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[chrisjones]

Where do you put them??

In the HT circuit between the battery and solenoids, solenoids and winch or in the remote circuit???

Which is best?

Does it matter??? :?

Also, is there any reason why you shouldn't put the solenoid pack inside the truck.  Does the lead length from the solenoids to the winch make any difference?

[Anonymous]

No reason solanoid can't sit in the truck or engine bay..stick the isolation switch on the live wire twixt solenoid and battery

[chrisjones]

 

Next question then.............

Most battery isolation switches are 100A or 250A  There's a big price difference between them, so if I can use a 100A one I will.

Would it be up to the job?

[Anonymous]

Look Here http://http://members.lycos.nl/Bowy/winches.htm
It shows the current draw of a lot of the winches.

If you are using your winch heavily(Near to the limit), then the 250A will do as they usually allow ~2x safety margin. If you really want to go into it, they'll run higher current than that, but the "Duty Cycle percentage" drops rapidly! most 250A switches are 250a Continuious duty.

you want it before the solenoids as one of the main reasons for the switch is to isolate the solenoids if they jam in the ON position (And try to spool in too far! or out too far and reverse the wire) Holding the remote in the oposite direction will just burn your motor out.

I'm looking at an Albright solenoid on the main curcuit at the moment as this would allow me to remotely disconnect the winch from inside the beast (via low current switch circuit). If I can get hold of a cheap solenoid anywhere I'll give this a try. Then I can wire the "ARM" switch inside to the solenoid and have a Key switch on the outside as well.

So if anyone has half a solenoid pack (from where one side has failed and they replaced with an albright maybe) I'll give it a try and write it up.

EE

[Warthog]

Have used these, they have a good build qaulity and has'nt given up the ghost yet...Good price aswell

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HEAVY-DUTY-BATTER ... dZViewItem

[Asylum]

[Bubba]

why remote the main power why not the wires to the control plug

[Asylum]

I have controls with a master on/off for winch controls as well as inch etc with LED light for visual conformation built into the centre console but the reason why I put a cut off switch on the main power and easily accessable was because Frog done a lot of research on winches and he advised me that it is possible for the solenoid to stick on. (Not saying its likely but possible) In that situation you never know what predicament you could be in but if for example somebody got between your truck and your winch point and your controls did not respond, you could kill the power by throwing the switch.

I thought it was a good idea by Frog. Safty first. These winches have emence power. Just imagine if your mate is feeding the winch cable into your winch and it gets hooked on his watch or something. Then your winch controls dont respond as your solenoid sticks. Without the cut off the winch would shred his hand, maybe worse. Sorry very dramatic I know!

 

[Anonymous]

Persackily.......

And by remoteing it to a solenoid, you don't have to run the huge wires into the cab (Risking chaffing of the wires through holes etc) Bearing in mind that the Winch circuit is unfused (another thing I am looking at) then there could be a lot of melting if you chaff the live wire and it shorts. I've run my winch cable up to the struts uncer the bonnet, to the firwall, along the back to the other strut and then across to the battery, no where near moving parts. cable tied down to prevent much movement and if I disconnect it from the battery, the wires spring up rather than across (still have to be very careful) If I get the extra solenoid, I'll build a bracket for the firewall and mount it out from there somewhere.

EE

[Anonymous]

My plan as well....

[Dodster]

I am going to stick the 35mm cables through to the cab and move the cut off switch inside. I got some longer cable from David Bowyer who are very helpful by the way...

Another reason to isolate the main power is to stop anyone (if they have the knowhow) from slinging the winch cable over your truck hookin it on to your rear bumper, shortin the control circuit and folding your jeep in half..

[Anonymous]

EE, I dont think the solenoid / remote switch idea is safe enough, I've had solenoids go faulty in the 'on' position - the only really safe way is a physical break in the cable ... my 2p worth

[Anonymous]

Matt, We're talking about 2 solenoind going faulty at the same time!

Not only has the main power Solenoid got to go, but the Direction Solenoid would have to fail....

bear in mind these are designed to fail safe (Off), so the actual chance of them both failing, and both failing in the On position is pretty slim, probably less than the Manual switch getting dirty and failing to disconnect properly.

IMHO the chance of chaffing the cable is more of a concern than both Solenoids failing. And, with the isolation solenoid having no load on Make or Brake ever (Hopefully) there should be no Arc'ing damage to the contacts to cause failure. it will be open or closed before the current is passed through it.

Just my view... not saying it will suit everyone.

EE

[greggmo]

any item you can add to a winch to make it safer is the way to go. if you fit a cut off switch so it kills the power at the battery connection and the winch has no power at all it might just save your or someone else's hands or whatever else that gets in the way. it is not only a solenoid failure that can cause a problem. there is also the dumb ass factor to consider. Ive seen stoopid people use winches and it is scary the lack of danger awareness that some folk have. fit a kill switch for what it costs. it might save yer life.