Choosing my first winch

[rgrubby]

That would be perfect, but I doubt it's legal here. Don't know yet, for now probably will leave it, two screws is not too hard to undo when needed. Or maybe will move higher or lower.

Not sure why, as I understand it "Plates must be in an upright position to display clearly every letter, figure and distinguishing mark" (from a google). As long as its down while on the road it should be fine. I might ask around about that first.

That was quick. Did it come from AU?

Yes I ordered it Monday, it was sent Tuesday, arrived today, very happy with that from across the ditch

Btw, there was one thing I had to do to the mount. The part number 11 "plate with nut", I had to shorten the wide end of it a bit, otherwise it didn't fit. Spend some time trying to understand whether I was trying to put in in the right place or not. So when it doesn't fit where you think it should go just remember it probably just needs cutting too (which is actually strange since everything else fits perfectly, so let me know if you find a way without cutting).

Thanks for that info, I'll remember that when I get to that point.

[pronvit]

Not sure why, as I understand it "Plates must be in an upright position to display clearly every letter, figure and distinguishing mark" (from a google). As long as its down while on the road it should be fine. I might ask around about that first.

Maybe I remember it wrong or rules from some other country...


By the way, do people install isolator switches or have winch connected all the time? Domin8r comes with a switch (although not sure how good and easy to use it is), but mine doesn't have.

[old Jack]

By the way, do people install isolator switches or have winch connected all the time? Domin8r comes with a switch (although not sure how good and easy to use it is), but mine doesn't have.

There is are several good reasons for having an isolation switch under the bonnet.
It means that your winch is not "live" all the time so if you have an accident then there are not live wires, that are capable of carrying large currents, that could short out and start a fire in the event of the collision. Also many years ago there was a spate of incidents where some low life would unspool you winch cable, pass it over the roof of the vehicle and attach it to the towbar, engage the winch, then short the controller terminals out so the winch wound the cable in resulting in serious damage to the vehicle.

OJ.

[pronvit]

There is are several good reasons for having an isolation switch under the bonnet.

Sure. Safety reasons sound obvious, but for some reason I don't remember hearing people talking about or using a switch in any relevant videos, but maybe I just didn't pay attention. Also if I need to open the bonnet, I can manually connect winch cable to a battery terminal with a wing nut (at least for now). I'm interested what people usually do from a usability point of view.


rgrubby, have you already thought where to place the solenoid box?

[rgrubby]

Sure. Safety reasons sound obvious, but for some reason I don't remember hearing people talking about or using a switch in any relevant videos, but maybe I just didn't pay attention. Also if I need to open the bonnet, I can manually connect winch cable to a battery terminal with a wing nut (at lease for now). I'm interested what people usually do from a usability point of view.


rgrubby, have you already thought where to place the solenoid box?

From what I have seen, people usually have an isolator switch near the battery and turn it on when needed or expect it to be needed.
My mount just arrived so now I need to find time to pull the bumper off and fit it. Not sure on solenoid location, the cables on my winch aren't long either. I will probably just try and fit it somewhere out of the way and extend the controller socket to a more accessible spot.
When I start I'll post some photos on my build thread

[NJV6]

I would not run an isolating switch unless it is an expensive high amp one. Most simply do not carry enough current and are just another weak link in your system.

Either disconnect the main lead to the solinoid box at the battery or As I have done, put a small switch to turn the solinoid box on.

If you do wish to run a main switch make sure it is minimum 400amp continuous rated.

[rgrubby]

As I have done, put a small switch to turn the solinoid box on.

That's a clever idea

[old Jack]

Another alternative to a high amp isolation switch is to mount the solenoids under the bonnet and have a switched remote/hand controller circuit. This requires longer heavy duty cables from the solenoids to the winch motor but theyare only live when the winch is in use.

OJ.

[pronvit]

Yeah, all the switches I've seen here in shops so far are rated 300A continuous.

In our case (a hidden winch mount), solenoids will be inside anyway (and the controller socket placed somewhere accessible from outside using the included extension cable). Since so far I can't find a good place for the solenoids near the winch, maybe mount them right next to the battery? Will this cause any problems, given I'll use proper heavy duty cables between solenoids and winch?

[old Jack]

Yeah, all the switches I've seen here in shops so far are rated 300A continuous.

In our case (a hidden winch mount), solenoids will be inside anyway (and the controller socket placed somewhere accessible from outside using the included extension cable). Since so far I can't find a good place for the solenoids near the winch, maybe mount them right next to the battery? Will this cause any problems, given I'll use proper heavy duty cables between solenoids and winch?

Only potential issue you have is exposed live connections on the solenoid terminals but with appropriate insulating boots this should not be a problem.

OJ.

[Pwoffey]

I have one of these:

https://www.jaycar.com.au/professional-500a-battery-isolation-switch/p/SF2247

which is rated 500A continuous. I presume they might also be available at a Jaycar store in NZ?

[pronvit]

Only potential issue you have is exposed live connections on the solenoid terminals but with appropriate insulating boots this should not be a problem.

They aren't exposed, they're in the solenoids box, so can't be touched, if that's what you mean.

[pronvit]

I have one of these:

https://www.jaycar.com.au/professional-500a-battery-isolation-switch/p/SF2247

which is rated 500A continuous. I presume they might also be available at a Jaycar store in NZ?

Yep, they are, thanks ($80 though, outraging!). Should also be easy to mount using the included bracket.

Btw, what I can't understand - winch power cables are 2 AWG, which is only about 150A. How come?

[nj swb]

Yep, they are, thanks ($80 though, outraging!). Should also be easy to mount using the included bracket.

Btw, what I can't understand - winch power cables are 2 AWG, which is only about 150A. How come?

Damn good question!

Peak vs sustained.

Your isolating switch is a (comparatively) high resistance point, so heat will build up quickly, even under short duration loads. But the switch can probably handle higher temperatures than the cable, and the "point" nature means that any heat will dissipate relatively easily.

Cables are rated (quite conservatively) for continuous use under well defined conditions. Use of 2 AWG cables for a winch relies on many "mitigating" factors, primarily being lower ambient temperature and "intermittent" load.

For average recreational use, where the winch is used for maybe a minute or two then rested for longer, 2 AWG is more than adequate. For more aggressive use, such as Winch Challenge, I suspect something significantly larger than 2 AWG would be used.

Question: what is the current rating of your winch solenoids? Is the rating for continuous use, or intermittent?

[Pajshomoneroguntero]

There are isolators available the problem is to get one at a decent price you’ll need to look overseas.
I’ll have to look up which supplier it was but I sourced a 500A continuous isolator from the States which included a reasonable shipping offer.

I found this post in my build thread: https://www2.pajeroclub.com.au/forum...&postcount=105