Thread: Solenoid/winch controller location

Originally Posted by Ashes

I'm getting more serious in my final search for a winch. Down to 2 at the moment which are either the Tigerz11 Grande 12000lb or the Avenger Mako TDS 9.5. Looking to put it in an opposite lock deluxe winch bar that is already on the car. Leaning towards the Tigerz based on cost, limited use and reasonable write ups.

I'd like to mount the controller if possible under the bonnet (probably in the space in front of the cranking battery. Anyone done this with either of these winches or their winch in general? Any disadvantages in doing this?

Some say heat from the engine bay is not a good factor ? Me i dont see a problem as they are normaly mounted in a plastic box that does not have much ventalation any way , Of all the winch,s you mention my pick of the crop is the Avenger

Go the Avenger...

The other benefit of the avenger, if you want in cab controls you can get an air operated freespool for them too.

Originally Posted by Ashes

I'm getting more serious in my final search for a winch. Down to 2 at the moment which are either the Tigerz11 Grande 12000lb or the Avenger Mako TDS 9.5. Looking to put it in an opposite lock deluxe winch bar that is already on the car. Leaning towards the Tigerz based on cost, limited use and reasonable write ups.

I'd like to mount the controller if possible under the bonnet (probably in the space in front of the cranking battery. Anyone done this with either of these winches or their winch in general? Any disadvantages in doing this?

My solenoids are just in front of the cranking battery. The tigerz control box is very well sealed and I left mine on the bar after my old winch control box which was not at all well sealed went underwater with several dunking and kept working. The Tigerz wireless controller receiver is plugged into the control box which could be a issue if you mounted it inside and also might affect the wireless reception and range of the wireless remote. This is just a thought as it probably is not an issue. I almost always seem to use the wireless controller on my former winch. It works in the car or when I am 100 metres away with the extension straps.



If you get the Tigerz you might like to note it is very tight getting the wire from the bar to the battery. The inline circut breaker on the Tigerzs is a very good design and a great idea but you might have trouble unless you dismantle the control box and feed the wire with this on it back from the inside out. ( I should have )

If you want the control box inside to avoid any one mucking around with your winch via the control box, the inline circut breaker I mentioned on the Tigerzs is as good as a battery isolator in my opionion. A very smart design at a very good price. The wired and wireless controler, price and warranty made my mind up. Mine has not got a lot of use to report to date.

thanks Weakest.
With mounting the controller near the battery is it as simple as swapping the +ve and -ve power leads around on the controller to cater for the box being near the battery rather than the winch?
Was there enough control cable to run from the controller to the winch or did this need to be lengthened?
Where was the cable run really tight?

Originally Posted by Ashes

thanks Weakest.
With mounting the controller near the battery is it as simple as swapping the +ve and -ve power leads around on the controller to cater for the box being near the battery rather than the winch?
Was there enough control cable to run from the controller to the winch or did this need to be lengthened?
Where was the cable run really tight?

My prior winch was mounted for me. I put the tigrez on myself using the old one as a guide. The I am fairly sure the control box does not have enough wire to the winch side to allow wiring to reach if it was mounted near the battery. You could but would need to switch two cables over and get a one longer one to do this. The loom is set up for the control box on the bar there is 1 (I think the +ve ) into the control box from the battery and three cables from the box to the winch and one from the battery to the winch(-ve power I think).

Feeding a cable though the grill into the engine bay at about level to the bottom and RHS ( from Front) of the radiator takes a bit of fiddling. I used a 2 metre bit of thin rope (parra cord) taped onto and inserted on a bit of sparkies plastic thing designed for wires in walls I picked up a long time ago. I then pulled the cables through from the outside in one at a time. I broke the inline switch not the cables trying to get it in.. I am sure you could do it from the inside out but I did not want to crack open the control box which I should have at the time. I will get a photo on for you this evening.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/recovery/1...lator-not.html

Just had a look at mine. I am fairly sure you could use the supplied Tigerz loom to put the control box in front of the cranking battery with out any other cables. Attached two photos give a idea where you might need to put your cable in.

Hi Ashes,

In my previous vehicle I did exactly what you are suggesting with a Tigerz winch. I took all the components from inside of the box out and got myself new lengths of battery cables long enough to wire from inside the engine bay back to the winch motor. That sort of thickness of cable isn't cheap though.

It always worked fine, no heat issues and the wireless remote was my preferred controller. I had the plug for the hand held up in the bay too, just in case, but never used it.

As others have said the positive feed inline isolator is just such a great but simple idea to keep the unit out of mischievous harms way.