Earth and positive cables for winch

[Ashes]

I mentioned in another thread that I mounted a winch and ran the earth cable from the winch directly back to the cranking battery.
Tombie, who is much wiser than I for these type of things, suggested it should be run to an earth stud on the car instead due to interference on the ground cabling and other elec systems.
As I couldn't find a thread on this detailing the ins and outs of this wiring, thought I'd post up a new thread on it to make it a bit easier for people to find.

Much of what I read and video instructions say how critical it is to get a good earth connection so recommend the battery. This mightn't be the best place for the Disco 3 and 4 though.

I'm also running the +ve cable back to my main cranking battery. Is there any thoughts on whether it is better to run this from the cranking or second battery?

[Blknight.aus]

In Dumb Electrics Vehicles I prefer to run direct from the battery for both

In Smart Electrics vehicles that are Earth monitored I generally go direct to positive and earth off of the primary engine earth point or as near to it as I can get.

In Smart Electric Vehicles that are Positive monitored I like to tap the main starter motor feed on the starter or if equipped the Slave Start post.


If in doubt?

Observe Electrical Mayhem.

[Tombie]

Ashes

Topix has the winch fitment instruction...

BTW - These vehicles are Earth monitored :cool:

[perkj]

I mounted my earth strap to the same stud where the factory battery earth goes. You'll need to remove the fuse box to get at it.....the suggestion to reference TOPIX is a good one as that is what I used as a guide.

[drivesafe]

In Dumb Electrics Vehicles I prefer to run direct from the battery for both

In Smart Electrics vehicles that are Earth monitored I generally go direct to positive and earth off of the primary engine earth point or as near to it as I can get.

In Smart Electric Vehicles that are Positive monitored I like to tap the main starter motor feed on the starter or if equipped the Slave Start post.


And following on from Dave’s post.

With an L322 Range Rover, neither battery terminal can be used.

The L322 Range Rover’s negative terminal is monitored and the positive terminal has a pyrotechnic device fitted.

[Ashes]

Found the Topix fitting instructions. Now need to to find the Topix instructions on how to read Topix:D

If I interpret the instructions correctly for the bits I need....
- remove main battery (can this be done without taking the battery out?)
- remove fuse box
- look at a heap of cables (I assume the earth stud is in there somewhere).
- cut a nice hole in the plastic battery box to feed the winch cables through (maybe this is why you take the battery out...)
- connect ground cable, put fuse and battery back, reconnect cables etc.
- ready the fire extinguisher
- pray
- turn car on..

looks straight forward..any tricks or traps?

[Ashes]

Tombie,
thanks for pointing out the Topix installatioin doco. :arms: Followed the instructions and now have the winch power cables wired in correctly I hope. Earth cable to large stud behind the fuse box and +ve directly to the main battery.

You definately need to remove the battery otherwise you cannot move the fuse box enough to the side to get access to the large earth stud next to it. Once the battery is out, pretty straight forward after that. The earth cable is just long enough to reach the stud. Plenty of lenght on the power cable.
Drill a couple of holes in the battery box surround to feed the cables through, some corro tubing on the cable and all done:D

[drivesafe]

Hi Ash and just adding to Tombie’s post.

Go over to the auxiliary battery box on the driver’s side and have a look at the earth stud position there.

This is an exact mirror of the stud’s position on the passenger’s side and will give you a good idea of what to look for and where to look.

Here are a couple of pics of the Driver’s side earth stud.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/09/1398.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2012/09/1399.jpg

[Ashes]

Thanks for the pics.

Once you move the main fusebox next to the cranking battery it is pretty obvious which is the main earth stud. It is a 13mm connection and larger than the 3 earth studs that are in front of the main battery enclosure.

Given you need to take the battery out , move the fuse box, drill a hole in the battery box to run the cable...does anyone think it is worth going to this larger stud compared to the more accessible ones in front of the battery box?

I understand the winch can draw in excess of 300amps but would these other earth points be reliable enough?

[drivesafe]

Hi again Ash and the Cranking Battery Earth stud is an 8mm bolt while the two studs just in front of the cranking battery compartment are 6mm bolts.

Just a suggestion but you could fix your winch earth to one of the 6mm bolts and make a link with either a short length of cable and 6mm eye terminals or if you have a piece of 1.6mm x 20mm strip of aluminium ( this is equal to a 32mm2 cable ), you could make a solid link between the two bolts to spread the current load.

This would be a lot quicker and heaps easier than dismantling the cranking battery compartment.

[Ashes]

Yep, that would work as well.
The size I referred to was the head of the bolt, not the actual bolt thickness so I'm sure you are correct.
I've already wired it in and it is working OK so I won't need to change it.
Just asking if there is an easier way for the next AULOR'ian to follow that will work just as effectively.
Your suggestion sounds good and certainly easier than removing the battery and fuse box although it would involve making a small high capacity cable with good terminals. Something for others to considier if they aren't confident taking the battery out.

[goldey]

Resurrecting this old thread, but would running the earth connection from the winch to the drivers side earth stud instead of the earth stud under the main cranking battery? Reason I ask is that the supplied negative cable is not long enough to reach the main battery compartment and would work if I could run it to the earth stud on the drivers side.

Cheers

Goldey

[kelvo]

I doubt that earth stud would be good for the kind of current a winch will draw. Using the main earth stud is basically joining the winch negative straight to the battery negative, no winch current will be going through the stud at all.
just get a suitable length of 70mm2 welding cable and ring crimps to replace the short factory cable.

[DiscoJeffster]

I doubt that earth stud would be good for the kind of current a winch will draw. Using the main earth stud is basically joining the winch negative straight to the battery negative, no winch current will be going through the stud at all.
just get a suitable length of 70mm2 welding cable and ring crimps to replace the short factory cable.

Hmmm. The body of the vehicle is a pretty large volume of metal to transfer current. They put earth studs on the body for that reason. I’d have no concerns personally but I’m sure opinions of others will argue it’s not ok

[Tombie]

I doubt that earth stud would be good for the kind of current a winch will draw. Using the main earth stud is basically joining the winch negative straight to the battery negative, no winch current will be going through the stud at all.
just get a suitable length of 70mm2 welding cable and ring crimps to replace the short factory cable.

Either will work just fine...

More than enough capacity

[loanrangie]

I ran my earth up to one of the studs in front of the main battery passenger side and my aux battery earth to the stud on the inner guard close to the ABS pump, no issue with either.