My m8000 isn't fused. The cables are very short and well protected from collision damage and chafing. I use military type battery terminals and properly crimped eye terminals, and 2/0 wiring for both power and ground side. The ground wire runs directly back to the battery as well.
Power to rear hitch mounted winch?
- Thread starter Durango
- Start date
LandCruiserPhil
Expedition Leader
Good info...back to what the manufacturer recommends. 8mm copper is equal to 1/0
NMC_EXP
Explorer
My impression is that few people use a fuse or circuit breaker for a winch.
Makes me nervous. I'm considering leaving the hot cable disconnected at the battery until the winch is needed.
HenryJ
Expedition Leader
I would venture to say that most are not using a circuit breaker, as was mentioned. I do. for the very reason stated above. A hot cable riding the full length of the frame.
Here is an example on ebay: 250 AMP FUSE CIRCUIT BREAKER 12 VOLT
Search for : "12 volt high amp circuit breaker" and you will find lots of them. Make sure you get one you can manually trip.
This is sort of a long distance picture, but you can see it on the top post of my battery-
I have been using a resettable circuit breaker. I can push a button and kill the power to the cable when I don't need it.
Here is an example on ebay: 250 AMP FUSE CIRCUIT BREAKER 12 VOLT
Search for : "12 volt high amp circuit breaker" and you will find lots of them. Make sure you get one you can manually trip.
This is sort of a long distance picture, but you can see it on the top post of my battery-
eggman918
Adventurer
I have this at the battery on my winch cable http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mor-74102/overview/
robert
Expedition Leader
I would venture to say that most are not using a circuit breaker, as was mentioned. I do. for the very reason stated above. A hot cable riding the full length of the frame.I have been using a resettable circuit breaker. I can push a button and kill the power to the cable when I don't need it.
Here is an example on ebay: 250 AMP FUSE CIRCUIT BREAKER 12 VOLT
Search for : "12 volt high amp circuit breaker" and you will find lots of them. Make sure you get one you can manually trip.
This is sort of a long distance picture, but you can see it on the top post of my battery-
Is a 250amp the right size?
NMC_EXP
Explorer
Thank you kindly.
For a rear winch a solenoid, switch, breaker, or other method for power interrupt is a Good Idea(tm) but for a nose powered winch I don't bother.
Consider that your starter wire has no form of short circuit protection, and it is about the same length as the winch power wire. So as long as the wire cannot be cut or crushed in an accident, and the solenoid box or contactor case connectors are properly covered, you should be okay.
If you are really worried you can always move the contactor/solenoid pack closer to the battery. But that would require longer wires between the box and the winch motor. And there's three of those, so you're adding materials (weight) and cost.
NMC_EXP
Explorer
Good point re: the starter cable. The winch (+) cable seems to be inherently more vulnerable due to be routed behind the bumper and thru the front fascia.
When I bought this vehicle it was set up for a rear receiver hitch mounter winch. The power cable from the battery to the rear bumper was not protected from rubbing on corners & etc. That got me thinking about the front.
NMC_EXP
Explorer
Looks good - thanks.
NMC_EXP
Explorer
That ought to work - Thanks.