Winch Wiring For Interchangibility
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 871
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From: New Albany, MS
Winch Wiring For Interchangibility
Hello, I've built a holder for my winch so I can slide it into a receiver hitch. I know several thousands of other people have done the same thing, but I am not sure about the wiring. I want to be able to interchange it between trucks so here are proposed solutions.
1. I could run heavy gauge wire to both ends of every truck of mine that could utilize the winch. To me this is expensive and impractical.
2. My second idea was to buy a battery dedicated to that winch and have some of those quick change couplings like you see on electric forklift chargers to take it on it off so that when I have it in the rear I can just hook the winch up to the auxillary battery in the bed. I thought of running some wire from the charging port of the alternator to the winch to keep it "built up."
My question is, if I go with the second idea, would the battery under high loads, try to pull electricity from the other battery. I know a small gauge of wire would likely melt with the amps it takes to winch. So I don't know if this is a good idea or not. If you have any experience or input, let me know what your ideas are opinions are. Thanks.
1. I could run heavy gauge wire to both ends of every truck of mine that could utilize the winch. To me this is expensive and impractical.
2. My second idea was to buy a battery dedicated to that winch and have some of those quick change couplings like you see on electric forklift chargers to take it on it off so that when I have it in the rear I can just hook the winch up to the auxillary battery in the bed. I thought of running some wire from the charging port of the alternator to the winch to keep it "built up."
My question is, if I go with the second idea, would the battery under high loads, try to pull electricity from the other battery. I know a small gauge of wire would likely melt with the amps it takes to winch. So I don't know if this is a good idea or not. If you have any experience or input, let me know what your ideas are opinions are. Thanks.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Victoria, Tx
You've got it right with the extra battery idea, but you are going to need a way to keep the second one charged. You can either have a manual switch to isolate the batteries from each other or you could use a battery isolator. Also the forklift connectors are good. Warn actually makes a kit with the wiring and connectors. I thought the price was hight untill i found out how much heavy guage wire costs. So I just spent the $150 on the wiring kit and have never had an issue with it. One other thing I would recomend is a deep cycle battery.
Still kicking!!
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 6,061
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From: Kalispell, Mt.
I don't know how much you'll be using the winch or how large it is. But I have two smaller winches... #2000 models, I use with deepcycle battries. I have two battries, so keeping one charged isn't really a problem. If you don't like carring the battery around to charge it, there are even solar chargers available that you could rig to the inside of your back window and keep it charged during long periods of non-use. You can check Northern Tool for a couple chargers or maintainers. They aren't that expensive.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
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From: Atlanta GA
Run the wires, it is much better. I can speak from experience, it is very easy to crack a battery by accident and besides the big mess you lose the battery and the ability to winch when you really needed it.
You can buy nice wire and marine terminals at West Marine and heavy duty connectors at Western Electric.
You can buy nice wire and marine terminals at West Marine and heavy duty connectors at Western Electric.
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,922
Likes: 153
I agree, you wouldn't ever have to buy a battery. A good deep cycle battery isn't cheep. Even if the cable was 3$ a foot or more, it would never need replaced & you could just slide it into anyones hitch and go.
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,092
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From: Olympia
Well i'd have to say run the wire. And like Paul said, it wouldn't hurt to have two batteries anyways.
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: New Albany, MS
The reason why I thought about going with the second battery is, it doesn't take near the gauge of wire to keep a battery charged as it does to run cables all the way to the back of the truck. That way all I have to do to run the winch in the rear, I can hook it up to the alternator charging circuit and only have about 3 or 4 foot of the heavy duty cable to run the winch. Im just concerned that if I did start using alot of amps, the wires from the alternator might over heat and start a fire. I thought of running a switch to isolate the battery from the rest of the charging system, but it may not be necessary, what to ya'll think?
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,922
Likes: 153
Where were you planning on putting the 2nd battery ? I'm not getting it, you want to put a battery in the bed and run a wire back to charge it ? Then have a plug in, into the front battery as well ? I'll say this about my Ramsey 9500 anyways, one good 24F will cook it completely, burn the brush plates out before it would kill the battery. You always gota be feeling it for heat. A ****** block & something weighted to throw over the cable is a must.
FTE Emeritus
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,288
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From: springfield Missouri area
You were right it would start drawing current from the smaller wire that you charged with. All you would need is a big diode(electrical check valve) in the charge wire. They also call them battery isolators.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
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From: Atlanta GA
> the wires from the alternator might over heat and start a fire.
No, the most likely thing is you would blow the alternator or rectifier.
As mentioned, a battery isolator is cheap and the way to go.
> I thought of running a switch to isolate the battery from the rest
You do not want to make the mistake of switching it while the truck is running.
No, the most likely thing is you would blow the alternator or rectifier.
As mentioned, a battery isolator is cheap and the way to go.
> I thought of running a switch to isolate the battery from the rest
You do not want to make the mistake of switching it while the truck is running.
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,911
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From: Crowville Louisiana
Well I have had winches mounted on trailers before. I used heavy gauge wire with heavy jumper cable clamps. That way I could just run the cables to the battery of the truck that was pulling the trailer. I used welding lead plugs on the cables.
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