Winch battery disconnect and circuit breaker?

[ShadowsPapa]

400 amp fuse may not blow doing just a little bit of welding.

Pinch wire - spark, ignite fuel, then fuse blows..........

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[Rusty PW]

Power Wagons and their factory Warn winches are wired straight from the battery to the winch. No switch, no fuse. The only protection is a thermo overload sensor and a low voltage cutout.

 

[Zachanadandy]

400 amp fuse may not blow doing just a little bit of welding.

Which reminds me why I don't waste time with one. If you look at the trip curve of most breakers that large is going to allow full CCA of the battery for a few seconds anyway. At that point your battery has probably discharged enough is not putting out full CCA anyway.

 

[Lost1wing]

Power Wagons and their factory Warn winches are wired straight from the battery to the winch. No switch, no fuse. The only protection is a thermo overload sensor and a low voltage cutout.

I have one of those factory type installs. That doesn't make it a perfect situation.

 

[Rusty PW]

I have one of those factory type installs. That doesn't make it a perfect situation.

The PW guys have bypassed both of the factory protections. I did it on mine.

 

[Lost1wing]

Which reminds me why I don't waste time with one. If you look at the trip curve of most breakers that large is going to allow full CCA of the battery for a few seconds anyway. At that point your battery has probably discharged enough is not putting out full CCA anyway.

That is what the cutoff switch is for.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

 

[Zachanadandy]

That is what the cutoff switch is for.

I try to remind myself that our society is filled by fear, but I can't buy in. I'll stick with the way winches are wired from the factory on the power wagon and the way almost every winch manufacturer recommends, straight to the battery. If you're fuse won't work quick enough to prevent fire, what's the point again?

 

[Lost1wing]

The PW guys have bypassed both of the factory protections. I did it on mine.

You've had a bad day if the thermal protection tripped. It's still a bad day if you bypassed the protection and smoked the winch motor. I guess you just have to pay attention to the duty cycle limits. Be careful!

 

[Lost1wing]

I try to remind myself that our society is filled by fear, but I can't buy in. I'll stick with the way winches are wired from the factory on the power wagon and the way almost every winch manufacturer recommends, straight to the battery. If you're fuse won't work quick enough to prevent fire, what's the point again?

It could in a crash when the cable gets crushed. Using a fuse too high could cause sparks to fly. Using a fuse to protect the winch and cable during use if what the fuse is for. The cutoff switch eliminates that kind of power from being up front in case of a collision.

The Pinto was factory made.

 

[Lost1wing]

I try to remind myself that our society is filled by fear, but I can't buy in. I'll stick with the way winches are wired from the factory on the power wagon and the way almost every winch manufacturer recommends, straight to the battery. If you're fuse won't work quick enough to prevent fire, what's the point again?

Fear? Once you rear-end someone and things go south because of the way a winch is hooked up to the battery, you may think twice on the next one. If it only effects you, go for it. When someone else could potentially be harmed by a faulty winch install, that's another story. We can pass our thoughts on to the OP and let them decide on the way to go.

 

[Zachanadandy]

Fear? Once you rear-end someone and things go south because of the way a winch is hooked up to the battery, you may think twice on the next one. If it only effects you, go for it. When someone else could potentially be harmed by a faulty winch install, that's another story. We can pass our thoughts on to the OP and let them decide on the way to go.

Faulty install? Per most oems and winch manufacturers recommendations? Just because you choose the modern bubble boy method doesn't make it right, let alone make the way the vast majority of winches through history have been wired. Your battery is held down via a plastic clip in a plastic tray and your worried about an accident bad enough to destroy the frame which is what it would take to punch my winch wiring? Your battery will likely be wedged between the block and frame and also shorted at that point.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Just because you choose the modern bubble boy method doesn't make it right,

LOL, seriously? Now the insults?

Amazing when someone comes in asking about a cut-off and possible fuse or breaker, then a couple come in dissing them, and insulting as if THEIR way is the ONLY right way?
And yet there are winch makers who say you must use a switch, and several not only sell them, but some include them.

Wow. A guy asked about a switch and suddenly he's a bubble boy and doing it all wrong because you don't believe in them.

Since he was asking about a switch, maybe he wants to use one.
Those of us who have, can show solid examples.
And there's no real downside to a switch. Point of failure? The whole truck is full of points of failure.
How many reports have there been of their cutoff switch failing?

I'll repost for a point - apparently at least one winch company is run by bubble boys -

 

[Lost1wing]

Did you read the manual for the Gladiator? As ShadowsPapa pointed out. A cutoff switch must be installed or warranty will be voided. So what manual are you talking about? Was it a few decades ago when safety wasn't much of a concern? Come on, it's just a switch and a fuse that will not hinder the operation of a winch.

 

[Lost1wing]

Faulty install? Per most oems and winch manufacturers recommendations? Just because you choose the modern bubble boy method doesn't make it right, let alone make the way the vast majority of winches through history have been wired. Your battery is held down via a plastic clip in a plastic tray and your worried about an accident bad enough to destroy the frame which is what it would take to punch my winch wiring? Your battery will likely be wedged between the block and frame and also shorted at that point.

That's funny! I'll have to show this to the guys.

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