Power cutoff for Winch

[TheRaven]

Hey but the internet safety team knows better than the winch manufacturers...

The number one winch manufacturer recommends a power cutoff.

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[jadmt]

The number one winch manufacturer recommends a power cutoff.

Warn does not. they recommend straight to the battery....look at all their install instructions...unless you are saying someone else is hte number one winch manufacturer.
https://literature.warn.com/view/153618375/3/

https://literature.warn.com/view/94453057/

 

[Jad4275]

The number one winch manufacturer recommends a power cutoff.

Incorrect. Not a single install manual shows or recommends one and if you call them they will also say not required.

 

[Zandcwhite]

The number one winch manufacturer recommends a power cutoff.

Just in case you're a visual learner... looks like straight to the battery to me?

 

[GATORB8]

Just in case you're a visual learner... looks like straight to the battery to me?

But good luck:

Realistically, either a cut off or a properly sized fuse/breaker is added safety. If OP wants one, do it. If not, there are a million Jeeps on the road without it.

 

[TheRaven]

Warn does not. they recommend straight to the battery....look at all their install instructions...unless you are saying someone else is hte number one winch manufacturer.
https://literature.warn.com/view/153618375/3/

https://literature.warn.com/view/94453057/

Incorrect. Not a single install manual shows or recommends one and if you call them they will also say not required.

Instructions are not recommendations. If you talk to the guys who design and sell the products, they will tell you it's best to use a cutoff. I agree it would be smart of them to include a reference to one in the install instructions, but Warn has some of the worst install instructions i've ever seen so it should be no surprise that its not in there.

 

[Jad4275]

Instructions are not recommendations. If you talk to the guys who design and sell the products, they will tell you it's best to use a cutoff. I agree it would be smart of them to include a reference to one in the install instructions, but Warn has some of the worst install instructions i've ever seen so it should be no surprise that its not in there.

Call them. I have and they say not required or recommended but feel free to do so if you wish to. If it was recommended, they would put it in the instructions to prevent lawsuits. Clearly they have thought this out and the instructions are how you are supposed to install it.

 

[GATORB8]

Call them. I have and they say not required or recommended but feel free to do so if you wish to. If it was recommended, they would put it in the instructions to prevent lawsuits. Clearly they have thought this out and the instructions are how you are supposed to install it.

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

 

[TheRaven]

Call them. I have and they say not required or recommended but feel free to do so if you wish to. If it was recommended, they would put it in the instructions to prevent lawsuits. Clearly they have thought this out and the instructions are how you are supposed to install it.

As I mentioned before, I already HAVE "called them". They have zero concerns about lawsuits from severed power wires...it's not about that at all. It's a very cheap and simple way to alleviate a small chance of catastrophic damage to your vehicle or self. If you simply say "well I don't feel that the risk is high enough to warrant the extra cost/effort"...I say fair enough, we just disagree on that. That's fine.

 

[Jad4275]

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

And if you read the literature for it it does not say winch anywhere. It was designed for the quick disconnect harness to prevent live wire ends being exposed if nothing is plugged in. However folks are using it inline for their winch of their own free will, not because it is recommended. So keep fishing.

 

[TheRaven]

And if you read the literature for it it does not say winch anywhere. So keep fishing.

So then what you do say they're referring to there? What do you think they're recommending extra protection for?

 

[Jad4275]

So then what you do say they're referring to there? What do you think they're recommending extra protection for?

See above and refer to their documentation.

 

[Zandcwhite]

But good luck:

Realistically, either a cut off or a properly sized fuse/breaker is added safety. If OP wants one, do it. If not, there are a million Jeeps on the road without it.

That's what I always say, if the switch or solenoid makes you feel better, go for it. No it's not necessary. I still don't buy the "properly sized fuse or circuit breaker" as a fuse/breaker large enough for a hard pull at 400A won't trip at full CCA for 10 seconds in most cases, which will either result in the same fire you were trying to avoid or discharge the battery to the point it isn't putting out enough power to actually trip the breaker.

 

[Zandcwhite]

So then what you do say they're referring to there? What do you think they're recommending extra protection for?

It says aftermarket accessories and shows the quick disconnect plug. It's listed on the same page of their catalog as rear mounted winch accessories including the receiver hitch winch cradle. In that application I see the added safety as those cables are hanging at the rear of the vehicle, connected to nothing most of the time. They don't have the winch there to protect them and there's no need for them to be hot in that scenario unless or until you connect a winch. For front bumper mounted winches they don't recommend or show a switch or solenoid in any of their literature period. Just hardwired to the battery.

 

[TheRaven]

It says aftermarket accessories and shows the quick disconnect plug. It's listed on the same page of their catalog as rear mounted winch accessories including the receiver hitch winch cradle. In that application I see the added safety as those cables are hanging at the rear of the vehicle, connected to nothing most of the time. They don't have the winch there to protect them and there's no need for them to be hot in that scenario unless or until you connect a winch. For front bumper mounted winches they don't recommend or show a switch or solenoid in any of their literature period. Just hardwired to the battery.

The quick disconnect is for winches. So they're recommending a cutoff for a winch. This is the same thing that their product and sales guys will tell you if you ask them "do you recommend a power cutoff for my winch?". Again - they don't say YOU NEED IT. They say they recommend it. Anybody with experience in the electrical field, like myself, will also recommend it. You can argue that it's overkill, but I don't agree.

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