Winch switched disconnect?

[gwhalin]

Looking for a second opinion here or someone to tell me I am wrong.

I have been considering installing a Warn Power Interrupt kit to wire up to one of my Tremor aux switches and to isolate the winch power from battery when winch is off. Have heard horror stories about fires/etc. Went so far as to buy the kit.

The more I think about it though, this seems unnecessary given I relocated the winch controller to under the hood and it is essentially doing the same thing. Given space under the hood is tight, I am leaning against doing this as seems silly to have a solenoid backed up by a solenoid.

Am I being stupid or misunderstanding things here?

Sponsored

 

[Colo_Ranger]

I'm not sure I understand. The winch controller doesn't control power to the winch. Are you hard wired from the winch to the battery? If so, the power interrupter kit uses a solenoid to disconnect the winch from the battery so the winch is not pulling power ALL THE TIME, instead, only when you re-enable the Warn Power Interrupt Kit. Think about the kit as a breaker in your house. When you don't want power to something, you switch the breaker off. When you want power, turn the breaker back on. This is to protect the battery from drain.

 

[gwhalin]

Isn’t this exactly what the winch control box does?

 

[Colo_Ranger]

Isn’t this exactly what the winch control box does?

No. The winch control box interprets the signal from the remote and tells the winch to go in or out. It doesn't control power to the winch. I know I am not doing a good job explaining it, but that is not what the control box does. Let me try and gather my thoughts and I will try to get a better response.

 

[gwhalin]

No. The winch control box interprets the signal from the remote and tells the winch to go in or out. It doesn't control power to the winch. I know I am not doing a good job explaining it, but that is not what the control box does. Let me try and gather my thoughts and I will try to get a better response.

I think that explains it pretty well. I assumed it also controlled power to the winch itself. See I knew I was wrong! . Guess I need to continue hunting for space to install this switch.

 

[deleriumtremor]

There are simple knob actuated switches that can be bolted between the battery terminal and one of the thick wires to the winch. You have to open the hood and physically turn the knob to actuate the circuit, but eliminates the need/cost for the additional Warn Power. Interrupt box.

Something like this should do it.

https://www.amazon.com/Ampper-Battery-Disconnect-Switch-Isolator/dp/B07JZ8MKL2/ref=sr_1_10?crid=2NP1QH6NNRDZA&keywords=battery+disconnect+switch+12v&qid=1656372323&sprefix=battery+disconnect,aps,173&sr=8-10

 

[gwhalin]

I already have the Warn disconnect. Just have to find some space to install it.

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

There are simple knob actuated switches that can be bolted between the battery terminal and one of the thick wires to the winch. You have to open the hood and physically turn the knob to actuate the circuit, but eliminates the need/cost for the additional Warn Power. Interrupt box.

Something like this should do it.

https://www.amazon.com/Ampper-Battery-Disconnect-Switch-Isolator/dp/B07JZ8MKL2/ref=sr_1_10?crid=2NP1QH6NNRDZA&keywords=battery+disconnect+switch+12v&qid=1656372323&sprefix=battery+disconnect,aps,173&sr=8-10

These are effective, I have the bar style on my negative terminal to disconnect easier than unbolting the battery wires.

For a winch or other powered items I prefer an enclosed battery disconnect switch on the positive wire, so it cuts power to the winch and doesn't have exposed hot connectors which can lead to accidents.

https://www.amazon.ca/Battery-Disco...ocphy=1002451&hvtargid=pla-1097443846712&th=1

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

I already have the Warn disconnect. Just have to find some space to install it.

I've had 3 winches on 4 or 5 vehicles and never had a problem or fires. I don't hate the idea of being able to disconnect power fro the winch, but don't feel it's necessary either. If I did feel it was important, I'd prefer not to add a solenoid as it's just something else that can fail.

If I already bought it, and couldn't return it, I would install the Warn solenoid switch, but if returnable I'd send it back and use a manual disconnect like I linked above. If you are using the winch, you'll have to be out of the truck to hook up, so flipping the switch isn't a major inconvenience.

 

[deleriumtremor]

These are effective, I have the bar style on my negative terminal to disconnect easier than unbolting the battery wires.

For a winch or other powered items I prefer an enclosed battery disconnect switch on the positive wire, so it cuts power to the winch and doesn't have exposed hot connectors which can lead to accidents.

https://www.amazon.ca/Battery-Disco...ocphy=1002451&hvtargid=pla-1097443846712&th=1

I had both my positive and negative wires wired from the winch to the battery, so just used the negative side. Worked fine.

 

[deleriumtremor]

I've had 3 winches on 4 or 5 vehicles and never had a problem or fires. I don't hate the idea of being able to disconnect power fro the winch, but don't feel it's necessary either. If I did feel it was important, I'd prefer not to add a solenoid as it's just something else that can fail.

If I already bought it, and couldn't return it, I would install the Warn solenoid switch, but if returnable I'd send it back and use a manual disconnect like I linked above. If you are using the winch, you'll have to be out of the truck to hook up, so flipping the switch isn't a major inconvenience.

I agree with that assessment. A B+ winch disconnect switch is out there on the belt and suspenders spectrum. When something fails in the winch system, it usually is one of those cheap solenoids and they always fail open or open intermittent. I have never seen one fail closed.

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

I had both my positive and negative wires wired from the winch to the battery, so just used the negative side. Worked fine.

True, but then there is still power to the winch. If the switch is to protect against the risk of fire or draining the battery due to a short or unintentional ground, it's not nearly as effective on the ground wire.

 

[gwhalin]

I have been running the winch for few months with no disconnect. Just keep having people tell me horror stories about vehicle fires in case of a short. I know probably not high likelihood but since already had this warn switch figured worth installing.

 

[gwhalin]

Ok managed to squeeze the switch into the engine bay and have this working. Not gonna lie. Feels good to use another switch on my aux panel.

Thanks for the help and feedback on this.

 

[JetEngr19]

Ok managed to squeeze the switch into the engine bay and have this working. Not gonna lie. Feels good to use another switch on my aux panel.

Thanks for the help and feedback on this.

Where did you end up installing the solenoid?

Sponsored