300A Winch Fuse

[JWM PLAYS]

Installed some cheap peace of mind on the wife’s winch lead today.

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[Rusty PW]

Where did you get it at?

 

[A 2]

X2

 

[NCJL]

That’s a Blue Sea product. They make great products. Amazon.

 

[JWM PLAYS]

Where did you get it at?

X2

Bay Marine Supply MRBF Terminal Fuse Block Kit (Fuse Included) – Single Stud 5/16" (M8) Compact Marine Rated Battery Fuse 300A https://a.co/d/3ULfQ11

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Just remember - under certain situations some winches will draw more than 300 amps.........

 

[Rusty PW]

Just remember - under certain situations some winches will draw more than 300 amps.........

Yep, some as high as 465 amps.

 

[JWM PLAYS]

Just remember - under certain situations some winches will draw more than 300 amps.........

Yeah I did the math on it. Full tilt is about 360A. We will see how it goes. It’s not going to see a lot of heavy use I don’t think. If it creates a problem, I’ll change it out for a disconnect switch.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

Why not a circuit breaker?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yeah I did the math on it. Full tilt is about 360A. We will see how it goes. It’s not going to see a lot of heavy use I don’t think. If it creates a problem, I’ll change it out for a disconnect switch.

I run a disconnect regardless of having a fuse or not.
I know some view the fuse as a replacement, but I've seen things happen that don't blow fuses or fusible links but still make trouble.
If you are out and about, need that winch, and blow the fuse........... if you don't have a spare, you don't have a winch.

 

[JWM PLAYS]

I run a disconnect regardless of having a fuse or not.
I know some view the fuse as a replacement, but I've seen things happen that don't blow fuses or fusible links but still make trouble.
If you are out and about, need that winch, and blow the fuse........... if you don't have a spare, you don't have a winch.

I hear you. The company I work for is one of the largest distributors of fuses in the country. I have spares in the glove box. We’re going to the OHV next weekend. I’ll report back if it blows a fuse.

 

[Summitsearcher]

I run a disconnect regardless of having a fuse or not.
I know some view the fuse as a replacement, but I've seen things happen that don't blow fuses or fusible links but still make trouble.
If you are out and about, need that winch, and blow the fuse........... if you don't have a spare, you don't have a winch.

I’m afraid I don’t understand, forgive me. What does a fusible link offer that a disconnect does not in relation to using the winch?

 

[JWM PLAYS]

I’m afraid I don’t understand, forgive me. What does a fusible link offer that a disconnect does not in relation to using the winch?

The disconnect won't automatically open the circuit in the vent of a dead short. The fuse will. Both have their pros and cons. The fuse basically serves a a weak link to open the circuit should an issue occur. If you had a disconnect and no fuse, if you had a direct short while the disconnect was closed, you're likely going to have an out of control fire on your hands in a matter of seconds.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

The disconnect won't automatically open the circuit in the vent of a dead short. The fuse will. Both have their pros and cons. The fuse basically serves a a weak link to open the circuit should an issue occur. If you had a disconnect and no fuse, if you had a direct short while the disconnect was closed, you're likely going to have an out of control fire on your hands in a matter of seconds.

But you won't have the disconnect closed unless winching, so that doesn't wash.
The "dead short" would be while the winch was not in use, and while driving - times when the disconnect is open.
And a fuse will only blow when you reach its rating - in this case 300 amps. You can have a wear-through or a pinch that allows a lot of amperage, but not enough to blow a fuse, and still have trouble.
I've been in auto-electric for 50 years and I have seen cases where the fuse won't blow, but wires get hot enough to melt insulation and cause adjacent wires to melt or burn. It happens. In fact, a member screwed up plugging his trailer in and melted wires but never blew that 30 amp fuse on the 12v wire to the back.

The ideal is both. Fuse if you overload the wiring with a draw that's too high, and the disconnect to protect if you get hit while on the road.

My wiring is sized so that it will handle any normal winch use - up to the rated draw of the winch.
If the winch blows and burns out and pulls more than the wiring will handle, that's where a fuse would come in.
Otherwise, a disconnect has you covered for the entire time the winch isn't being used - which for most people is 99.99998% of the time.

I skipped the fuse because the only time there could possibly be an issue would be while using the winch - and with a new winch, and my likelihood of the winch drawing more than the wires can handle while I am using it is all but nil.

Kill the disconnect and then the one and only time you can have any issue is while actually using the winch - if you blow up the winch and it causes a dead short. But if you see the winch smoke or start to get hot - STOP! Duh. They'll take a heck of a lot of abuse but don't be stupid and stubborn and try to pull a 20,000 load with a 12,000 pound winch on the outer layer.

 

[Andy29847]

Choosing a Winch - mikesjeep.com

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