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Winch wiring. Fuse, breaker, or straight to battery?

Discussion in 'Recovery' started by Caddychris, Oct 8, 2019.

  1. Oct 8, 2019 at 2:32 PM
    #1
    Caddychris

    Caddychris [OP] Well-Known Member

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    OME lift w/ SPC's Method 701's w/Toyo at2 265/70r17 Prinsu rack CBI skids and sliders SSO slimline bull bumper Smittybuilt 9500 winch. Swing out tool boxes
    Well, the title says it all.
    What do you guys with winches use in line, if anything, for your winch?
    I'm using a smittybilt 9500lb.
    Not sure what the max amperage draw would be. I'm assuming if I fuse/breaker it would be for what the cable is rated for?
    Any assistance is greatly appreciated!
     
  2. Oct 8, 2019 at 2:35 PM
    #2
    YamaDirtrider

    YamaDirtrider Custom bumpers @FORT-ifyRigs

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    What hasn't been modified?
    I run straight to the battery.
    Less things to go wrong and less voltage resistance.

    although it it’s a good idea to have it protected from shorting out
     
    whatstcp and Caddychris[OP] like this.
  3. Oct 8, 2019 at 2:35 PM
    #3
    n6vmo

    n6vmo Well-Known Member

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    Fused as close to the battery as possible.....

    index.jpg
     
  4. Oct 8, 2019 at 2:38 PM
    #4
    YamaDirtrider

    YamaDirtrider Custom bumpers @FORT-ifyRigs

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    What hasn't been modified?
    Looks like max pull can be just over 400 amps C763A497-9D93-4C6F-8434-15DAB32AD605.jpg
     
    Caddychris[OP] likes this.
  5. Oct 8, 2019 at 5:42 PM
    #5
    Caddychris

    Caddychris [OP] Well-Known Member

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    OME lift w/ SPC's Method 701's w/Toyo at2 265/70r17 Prinsu rack CBI skids and sliders SSO slimline bull bumper Smittybuilt 9500 winch. Swing out tool boxes
    Wow!!! That's crazy!
     
  6. Oct 8, 2019 at 5:50 PM
    #6
    BlindingWhiteTac.

    BlindingWhiteTac. Well-Known Member

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    Just the essentials and no extra fluff.
    Breaker or fuse with disconnect close to the battery.
     
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  7. Oct 11, 2019 at 2:58 AM
    #7
    Justwandering

    Justwandering Well-Known Member

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  8. Oct 28, 2019 at 8:51 AM
    #8
    madcratebuilder

    madcratebuilder Well-Known Member

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    Anderson connector close to battery.
     
  9. Oct 28, 2019 at 9:25 AM
    #9
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    What do the instructions on your winch say? Warn says to go direct to the battery.

    The winch itself should have internal circuit protection, and as long as you use the proper size wire based on max load of the winch, (bigger is better), then it's essentially impossible to "overload" the circuit.

    If you are concerned about it being hot all the time, use a power interrupt kit (switch and solenoid).
     
    Grossomotto likes this.
  10. Feb 14, 2020 at 11:37 PM
    #10
    Desert Dog

    Desert Dog Well-Known Member

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    Anyone use one of these with a winch? The Warn EVO VR8 is rated at 295 amps so falls within the 300 amp rating of this circuit breaker. I see it as a combined fuse and disconnect switch in one package.

    0F6366B2-3F00-4D1C-B8C0-853B35EB62AC.jpg
     
  11. Feb 15, 2020 at 2:20 PM
    #11
    HMM

    HMM Well-Known Member

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    I’m planning to run mine through a blue sea heavy duty on-off battery switch. I 3D printed a mount for the switch, just need to wire it up now. Currently it’s wired to the battery but I don’t like it being powered up all the time. I’d rather be able to pop the hood and turn it on once I pull off pavement and then be able to kill the power once I’m back on pavement.
     
  12. Feb 17, 2020 at 10:30 PM
    #12
    Gat_

    Gat_ Don’t be shattered.

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    Would you be interested in printing and selling another one of those mounts if it works? o_O
     
  13. Feb 18, 2020 at 9:09 AM
    #13
    MAG GRY TACO15

    MAG GRY TACO15 Well-Known Member

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    Same crap everyone else got
    A buddy @Gilmorec61 also makes these types of mounts I believe. Maybe he can help you out.
     
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  14. Feb 18, 2020 at 9:39 AM
    #14
    HappyGilmore

    HappyGilmore LambTek Innovations

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  15. Feb 18, 2020 at 9:45 AM
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    Bannerman

    Bannerman Tasteful Thickness

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    I use a 600A disconnect, it's off when winch is not being used. Seems like you might be asking for trouble if there is a short and you have no way to cut power.

    IMG_3332.jpg
     
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  16. Feb 18, 2020 at 5:32 PM
    #16
    Gat_

    Gat_ Don’t be shattered.

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  17. Feb 19, 2020 at 9:32 PM
    #17
    HMM

    HMM Well-Known Member

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    I'll be happy to send you the file, the 3D printer is a buddy's and he did it at work so he can't do things for hire.
    The mount needs to be a little bigger and we didn't bring the holes, I drilled them afterwards.

    Mount1.jpg
    Mount2.jpg
     
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  18. Oct 22, 2020 at 12:20 PM
    #18
    JVL1985

    JVL1985 Well-Known Member

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    What are the risks if I follow the installation instructions in the manual and wire directly to the battery? I ran a Warn this way for many years in my previous Jeep and never had any issue.
    upload_2020-10-22_12-18-30.png
     
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  19. Oct 22, 2020 at 1:57 PM
    #19
    HappyGilmore

    HappyGilmore LambTek Innovations

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    Yes
    A potential fire risk in the event of a front end impact or if the wire insulation somehow wears off the wire. A 2 gauge wire grounding out can cause some gnarly sparks and heat!

    Installing a switch in-line can also mitigate parasitic draw on the battery in the case there was some kind of fault in the winch control box.

    I’ve developed a neat product for this specific application, check it out if you’d like!

    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/winch-switch-bracket-protect-your-investment.619464/
     
  20. Oct 22, 2020 at 2:18 PM
    #20
    JVL1985

    JVL1985 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for your input. I wonder why companies like Warn and Smittybilt don't mention any of this in their manuals. Also, I would think they would be all over selling a product like yours as an accessory or just including a solution with the winch for competitive advantage.
     
    HappyGilmore[QUOTED] likes this.
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