Powering a winch

Posted By: Aspen7695

Powering a winch - 12/14/10 02:44 PM

I just ordered a winch for my trailer. I am wondering if anyone has used a Jump Starter to power their winch. I only plan to use the winch occasionally(if the car breaks down). If you use one can you recomend a brand is good.

Thanks,

Raul

Posted By: earthmover

Re: Powering a winch - 12/14/10 02:50 PM

ive got a buddy that use a jump box to work the winch works preety good since he doesnt have a place to store the batt.

Posted By: MR_P_BODY

Re: Powering a winch - 12/14/10 03:02 PM

Quote:

I just ordered a winch for my trailer. I am wondering if anyone has used a Jump Starter to power their winch. I only plan to use the winch occasionally(if the car breaks down). If you use one can you recomend a brand is good.

Thanks,

Raul

Your trailer has brakes on it right... so just use
a 7 pin plug with 1 pin power... that way when you're
plugged in you have power(wont have to worry if the
jumper box is charged)

Posted By: V10nacuda

Re: Powering a winch - 12/14/10 03:22 PM

I had thought about that but figured that the winch would draw too much current for that wire so I ran seperate wires from the battery & used an electric forklift battery connector.
I had thought about putting a car battery on the trailer & use it for the break away & the winch. But was still unsure about current draw with the winch under load & that 12ga wire or less running through the factory harness.

Posted By: MR_P_BODY

Re: Powering a winch - 12/14/10 03:37 PM

Quote:

I had thought about that but figured that the winch would draw too much current for that wire so I ran seperate wires from the battery & used an electric forklift battery connector.
I had thought about putting a car battery on the trailer & use it for the break away & the winch. But was still unsure about current draw with the winch under load & that 12ga wire or less running through the factory harness.

On my open trailer I have a hot wire going back but
the winch is small... never gave me any problems,
my big trailer I have a battery inside with the hot
line to it... I'm going to change the way I wired
it and go through a relay so when I shut off the key
it opens that circuit... I was having issue of a
draw in the trailer and it would kill my truck batteries
after a week or so if I left the trailer plugged in
but I found that the trailer battery had a short in it

Posted By: RodStRace

Re: Powering a winch - 12/14/10 03:45 PM

Since you already bought the winch, look up the amp draw. Now check what the proper gauge wire is for that draw over 18-20 feet from the battery to the winch.
I've got a cheapie winch that has around 12 gauge wire on the snap in connectors. I use that and a set of jumper cables to reach the battery. I figure that the wire and connectors on the winch are the weak point, not the jumpers. Your winch may vary.

Posted By: Boosted

Re: Powering a winch - 12/14/10 04:14 PM

I guess I will ask why not put a battery in a box ont he trailer? I mafe a lockable box for the tounge of my trailer, mounted a battery in a battery box inside and ran a cable grom the battery on the truck to a quick connect at the trailer plug that connects the trailer battery.. Winch is hooked to the trailer battery and the truck charges the battery on the trailer for me. I have an 8000lb winch so I can drag all the junk cars I buy and shouldnt

Posted By: topside

Re: Powering a winch - 12/14/10 05:21 PM

For the winch on my trailer, I ran #2 cable from my Dually's battery to a quick-disconnect at the rear bumper, to which the winch connects, and I mounted a battery in a plastic marine box to power the winch if I'm towing behind my other truck or SUV.
The Dually charges the trailer battery while towing, but if the trailer sits for a length of time I just put a tender on its battery.
Trailer battery is Group 24, 800 CCA.
About 15 years so far with no problems.