Winch... fuse or no fuse?

[nickyg]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170627/6fe617f2d6ea18683588c59ffeed0f69.jpg

I just installed a smittybilt winch. The directions said wire it directly to the battery. The safety nerd in me says there should be a big ass fuse in the line somewhere. What do you guys think?


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[4.3LXJ]

Congrats Nicky. You are going to be a hard core wheeler yet. The answer is that winches are not fused for the same reasons starter motors aren't. Similar motor with similar current draw. You would probably need at least a 400 amp fuse, and you could blow that if the motor begins to stall. So no one fuses the winch motor

[Pinkyman]

My Warn came with a big re-settable breaker that goes between the battery and the winch. Something identical to this. I left it out for a while, but i just installed it the other day.

http://www.dcpwr.com/shop/images/CB50.JPG

[denverd1]

looking good Nicky. how's your bumper mounts? reinforce if you haven't

[cantab27]

nothing for super winch.................use mine a bit you know for yotas.....shit more of a problem is killing ya battery....

[nickyg]

Yea, I used some 3/16 scraps I found and reinforced it a good bit.

[Mudderoy]

I asked the same thing when I got mine and didn't see anything but two massive cable that you connect directly to the battery. If the positive insulation gets cut and it grounds to the body what you have is a nice 850 CCA welder.

Best I could figure out is there's no fuse, or breaker because it's expensive.

[nickyg]

I have been thinking about adding a battery shutoff like this.
Whenever I see someone with a winch I ask them "how's it wired?" 100 % so far have it straight to the battery.
https://www.amazon.com/BEP-701-Battery-Switches-On-Off/dp/B005DUUL9W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498740924&sr=8-1&keywords=battery+shut+off+switch

[nickyg]

. If the positive insulation gets cut and it grounds to the body what you have is a nice 850 CCA welder.

.

Good point.
What if I get into a head on collision with someone that has a winch straight wired too? The combined current could weld our vehicles together, Frying our computers and creating some sort of molten monster.
I've seen horror movies that start like that.

[4.3LXJ]

Good point.
What if I get into a head on collision with someone that has a winch straight wired too? The combined current could weld our vehicles together, Frying our computers and creating some sort of molten monster.
I've seen horror movies that start like that.

The Blob :rolleye0012:

[Mudderoy]

The other side of this is how often do you hear about issues with the leads shorting out. I'm sure if it was a big problem it would be fused.

I don't think it makes it okay to just dismiss the danger simply because it hasn't happened.

[bluedragon436]

Yeah my Smittybilt is straight wired to the battery too... and when I was installing it I was thinking the same thing as far as the fuse.. But then thought about the fact of it is a huge draw and would be a crazy large fuse needed.. and if a large company that has done R&D for many years on this kind of stuff, doesn't feel it is necessary... then what do I know?!! LOL

[cantab27]

mate ya have nothing to worry about ...none of the guys who do the winch comps have anything ..I have put my jeeps in some bad spots / places hit shit , drowned em sweet as ,again battery drain more of a issue if ya using it a lot ...even asked my main shop guy .....

10303

[denverd1]

I have been thinking about adding a battery shutoff like this.
Whenever I see someone with a winch I ask them "how's it wired?" 100 % so far have it straight to the battery.
https://www.amazon.com/BEP-701-Battery-Switches-On-Off/dp/B005DUUL9W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1498740924&sr=8-1&keywords=battery+shut+off+switch

overkill in my mind. usually used for long wire runs or things that sit dormant for a while.

also one more switch to worry about before you start the pull. meanwhile, people have stopped to help, you may be clogging a trail or helping to clear it. plenty of other issues where I'd rather focus - getting safely hooked to the rig/tree you're pulling on; getting those bystanders in a safe place while you pull, etc.

is it waterproof? I wouldn't do it personally. my $.02