Winch power isolator or not

**Old Farang** · 12th July 2012, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by manchild21000

I just ran the thin earth cable to a switch in the cab ,works for me .
George

To each his own by all means, but a couple of points to consider: Isolating the earth, of I guess you mean the control contactors, will not stop somebody with ill intent from running the winch.
It is also possible for a control contactor to "weld" closed, or to develop a fault in the hand controller, or its lead, that will prevent you from stopping the winch.
The only "sure" way of making it safe is to have a readily available isolator in the main power lead that cannot be accessed from outside the vehicle. It should be able to be switched from inside the cab and the only way to do that is with a purpose designed and rated soleniod.
Just my 10 cents worth.

**p38arover** · 13th July 2012, 08:43 AM

On my RRC, John E Davis Motorworks had fitted the winch for the previous owner. They made up a support bracket that put the solenoid pack under the bonnet behind the battery, out of the mud and out of reach of anyone not entitled to access it. One had to open the bonnet to plug in the controller.

I think I still have it in the garage (I still have the winch and solenoid pack ready for install in the P38A — one day). If I have it, I'll take a pic.

**Old Farang** · 13th July 2012, 03:56 PM

Originally Posted by p38arover

On my RRC, John E Davis Motorworks had fitted the winch for the previous owner. They made up a support bracket that put the solenoid pack under the bonnet behind the battery, out of the mud and out of reach of anyone not entitled to access it. One had to open the bonnet to plug in the controller.

I think I still have it in the garage (I still have the winch and solenoid pack ready for install in the P38A — one day). If I have it, I'll take a pic.

I wanted to do that with mine, but the Warn dealer refused to do it on the grounds that it gets way to hot in the engine bay. He said that they had encountered several failures of the plastic bodied control contactors when mounted under the bonnet. It may work with the solid state controllers, but I tend to agree that he was correct.

**p38arover** · 13th July 2012, 08:58 PM

I'd have to take the cover off to see if the solenoids are plastic on mine. I think they are metal.

The solenoid block was there for at least 16 years and did a fair bit of winching.

**Tombie** · 14th July 2012, 01:04 PM

Under bonnet isolators are a waste of time except for the security purpose.

If you get a runaway winch situation, by the time you get the bonnet release, run back round ***inline*** with the "out of control" winch and pop the bonnet... then get to the isolator... Well, its well and truly done damage!

Better to just disconnect the battery end when not needed... (And cheaper)
And no voltage drop etc...

The other way.... Is also bloody easy....

Padlock the eye of your winch cable to the eyelet on your recovery point....

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