Battery Disconnect for Winch?

[Tynewlon]

Am I in the minority here? My winch is directly connected to the battery and I have zero worries about it.

That’s how the manufacturer says to do it! I just read a few what-if type situations that made me a little worried about.

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[Tynewlon]

No doubt relays and switches are convenient. If you're on the trail a lot those are great solutions. But for a few times a year, it literally takes less than a minute to connect and disconnect the terminal from the battery. You can do it at the start of the trail or before you leave the house. Just an idea....and it's free.

Fair point!

 

[Mikester86]

That’s how the manufacturer says to do it! I just read a few what-if type situations that made me a little worried about.

Many “what ifs” aren’t worth worrying about.

 

[OllieChristopher]

Am I in the minority here? My winch is directly connected to the battery and I have zero worries about it.

Until something goes wrong. It is a precaution and safety measure to run fuses and disconnects.

 

[Mikester86]

Until something goes wrong. It is a precaution and safety measure to run fuses and disconnects.

I’ll stay with the direct connection to the battery and continue to be worry free about it. If people want to add fuses and disconnects, more power to them.

 

[OllieChristopher]

I’ll stay with the direct connection to the battery and continue to be worry free about it. If people want to add fuses and disconnects, more power to them.

That's cool we all have our own risk assessment. As long as you keep in mind of the fire danger. It's no different than not carrying a fire extinguisher. What I find puzzling is why you would spend over $1000.00 on a winch yet not spend another 50 bucks on a disconnect?

 

[Mikester86]

That's cool we all have our own risk assessment. As long as you keep in mind of the fire danger. It's no different than not carrying a fire extinguisher. What I find puzzling is why you would spend over $1000.00 on a winch yet not spend another 50 bucks on a disconnect?

Because winches have been wired direct to the battery forever and a day and I don’t see Jeep forums full of winch fires. I don’t see the big deal with a properly installed winch directly to the battery. I’ll worry about other things, this isn’t even on the list.

 

[OllieChristopher]

Because winches have been wired direct to the battery forever and a day and I don’t see Jeep forums full of winch fires. I don’t see the big deal with a properly installed winch directly to the battery. I’ll worry about other things, this isn’t even on the list.

That's fair enough. I would not use the internet or forums as an indicator of fires or failures due to safety related issues not being followed. Most would be too embarrassed to post something due to their negligence.

I've had the opposite experience with winches. Every single battery powered unit I have experience with has a battery disconnect. Every piece of off road equipment, trucks, trailers etc.

I figure you at least have the battery wire from winch fused so all is good. If not then I would at least recommend that. No worries though. It is your vehicle and you can do as you wish.

BTW, a properly installed winch or any electrical device hooked up to a vehicle will always be fused and/or switched.

 

[TX_Ovrlnd]

BTW, a properly installed winch or any electrical device hooked up to a vehicle will always be fused and/or switched.

I will always in-line fuse and cut-off switch most of my electronics.

If it were proper the manufacturers would provide that safety in their wiring harnesses, most do not nor do they all offer an accessory kit of such safety items.

Let’s not try to push our opinions as fact here.

 

[Devil6Dog]

Am I in the minority here? My winch is directly connected to the battery and I have zero worries about it.

I think people over think this stuff. This is where the internet is BAD for you lol

 

[OllieChristopher]

If it were proper the manufacturers would provide that safety in their wiring harnesses, most do not nor do they all offer an accessory kit of such safety items.

Let’s not try to push our opinions as fact here.

This is not the best example but is available as a cheap option. A safer option would to mount a directly wired single battery disconnect outside of the vehicle on the drivers side out of the way with easy access. The solenoid style switches are prone to failure.

https://www.warn.com/power-interrupt-kit-62132

 

[smokeythecat]

If people want to add fuses and disconnects, more power to them.

I see what you did there.

 

[smokeythecat]

Am I in the minority here? My winch is directly connected to the battery and I have zero worries about it.

I can think of two reasons to have a battery disconnect.

One is safety if you ever bang up your front end and the positive cable gets nicked or severed and shorts out.

Two is that with some winches they can be controlled by sticking a pair of needle nose pliers in the appropriate pin jacks of the remote plug in, which leaves you vulnerable to some pretty malicious damage.

 

[TX_Ovrlnd]

This is not the best example but is available as a cheap option. A safer option would to mount a directly wired single battery disconnect outside of the vehicle on the drivers side out of the way with easy access. The solenoid style switches are prone to failure.

https://www.warn.com/power-interrupt-kit-62132

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/blue...ttery-switches--P009_272_004_506?recordNum=16
This is a better option, maybe after a 400 or 500A in-line welding fuse. I wish Warn posted the ratings for that solenoid but I know most buying it don't really care, whatever worthless youtuber told them to buy it and that's all they need.

 

[OllieChristopher]

I can think of two reasons to have a battery disconnect.

One is safety if you ever bang up your front end and the positive cable gets nicked or severed and shorts out.

Two is that with some winches they can be controlled by sticking a pair of needle nose pliers in the appropriate pin jacks of the remote plug in, which leaves you vulnerable to some pretty malicious damage.

Three, overloading the power cable by exceeding duty cycle or amps. Most winch manufacturers size the cable small. For a typical 12K winch at 450 amp pull you are looking at a minimum of 2awg - 1awg depending on length to battery.

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