Power cutoff for Winch

[Tncdrew]

I run a 500A solenoid on my hot lead, near the battery. The trigger wires for it connected to Aux 3.

That's a nice way to configure it.

Sponsored

 

[jadmt]

Difference is your "factory" warn winch was installed at the factory so the wiring is probably routed better than DIYers. Most winces have the power wire passing between the bumper and skid plate. In a head on collision that becomes a guillotine.

think again....

 

[C.Sco]

How many have added struts to their hoods, when a method to keep the hood open was already provided from the manufacturer?

Those struts are so you can open your hood without having to set the fire extinguisher down

 

[TheRaven]

This is another one of those topics that will be argued to the death as each individual rationalizes their own choice.

That said - the creator of the Zeon XD/XP is a relation of mine. He helped me get my winch, and instructed me on how to properly wire and use it. He told me to use a disconnect solenoid. So I have one on my current winch, and will have one for every winch I own.

 

[Flip]

@Rita Runner

I bought a badland 9500 winch for my TJ. I used it for years, no cut off switch. I didn't know anything about them. I bought another 9500 badland winch years later for my JL, it came with a cutoff switch. Some research, I read, if a winch devolopes a short, it can drain your battery. I installed it along with an inline fuse. Better safe than sorry I guess. Easy install, very inexpensive.

Have fun, be safe out there.

 

[jbcrane]

That said - the creator of the Zeon XD/XP is a relation of mine. He helped me get my winch, and instructed me on how to properly wire and use it. He told me to use a disconnect solenoid. So I have one on my current winch, and will have one for every winch I own.

I see no downside to it... the cost is negligible and it provides additional safety. I had to unmount mine to change out the main battery over the weekend - it took all of 2 minutes ( 2 minutes every 3-4 years... I can live with that). I was a little surprised to see how haphazardly the factory wiring was in that video. Tyler re-routed the cables exactly as I did; but I pulled the passenger fender liner and went up through the wheel well, also wrapping each cable in its own loom. I've heard too many stories of vehicles spontaneously combusting due to some unknown short.

 

[jaymz]

so just installed a winch, but as i was googling, i came across several places selling a power cutoff for winches. Is that something that I need? Why would i need it? And would it be a good idea to wire it to an AUX switch?

You don't need one, but there's plenty of things that aren't needed but is a good idea to have.

Not needed. Waste of money. Those that have/want them say it’s to prevent a fire or someone getting shocked if in an accident but you have better odds of winning the Powerball than either fire or shock occurring if it is installed properly and adding parts is just another potential failure point. Those trying to sell them are using this scare tactic. I could get hit by a meteorite or something else falling from the sky, but I don’t stay in my house and skip going outside because of this. This is why not one winch manufacturer recommends one and also why none have ever come installed from the factory with a cut off switch from any vehicle manufacturer.

To each their own but anyone saying it is needed needs to do stop with the may, might, could, possibly, etc. if it was a must, they would come from the factory with one and the winch manufacturers would tell you to install one. Any crappy install of anything is a safety hazard.

Not at all a waste of money. Is a spare tire a waste of money? Do you need one? I've seen literally 100's of crashed vehicles in my life with the wiring in the front cut to pieces. If you get in a wreck and your winch is hot all the time, you'll be lucky if it doesn't burn to the ground. I don't know who your odds maker is, but your chances of that happening are exponentially greater than winning powerball or getting hit by a rock from outer space.

And FWIW, I've never heard anyone say its a "must". Just that its a really good idea.

 

[Zandcwhite]

a power cut off is a VERY good idea. Anyone who says otherwise has never been trapped in a wreck from a head on collision with the winch power wire cut. If there is no power cut off your winch wire is going to arc and potentially cause a fire. If i hadn't had a cut off I would have quite possibly burned to death in front of my daughter who was un hurt. I was unconscious and my right foot was crushed/trapped in the foot well. They almost amputated it due to the severity of other injuries that needed to get me in the helicopter. Sorry to put a cloud over the forum but I get sick of people spouting off their opinions with no experience. Yes, an $80 Warn cutoff is potentially a life saving device. Look at my profile photo and prove me wrong.

Glad you survived, but not having a fire because you had a power cutoff didn't even imply you would have if you didn't. Hundreds of thousands of winches all installed without cutoffs fir the last hundred years, and I can't find any proof of a single fire. What did your battery and battery test look like after that accident? With that kind of force it usually ends up tearing out of the tray, maybe upside down, maybe wedged in between the radiator and the pulleys getting cut to hell. Not saying YOU shouldn't run one if it makes you feel better but it's certainly not mandatory.

 

[Zandcwhite]

Now we are comparing potatoes and tomatoes. You are correct. Everyone is free to do what they wish with their Jeep but if someone asks a question, I will give them an honest answer. Should we weld our lug nuts on in case they are not torqued to spec? i’m sure somebody has, but the mathematical odds tell most of us not to bother. Same applies for a cutoff on a winch. People keep mentioning that section of the catalogue (not in the winch section) but there is nothing in the warn winch manual or any other winch manufacturers manual that says it is recommended or required to install one for the winch. If you call their customer service, they will tell you that you can, but it is not needed, just like welding on your lug nuts so they don’t fall off. Carry on and good day!

The power cutoff is literally listed with the rear winch accessories. When you're talking a rear hitch mounted winch cradle it makes sense as the wires are just hanging back there not even protected by a winch most of the time. Hey but the internet safety team knows better than the winch manufacturers and the factory oem winch installs too. We'd be safer with full cages, 5 point harnesses, helmets, and a Hans device too... but I'll pass.

 

[Atomic-Mouse]

I love the, “my jeep doesn’t have a cut off switch and has never caught on fire, so nobody else’s Jeep will burn either.” I wish good fortune was contagious, but it isn’t.

https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-...search/fire-statistical-reports/vehicle-fires

I have 500 amp shut off solenoids on all three jeeps. They kill power to my winches and air compressors. I also have one in my Toyota Tacoma where I added 2ga cables for power points in the rear bed to run my diesel fuel transfer tank. It isn’t 100% necessary or unnecessary it’s all about how you feel about precautions. To each their own

 

[Jad4275]

I love the, “my jeep doesn’t have a cut off switch and has never caught on fire, so nobody else’s Jeep will burn either.” I wish good fortune was contagious, but it isn’t.

https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-...search/fire-statistical-reports/vehicle-fires

I have 500 amp shut off solenoids on all three jeeps. They kill power to my winches and air compressors. I also have one in my Toyota Tacoma where I added 2ga cables for power points in the rear bed to run my diesel fuel transfer tank. It isn’t 100% necessary or unnecessary it’s all about how you feel about precautions. To each their own

To each their own is correct put posting general stats that don’t specify what the cause was does nothing to try to prove your point. Electrical wiring is a very, very vague stat and there is no mention of vehicle model, what the “electrical wiring” issue was and it even notes most of them were older vehicles from a decade or more ago.

 

[WannFly]

On my list of things to do, not because of the fire risk ... I drive a 4Xe lol, my arse will probably be up in fire from the big HV battery before a short happens in the winch line

I still have it on my list of things to do is because I want to eliminate paracytic drain.

 

[Atomic-Mouse]

To each their own is correct put posting general stats that don’t specify what the cause was does nothing to try to prove your point. Electrical wiring is a very, very vague stat.

Very vague, what do you think causes an electrical fire?
The discussion is about a shut off solenoid to prevent the risk of fire in case of a short circuit. Did you read the link I provided, it wasn’t a CNN pole it was the National Fire Protection Association and I doubt you read the entire link because it’s long and you jumped the gun on your reply.

 

[Atomic-Mouse]

To each their own is correct put posting general stats that don’t specify what the cause was does nothing to try to prove your point. Electrical wiring is a very, very vague stat and there is no mention of vehicle model, what the “electrical wiring” issue was and it even notes most of them were older vehicles from a decade or more ago.

Nice edit

 

[Jad4275]

Nice edit

You posted a link to some data that has says nothing about a winch, a solenoid, or any other shut off device preventing a fire of any sort. Once again, people make comments without any data to prove their point. Somebody please show me something that says jeeps without a cut off switch for the winch wire create a fire. There isn’t any, and if there is, it’s a negligible amount. Yes everybody knows defective wiring can cause an electrical fire. That’s what the NFPA report says.

Sponsored