other stuff like driving lights, bed lights etc. I like the idea of a sub bus for winch only, I will look into how to lay that out.
Thanks

The winch came with quick disconnect plug for front mount, and I purchased cable for rear mount with QDC's. The rear setup came with a solenoid to switch off power when not in use, haven't figured out how I want to do that for the front. Point well taken concerning corrosion, probably the most likely failure mode.
Thanks