Thread: Winch power

Wire it back to the main battery + & - is what I've always been told is best. Though I usually take the -ve back to the battery earth point rather than the actual battery -ve.

Originally Posted by easo

G'day all, I've just replaced my winch with a 12v warn. Now where is the best place for it to draw power, the main or Aux battery?

Cheers Easo

I think you will get mixed results from this post, As far as battery management suppliers go they recommend that you install it on your Aux battery and have a switch that disconnects it from your alternator while winching to prevent alternator spike and possible liability to the supplier of the management system. But in the real world we all know that the amount of current that a winch draws it will not run for long without your alternator ! The other thing is do you run a fridge most times when your 4WDing ? (I know I Do) In most case your fridge will have your Aux battery quite down and even sometimes almost flat and that will effect your winch operation dramatically, even though your management system should have your batteries linked in parallel at this stage most systems would not tranfer enough currant quickly enough to power your winch effectively !
Hence in most cases I recommend Start battery !


Hope that helps !

Cheers

Originally Posted by dm_td5

Wire it back to the main battery + & - is what I've always been told is best. Though I usually take the -ve back to the battery earth point rather than the actual battery -ve.

x2 except I have both cables back to the battery.
The other thing that I would worry about with connecting to an aux battery, is that if the isolator is connected while winching that it may toast it due to the current flow.

Originally Posted by Slunnie

x2 except I have both cables back to the battery.
The other thing that I would worry about with connecting to an aux battery, is that if the isolator is connected while winching that it may toast it due to the current flow.

^^^^^^^^^^^X2^^^^^^^^^

Originally Posted by Slunnie

x2 except I have both cables back to the battery.
The other thing that I would worry about with connecting to an aux battery, is that if the isolator is connected while winching that it may toast it due to the current flow.

me x3

I run both +ve and -ve cables for the winch to the nearest battery (which happens to be the starting battery on my disco). The +ve terminals of both batteries are connected with the same size cable using a large solenoid.

I use a traxide sc40 isolator for when the fridge and camp light are used at camp.

I run the engine while winching.

I have a Piranna DBS180S Dual battery management system...the manufacturers reccomend winching from the main battery....not the auxillery one.

Hi easo, for best practice, connect your winch cables to the cranking battery and keep the cable run between the winch and the cranking battery as short as possible.

If you want to use the Auxiliary battery as well, while winching ( and there are some advantages to doing this ), you must fit a cranking type battery as an Auxiliary battery and not any form of deep cycle.

You are best served by using a marine battery switch to connect the batteries together while winching.

While winching, have your motor on high idle and run the winch for no more than 60 seconds at a time and then allow 90 seconds between winching to allow a decent charge to be put back into the battery(s).

This diagram will give you a rough idea of how to set up.