Extending winch solenoid cables

[Jimmy Two-Jacks]

Hi All,

just thinking about the installation of my winch and would like to re position the solenoids up out of the wet and fit the socketed lead through the upper wing via a waterproof capped socket. It’s a 12volt 6hp motor and from searching the forum I have found suggestions that comparative winches draw about 400amps at full tilt?

My rather long-winded question is would this cable be suitable to replace the OEM cables?

Phew…… sorry sometimes plain English escapes me!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WELDING-CABLE-500-AMP-70MM-BLACK-PER-METRE-NO-35MM-25MM-/120403413094?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item1c089a4866

[Dave W]

I'd avoid welding cable as it has a tendency to be of higher resistance than battery cable. As you say, in theory a 6HP motor could draw 400A at 12v but on a 12v system the resistance of the cable will often limit the maximum current more than the motor. In order to get 400A to the motor and assuming that the motor has 0 resistance itself (which it doesn't), you'd need a maximum of 0.03 ohms for all your cables, connectors, solenoid contacts and motor windings combined if you assume an average voltage of 12v. There isn't a lot you can do about the motor or the connectors (other than using high quality crimpers and soldering them) but you can minimise the resistance of the cable.

Moving the solenoid away from the winch multiplies the length of the cable in your circuit by 3 so for every meter away you move it you are adding 3m of extra wire although you may gain part of that back by shortening the supply cable from the battery to the solenoid.

[dirtyninety]

So where is the best place to buy suitable winch wiring?

[western]

James, my husky has good flexible main cables, they came with the winch, so I don't know what their resistance is, my Albright solenoid pack is mounted on the left front inner wing behind the air cleaner case & to the rear of the left headlight, it ben there for over 8 years without any problem, just a bit dusty, the remote socket can be fitted to the strip above the left or right headlight, see photo below of mine [1 socket on each side]

these may prove usefull too

http://www.dborc.co....cket_wiring.pdf

http://www.dborc.co....noid_wiring.pdf

for cable use 50mm sq power cable

1st item here

or

the 475 or CM50 in red & black at VWP

[Jimmy Two-Jacks]

Thanks all.

[Jimmy Two-Jacks]

James, my husky has good flexible main cables, they came with the winch, so I don't know what their resistance is, my Albright solenoid pack is mounted on the left front inner wing behind the air cleaner case & to the rear of the left headlight, it ben there for over 8 years without any problem, just a bit dusty, the remote socket can be fitted to the strip above the left or right headlight, see photo below of mine [1 socket on each side]

these may prove usefulltoo

http://www.dborc.co....cket_wiring.pdf

http://www.dborc.co....noid_wiring.pdf

for cable use 50mm sq power cable

1st item here

or

the 475 or CM50 in red & black at VWP

Thank Ralph.

MOT monday!!!!

Let you know how she gets on

[gonewestnz]

I’m planning to mount my winch solenoid behind the offside headlight and airbox on my 2.4tdci 90. The cables would have to pass close to the intercooler pipe. Is this likely to be too hot a route as having looked I can’t see much space for the cables anywhere else?

[western]

Intercooler shouldn't get hot enough to damage any cables, mine is all on the left side, simply because the main cable from battery is kept as short as possible.

[gonewestnz]

Thanks Western that’s what I was thinking or rather hoping cheers