How to wire a winch?

[MickeyMiller]

I am adding a rear mounted 12K winch and need to know the correct way to electrically power the winch. I will use a circuit breaker at the battery. Which battery ('03 Ram) should I connect to? 1/0 gage welding cable large enough or run 2? Recommendations?



TIA

 

[AH64ID]

I have my front wired, and will be wiring my rear soon. .

I would run it thru a HD/CD solenoid, so it can be turned off in the cab with a switch.

My front is wired to the pass battery on the same post as the crossover cable, so it will effectively draw from both batteries.

I plan to use 2/0 for my 9K winch. I will run a 2/0 ground from each battery to the frame and then run the 2/0 positive to the rear, and pick the ground back up off the frame.

If I had a 12K winch I would look at 3/0 or 4/0, unless you only plan to use it in emergencies. The 12K will draw up to 530 amps.

 

[MickeyMiller]

Apache and Andres,



Thanks for your input! Extra ground to the frame, use of a relay, and following the manufacturer's directions (you mean I have to read the instructions?) are solid recommendations. Right now I'm looking at a 12K Pierce. Plan to dissassemble, coat extensively with anti-corrosive and have a winch for occasional use. Still mulling over spending the extra dollars for a Warn though...



Anyone out there with experience with Pierce winches?

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I had a Pierce about 20 years ago; don't know if still made here. The worm drive doesn't require a brake but is a bit more power hungry and some are slower, heavier than the Warn which is sort of the gold standard. For constant use the worm drive probably will last very well, but it is more bulky and you will have to make up your own mount to do it securely. Companies like Reunel make their bumpers already set up for Warn. See TDR Issues 47, 51 for articles on winches.

 

[fade94]

i have boyh front and rear winches running on seperate batteries with an isolator. this way, the truck batteries are unaffected.

 

[RDThompson]

i have boyh front and rear winches running on seperate batteries with an isolator. this way, the truck batteries are unaffected.

I've done the same . I used a large isolator/rectifier diode mounted to the aux. batteries (2 Grp31 with marine terminals) and a #10 wire wrapped in split loom up to the foreward batteries. I use the aux batteries to run the dispensor pump on my 100 gal. tank and I have an Anderson plug under the rear bumper so I can use my cables fore and aft. I mounted the batteries in marine boxes on the aux diesel tank.