WINCH CUT OFF SWITCH/SOLENOIDE

[Zandcwhite]

Then why does Warn describe their disconnect solenoid as "Allows you to connect aftermarket accessories to a battery lead and then disconnect power from a dash mounted switch. Recommended for extra protection."?

Exactly where does Warn recommend not installing a disconnect? They don't. They just recommend but do not require a disconnect because needing it is fairly rare.

There are three major reasons for an external winch power disconnect.

1. Water Fording
   The winch's internals may have waterproofing but the external power connection terminals typically are not. You do not want to submerge live high amp power leads in water. Not that anything catastrophic will happen (water isn't that great of a conductor) but there will be voltage leakage draining the battery and it will cause corrosion on the positive cable terminal. The more mineralized/salty the water is the worse it is (winter road spray). Disconnecting winch power in the engine compartment above the max water fording level significantly reduces this issue.
2. Stuck Internal Solenoid
   Winches have internal solenoids and solenoids can get stuck. While it's more common for solenoids to become stuck in the OFF position, it is possible for them to become stuck in the ON position. This results in being unable to stop the winch from retracting or extending. This can also happen with a problem in the controller. Google it, winches that don't stop does happen and it could be a huge problem during a recovery. An external power disconnect solenoid provides an easily accessed backup Power OFF switch.
3. Compromised Cable Insulation
   Poorly routed cables or a front end collision can compromise the cable insulation and cause a short. Car batteries can push over 1000A when shorted with no load which will melt the cables and cause the battery to vent flammable hydrogen. If you are in a front end collision severe enough to compromise winch power cables you will not be in any condition to react to an electrical fire. The only other OEM circuit that isn't protected by a fuse or disconnect is the starter cable, which is much shorter and much more protected than a front bumper winch cable.

Adding a winch power disconnect near the battery is like wearing a seat belt. You don't want to need it, you never plan on needing it, you rarely if ever actually need it, but when you need it you really need it. Just because many don't have one doesn't mean it's not a good thing to have.

A lot of people also think these aren’t necessary but thousands of single unprepared parents probably wished they had that extra level of protection for just a $1 or $2.

I used the Stinger 500 amp in all three of my Jeeps. They disconnect power to my winches and air compressors.

If that makes me a paranoid bubble wrapped kid I’m fine with that but I am also a member of my local fire department and the first three things we do when arriving on scene, check on vehicle occupants, check for fire, disconnect batteries. Generally performed simultaneously by multiple people. I’ve seen them burn and you never forget that smell.
Is a disconnect solenoid 100% necessary? No, neither are angry grills but people keep putting those on Jeeps, but who the hell am I to judge other people’s decisions.

Selling a power interupter kit for "aftermarket accessories" is a far cry from recommending one fior your winch install? Again, in their catalog it's literally on the page for rear mounted winch accessories, which makes sense as you wouldn't want the live cables hanging there when the winch wasn't installed. Water fording is the last place I'd want an additional potential failure point to prevent my winch from working.

A stuck solenoid could lead to destroying your winch, but odds are if you're winching safely you won't be at the disconnect switch to kill power before it pulls the fairlead through the bumper. Even if you had it on an aux switch odds are you'd be too late.

Any impact severe enough to fold my steel bumper through the plastic grill hard enough to smash the winch leads into the metal is likely hard enough to smash the battery out of the tray. It's an illusion of extra safety.

As far as the condom comparison, it's like wearing one 24/7 on the off chance you might have set.

You'd still need to disconnect the battery when arriving on scene, which would also disconnect the winch even without a disconnect.

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[C.Sco]

A lot of people also think these aren’t necessary but thousands of single unprepared parents probably wished they had that extra level of protection for just a $1 or $2.

I used the Stinger 500 amp in all three of my Jeeps. They disconnect power to my winches and air compressors.

If that makes me a paranoid bubble wrapped kid I’m fine with that but I am also a member of my local fire department and the first three things we do when arriving on scene, check on vehicle occupants, check for fire, disconnect batteries. Generally performed simultaneously by multiple people. I’ve seen them burn and you never forget that smell.
Is a disconnect solenoid 100% necessary? No, neither are angry grills but people keep putting those on Jeeps, but who the hell am I to judge other people’s decisions.

Man, that's a clean install, great job. Looks factory.

I did basically the same thing, although I was a little less patient with my install. (Ignore the circuit breaker on the right, that's for my air compressor and unrelated to the winch)

My reasoning for having a cutoff at all is that my 12V+ cable to my winch is routed through the gap between my steel front bumper and the body/grill. If I get in a front end collision over probably 10mph or so, that cable will definitely get pinched and short out and start a fire, guaranteed 100% chance of fire with the way I had to route my winch wires.

 

[Terrymo]

I’m not one of the cool kids. I have the Warn Power Interrupt Kit For my winch

 

[Zandcwhite]

Man, that's a clean install, great job. Looks factory.

I did basically the same thing, although I was a little less patient with my install. (Ignore the circuit breaker on the right, that's for my air compressor and unrelated to the winch)

My reasoning for having a cutoff at all is that my 12V+ cable to my winch is routed through the gap between my steel front bumper and the body/grill. If I get in a front end collision over probably 10mph or so, that cable will definitely get pinched and short out and start a fire, guaranteed 100% chance of fire with the way I had to route my winch wires.

I've welded with 2 batteries in series many a time on the trail (double the power output and a dead short) with 0 fires. I'd hardly call the potential for a short a 100% chance of fire but there is a slight potential. A bolted fault on a single 12v battery will just destroy the battery most of the time.

 

[C.Sco]

I've welded with 2 batteries in series many a time on the trail (double the power output and a dead short) with 0 fires. I'd hardly call the potential for a short a 100% chance of fire but there is a slight potential. A bolted fault on a single 12v battery will just destroy the battery most of the time.

It's not the battery I'm worried about, I'm more worried about the red hot shorted wire between the battery and the pinch. When you do trail welds you don't usually leave the dead short unattended and draped throughout your engine bay for minutes at a time

 

[Zandcwhite]

It's not the battery I'm worried about, I'm more worried about the red hot shorted wire between the battery and the pinch. When you do trail welds you don't usually leave the short circuit unattended for minutes at a time

A battery won't hold a dead fault for minutes at a time either.

 

[Atomic-Mouse]

Hello everyone, which solenoid cut off switch does one need? any specific amp?

thanks

AC

TO THE OP
If you want to spend your money on a solenoid like many of us have, here is what I used

https://www.amazon.com/Stinger-SGP35-500-AMP-Relay-Isolator/dp/B004WDPZEW/ref=sr_1_3?crid=268Q82MPUMZN7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.MW7PQH926X9TswUXU_O71cLOLSLb3LYKUeaaaxe-GWip9oGSU9RbO_8ldPP-miDLvA0UXPPK5__WdHpa2bfbPtH37UYC1rSYfhXDiQ7A1dCi_KuD6dAocX78OVZAt_bVsZDhQTOifWTCntsfHjzgq6DyBhwdCsjFu9F_wRDwp-lFCHPuKZ81MzHC8uYdY8H2dapZXDBs5UZFXKBvbQdATKneiOnF_7YTGt7NvwaLz1k.JDzVpewKbQhWLDEsRsyGhuPR5uy-6hOFQpr0xlnO4g8&dib_tag=se&keywords=stinger+q2+500+amp+solenoid&qid=1716339893&sprefix=Stinger+q2+500+amp+sol,aps,145&sr=8-3

others use this, the warn kit does come with a universal kit with the jumper cable needed to go between the battery and solenoid. The stinger is just the solenoid so you need to make or buy a jumper cable.

https://www.amazon.com/WARN-62132-Power-Interrupt-Kit/dp/B000CQFVN8/ref=sr_1_2?crid=R2P3XNCD9XC9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.yGGr2cTNYsBzncnemReU0mLLP0nGVG91VmX81B8Lo8-ufLISJ4WlZHe5nvxhrk4x3YRQmSH0j66WX7jqEzeKaTg-qxN9ngDtWMG1ihf0XUI38lVjVxrJEvJpwfuwb5U6PMwlwAuFd9vacxOHMbK5R1G2_mVn_YpBINno7ZKYzA_Mlf5OARX8v311nr6KfgyWU59o7yu_P7DS2fcJ9fH1LGPr1d5BzNKcjcqsvDd3-wk.7OLDis7Rhru-T602ddg5WzboVKIP11oC-pP7s679Cxk&dib_tag=se&keywords=Warn+disconnect&qid=1716340119&sprefix=warn+disconnect+,aps,206&sr=8-2

Both do the same job equally,
it’s your Jeep do what you think is best for you

 

[AC77]

Yes, thank you , appreciate your

TO THE OP
If you want to spend your money on a solenoid like many of us have, here is what I used

https://www.amazon.com/Stinger-SGP35-500-AMP-Relay-Isolator/dp/B004WDPZEW/ref=sr_1_3?crid=268Q82MPUMZN7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.MW7PQH926X9TswUXU_O71cLOLSLb3LYKUeaaaxe-GWip9oGSU9RbO_8ldPP-miDLvA0UXPPK5__WdHpa2bfbPtH37UYC1rSYfhXDiQ7A1dCi_KuD6dAocX78OVZAt_bVsZDhQTOifWTCntsfHjzgq6DyBhwdCsjFu9F_wRDwp-lFCHPuKZ81MzHC8uYdY8H2dapZXDBs5UZFXKBvbQdATKneiOnF_7YTGt7NvwaLz1k.JDzVpewKbQhWLDEsRsyGhuPR5uy-6hOFQpr0xlnO4g8&dib_tag=se&keywords=stinger+q2+500+amp+solenoid&qid=1716339893&sprefix=Stinger+q2+500+amp+sol,aps,145&sr=8-3

others use this, the warn kit does come with a universal kit with the jumper cable needed to go between the battery and solenoid. The stinger is just the solenoid so you need to make or buy a jumper cable.

https://www.amazon.com/WARN-62132-Power-Interrupt-Kit/dp/B000CQFVN8/ref=sr_1_2?crid=R2P3XNCD9XC9&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.yGGr2cTNYsBzncnemReU0mLLP0nGVG91VmX81B8Lo8-ufLISJ4WlZHe5nvxhrk4x3YRQmSH0j66WX7jqEzeKaTg-qxN9ngDtWMG1ihf0XUI38lVjVxrJEvJpwfuwb5U6PMwlwAuFd9vacxOHMbK5R1G2_mVn_YpBINno7ZKYzA_Mlf5OARX8v311nr6KfgyWU59o7yu_P7DS2fcJ9fH1LGPr1d5BzNKcjcqsvDd3-wk.7OLDis7Rhru-T602ddg5WzboVKIP11oC-pP7s679Cxk&dib_tag=se&keywords=Warn+disconnect&qid=1716340119&sprefix=warn+disconnect+,aps,206&sr=8-2

Both do the same job equally,
it’s your Jeep do what you think is best for you
[/QUOTE

Thank you Sir

 

[GoatHerder]

I opted for the warn solenoid kit, going to use one of my 20 amp auxiliary switches as power for solenoid, been working on this project this afternoon, so far this is what I have found on the left over in life’s to make it work. 1: rusty door hinge, I wire wheeled paint off, fixed welded the hinge on the other side, found a spot on the Jeep beside battery that hinge holes line up, plus solenoid matches holes on other side Of door hinge. 2: some chrome bolts leftover from a grizzly 700 floorboard refit. 3: might go buy matching paint tomorrow, might not.

 

[GoatHerder]

If a person gets their hand in the winch and starts yelling, being able to turn it off another way might reduce damage. My cousin popped half a finger off. I see people on YouTube frequently running their hands inches from the cable entrance. Once you start winching in your hand, don’t drop the switch controller. Kinda the tit in the ringer story, almost every person that actually did that, hits the reverse and runs the tit back out of the compressed washer machine ringer instead of hitting the ringer release. When things are going wrong, we don’t always make the best choice.


Is ringer spelled wringer, or ringer, to ring one’s clothes out, or is it to wring one’s clothes out……hmmmmm, if none of this makes any sense, see link. Years ago…..


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