Winch Installation - Battery Disconnect or Direct Wire?

ffxcores

[fully disclosed]
Supporting Member
Location
Virginia
For you guys running winches - did you install a battery disconnect? If not, any issues with phantom power draw?

From the ones I can find there were the junky looking generic knockoff ones being sold under 50 different brand names, and the ones that do list amperage list a value too low. For a decent quality one like the 350a constant one from Blue Seas, it's massive and doesn't fit under the hood unless I can come up with placement that will require lengthening line even more, and I don't want to add any more length.

Presumably there should be no power draw as long as I don't have the wireless dongle plugged in to the controller, so the only potential negative is if I take a good hit to the headlight area and the wire severs and arcs.

If you did install one under the hood, any pictures to share of the install and links to the product?
 

TheCrabby1

I Smell Fishy
Supporting Member
Location
Burtonsville, Md
For you guys running winches - did you install a battery disconnect? If not, any issues with phantom power draw?

From the ones I can find there were the junky looking generic knockoff ones being sold under 50 different brand names, and the ones that do list amperage list a value too low. For a decent quality one like the 350a constant one from Blue Seas, it's massive and doesn't fit under the hood unless I can come up with placement that will require lengthening line even more, and I don't want to add any more length.

Presumably there should be no power draw as long as I don't have the wireless dongle plugged in to the controller, so the only potential negative is if I take a good hit to the headlight area and the wire severs and arcs.

If you did install one under the hood, any pictures to share of the install and links to the product?
What about a single battery Marine Perko switch ?
 

TheCrabby1

I Smell Fishy
Supporting Member
Location
Burtonsville, Md
The single switch is only 140a continuous. Their heavy duty one has the same problem as the Blue Seas one:
  • Diameter: 5-1/4 square inches
  • Depth: 3-3/8"
I don't know the tech spec's are but I can tell you Nothing drain's/draw's thru there when it's set in the OFF position !!
 

ffxcores

[fully disclosed]
Supporting Member
Location
Virginia
I don't know the tech spec's are but I can tell you Nothing drain's/draw's thru there when it's set in the OFF position !!
The "off" all works the same, but when running you don't want to overload it and potentially melt it or have it catch fire.

I did find a boxed one that is about the same size, but with the back on it I can install if more creatively tucked away. It's only rated 300a continuous, but can go 500a up to 5 minutes. My winch pulls 348a, and you're not supposed to run a winch longer than 5 minutes continuously anyway, so that could potentially work. https://www.bluesea.com/products/6006200/m-Series_Mini_On-Off_Battery_Switch_with__Knob_-_Black
 

JeffPro4x

Hot Pipe
Super Moderator
Supporting Member
Location
Glenside, PA
I've been running the Blue Sea 9003e for 5 years. With a lot of winching under it's belt. Not a single issue. I have it mounted to the relay box lid next to the battery.
 

ffxcores

[fully disclosed]
Supporting Member
Location
Virginia
I've been running the Blue Sea 9003e for 5 years. With a lot of winching under it's belt. Not a single issue. I have it mounted to the relay box lid next to the battery.
When you get a second can you snap a picture? That's the exact model I have sitting next to me and I didn't think it would clear the hood.
 

outback97

Wheeling
Supporting Member
Location
SLC, Utah
I can’t take credit for this since the previous owner installed everything, but mine has big ol’ Anderson type connectors to disconnect the + cable. Seems to work great for me, not that I have used the winch, but it’s pretty quick to connect and disconnect. Cables tuck in behind the contactor box mounted to the fuse box. This is why I needed an alternate location for my compressor, otherwise it may have gone here.

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