Winch Kill Switch

[SSDDBRONCO]

Wats up my Bronco brothers. Finally got myself a Warn M8000. My friend was telling me to get a kill switch for the winch just to be on the safe side, so i decided to do some info on it. Seems like the winch is always on even when the car is off . So my question is how many of you guys are running a kill switch for your winch? I read that i need at least a 450 amp continuous kill switch to not fry the switch. Is that right? Brands and diagrams would be much appreciated. Also I'm open to other ideas as well.
Thanks
Kev

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[76MaBronco]

I know that I needed one when I was winching the Explorer carcass down my driveway...it started to roll towards me and up on top of the winch...some smoke was let out of the wires. If I had a breaker in line, it would have popped and saved the wiring...Look for 12V resetable circuit breakers. Take a look at the max draw fro the winch. 450 amps seems really high.

Here's one type I'm planning on adding this winter.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/300-amp-12-Volt-CAR-HIGH-CURRENT-Circuit-Breaker-82-300-/110828046813?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19cdddc9dd

 

[xcntrk]

You just need a HD battery disconnect switch. According to Warn the M8000 can pull upwards of 435amps at maximum load (8000 lbs). A battery disconnect switch such as the below is rated at 2500amps (5s surge) and 250amps continuous. You can get the same switch in 500amp continuous (5000amp surge) as well.

http://www.waytekwire.com/item/44080/HEAVY-DUTY-BATTERY-MASTER/

 

[Viperwolf1]

I use one of these on the winch cable. http://www.waytekwire.com/item/44099/BATTERY-TERMINAL-DISCONNECTOR/

Leave it disconnected until needed.

 

[SSDDBRONCO]

Thanks for the help. Viperwolf how exactly did you hook it up? My battery doesn't have extra room like that for an extra terminal know what i mean? A pic would help a lot.
Thanks

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[Viperwolf1]

My battery has dual terminals. One set is used as usual for the engine and in cab stuff. The other is used just for the winch power.

 

[SSDDBRONCO]

My battery has dual terminals. One set is used as usual for the engine and in cab stuff. The other is used just for the winch power.

Oh ok well mine doesn't damn. Looks like i need a switch.

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[motoman]

What a great thread. I never really thought of that scenario. I changed out the stock wire (6-8awg?) to 00. If I had a solenoid failure and the winch kept winching it would cause a major issues. I would not trust reset-able circuit breakers. Those get weaker over time and blow more easy (personal experience, your mileage may differ).

I found this switch while google'n it

Blue Sea 3002 HD-Series Battery Switch
Cranking Rating: 10 sec. 2,750 Amps
Cranking Rating: 1 min. 1,150 Amps
Intermittent Rating: 5 min. 700 Amps
Continuous Amperage 500 Amps

Question: Where do you locate such a switch? If you are doing a pull and the power sticks on can you get under the hood fast enough to prevent problems? I hate adding long wires (higher amp draws) to locate in cab or something.

 

[motoman]

P.S. Check out

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=850525&page=9

Post 205.......

 

[xcntrk]

^Oh crap! Yes to kill switches when not in use...

 

[SSDDBRONCO]

P.S. Check out

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=850525&page=9

Post 205.......

Holy shit that sucks!! That switch that you put up is pretty nice, gonna have to check out how much it is. There is a video on YouTube the guy is using his back winch and the in on the winch got stuck and they couldn't do nothing so the winch pretty much exploded. I will link it in a little.

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[76MaBronco]

P.S. Check out

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=850525&page=9

Post 205.......

Holy crap!!!

 

[jw0747]

kill switch? why? my Warn 8000i is 12 years old and has never needed to be disconnected and has never failed and it doesn't drain the battery. when the controller is unplugged the winch's electric motor is static drawing no current. my winch cables to the battery are connected to these type terminals so I guess they could be disconnected quickly but why? kill switch = overkill
my $.02

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/ac...attery-terminal/_/N-255s?itemIdentifier=95967

 

[SSDDBRONCO]

kill switch? why? my Warn 8000i is 12 years old and has never needed to be disconnected and has never failed and it doesn't drain the battery. when the controller is unplugged the winch's electric motor is static drawing no current. my winch cables to the battery are connected to these type terminals so I guess they could be disconnected quickly but why? kill switch = overkill
my $.02

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/ac...attery-terminal/_/N-255s?itemIdentifier=95967

It's more of a safety feature.

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[SSDDBRONCO]

Here is that video i was talking about. Look at the pieces shattering.
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=VSS-CmVTIGU&desktop_uri=/watch?v=VSS-CmVTIGU&gl=US

 

[SSDDBRONCO]

Bump for more options.

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[custom-cruiser]

You could just mount this thru your front bumper somewhere.

Leave off until needed but have handy to shut off in case of emergency.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/garage-pro-universal-battery-switch/p3085639.jcwx

 

[rcmbronc]

I know my Mile Marker has a cut-off switch on it.

http://milemarker.com/products/electric-winches/8000-pound

Seems like a good idea. The battery cut-off should work great.

 

[Tom Dummer]

You could just mount this thru your front bumper somewhere.

Leave off until needed but have handy to shut off in case of emergency.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/garage-pro-universal-battery-switch/p3085639.jcwx

I have one in the dash of my Bronco to power the rear winch battery cables. I didn't want the battery cables running the length of my truck to get shorted out.

 

[Ranchtruck]

You could always have your winch fed through a plug like this:

I got mine off an electric forklift, they used them to connect the battery racks. I use a portable winch in the receiver hitch so I've got a connector mounted under the back of my truck.