How to Wire an Electric Winch (2 Methods) in 2023

In this article, you will learn how to wire an electric winch.

When electric winches are operated incorrectly or without regard for necessary preventive measures, they can be harmful. When winching, there are numerous critical variables to consider. 

There are numerous things you can do wrong or right with your electric winch, from when you sit when it’s under stress to how not to do it with your winch rope or cable, but we’re here to teach you some of the methods to wire your electric winch properly.

How to Wire an Electric Winch (2 Methods)

Here are the two methods to wire an electric winch properly.

Method 1: Using Vehicle’s Battery

  • Suitable for light- to medium-duty towing and frequent winching.
  • A car battery with a minimum of 440 cold-cranking amps is required, as well as a 60-amp generator.
  • Connect the power cable to the winch’s positive terminal.
  • Connect the negative cable to the winch’s negative grounding terminal.
  • Avoid hot spots and locations where the wires might be pinched when running both cables from the winch to the engine bay.
  • Under the bonnet, connect the winch’s positive wire to the vehicle’s positive end, using an in-line fuse box if one is provided with the winch.
  • Connect the winch’s negative cable to the car’s battery’s negative ground terminal.
  • This design may be enhanced with quick connectivity issues to make it easier to detach the winch when not being used.
  • Install fast disconnects in conjunction with the battery’s voltage and ground cables.
  • To activate the winch, link the vehicle-side lead from the charger to the winch-side lead.
  • Make sure the fast disconnects you buy suit the wire thickness in your installation.

Method 2: Using an Auxiliary Battery

  • Designed for medium-to-heavy-duty applications that need regular winching.
  • A 60-amp generator and an auxiliary car battery with a minimum of 440 to 660 cold-cranking amps are required.
  • It must be connected to the vehicle’s battery simultaneously.
  • Guarantees that the total output of both batteries is 12V.
  • A rechargeable battery isolator must be attached between the vehicle’s charge and the extra battery.
  • Guarantees that when the winch is in operation, it only takes power from the auxiliary battery, saving the vehicle’s charger from being exhausted.
  • Implements in-line with the positive voltage cable that connects the vehicle’s positive end to the extra battery’s positive terminal.
  • A cable from the combustion circuit controls the isolator.
  • Connect the power cable to the winch’s positive terminal.
  • Connect the negative cable to the winch’s negative grounding terminal.
  • Avoid hot spots and places where the wires might be pinched when you run both cables from the hook to the battery box.
  • Under the bonnet, connect the winch’s positive connection to the auxiliary battery’s positive terminal, using an in-line kill switch if one is provided with the winch.
  • Connect the winch’s negative connection to the extra battery’s negative ground terminal.

Conclusion

Hope you learned how to wire an electric winch in this article.

Electric winches are widely used in the industry for towing activities. These sorts of winches appear to be the best solution for supporting and pushing larger things.

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Author

Jeff

As an avid off-road enthusiast, I know firsthand the importance of having a reliable winch. That's why I created WinchAdvice – to help fellow off-roaders like myself make informed decisions when selecting their next winch. So whether you're an experienced pro or a beginner just starting out, my website offers valuable advice and guidance on all things winching.

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