getting power to electric winch

[rainman240cs]

need advice. I have a power winch model T-4000 with a 6'-8' wire harness that has a prong type thing which goes into the winch, and the other end has two mini cable clamps (like a small version of jumper cables). my question is, what do I clamp these to? I bought the boat used and I'm thinking I need to purchase the other half of this harness? Or is it possible to connect them to a booster pack for the time being?

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: getting power to electric winch

They may have had a battery mounted on the trailer tongue or had cables running back from the vehicle's battery. One of those emergency booster packs should work fine if it has enough reserve amps.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: getting power to electric winch

What kind of tow vehicle do you have? If it has the large 7-pin connector, there is a large red wire that serves as a 12V accessory feed to a trailer (such as a travel trailer). You could tap into that circuit and replace the alligator clamps with a suitable two-pin connector so you just plug into the back of the tow vehicle. Otherwise, all you need is a 12 volt power source such as another battery at the back of the tow vehicle. Jump start packs may get you by a time or two but a winch draws a fair amount of juice under load and it may not get the job done.

 

[rainman240cs]

Re: getting power to electric winch

I do have a 08 GMC Sierra 2500HD Diesel that was born just for towing, I love it! It has the large 7-pin round reciever plug built in the bumper. I'll have a closer look underneath for this wire you speak of Thanks.

 

[Jason 641]

Re: getting power to electric winch

Since you have the 7 pin connector on your truck, you can add a 7 pin plug onto your trailer and wire the winch and lights right into it. That way you only have 1 plug to hook up when you hook your trailer up. I would recommend you leave the truck running while you are using the winch so you don't have a big draw on your truck batterie(s).

You can also leave the standard 4 pin plug on your trailer incase someone else ever has to pull the trailer that doesn't have a 7 pin plug atleast they will still have lights.

 

[john from md]

Re: getting power to electric winch

If you have a spare battery around, just throw it in the truck and clamp the leads to it when you want to use the winch. Some people don't want to go through the trouble of running the wires and breakers to their truck battery so they just keep one in the back.

Regards,

John

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: getting power to electric winch

Since you have the 7 pin connector on your truck, you can add a 7 pin plug onto your trailer and wire the winch and lights right into it. That way you only have 1 plug to hook up when you hook your trailer up. I would recommend you leave the truck running while you are using the winch so you don't have a big draw on your truck batterie(s).

You can also leave the standard 4 pin plug on your trailer incase someone else ever has to pull the trailer that doesn't have a 7 pin plug atleast they will still have lights.

Not a good idea. Those wires going to that 7 pin plug are not near heavy enough to support a winch. They draw a lot of current.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: getting power to electric winch

I like to run at least an 8 gauge or heavier wire on a circuit breaker back to a winch. Some of those things draw as much amperage as a starter.
The ground can be attached to the rear of the frame. The wiring in the factory trailer plug is meant only to charge a breakaway battery or run lighting in a trailer. You can buy specific bumper mount receptacles for a winch cable, but their expensive. The last set of cables, plugs and all I bought was over $100 for all the pieces from Super Winch. A jump start connector like they use on a tow truck would work just as well.

A jump start pack will run only the smallest of winches, and at that not for very long. If you do have a 7 pin outlet on your truck and it's got a constant 12V feed hooked up, you may just want to mount a deep cycle battery and box on the tongue of the trailer and use that 12V feed to charge the battery?
(An exposed battery may invite theft if not well secured, as does an expensive power winch). I weld the bolts on my winches to deter theft.

 

[dingbat]

Re: getting power to electric winch

A jump start pack will run only the smallest of winches, and at that not for very long.

Boat weight: 5,400 pounds
Winch: Rule 4200
Avg. Loading distance: 9-10 feet
Load Speed: 21 feet per minute

I've been loading the boat with a Vector Start-It Jump-Start System for 3 years now. It started out as a temporary solution that I never got around to replacing.

I?ll admit it?s not the best permanent solution but it's worked well for me so far.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: getting power to electric winch

The standard accessory power cable kit for a T-4000 winch includes a 60A breaker and 25 feet of 8 ga. wire. 8 gauge wire is used to reduce voltage drop due to the length of the run. Check the size of the red accessory wire on the 7 pin trailer connector. It is normally much larger than the other wires. If its the same size or bigger than the power wire for the winch, go ahead and try it. Maximum current draw on an electric motor is with a stalled rotor which if that happens, you need a bigger winch. Current draw drops rapidly after the motor starts.

 

[mphy98]

Re: getting power to electric winch

i just installed a battery box on the tounge of the trailer just for this purpose. a cheap solution so i do not have to cart around a battery to and from the back of a truck

 

[reelfishin]

Re: getting power to electric winch

I have several of those booster packs around the shop, the newest being a Snap On YA1212A. I have three trailers with electric winches, all are Power Winch brand winches, all are roller trailers. The booster pack will power the smallest winch only, the larger two will run but won't pull any load when on the booster pack. It may work better if just loading a floating boat but I don't think I'd chance it as my only power source. I tried once to use the larger winch to load a boat which was sitting on another roller trailer, pretty much just rolling from one trailer to another, it got the boat about 1/4 of the way and died, popping the internal circuit breaker. The wires were too hot to touch. I finally just pulled the yard truck up to the winch and use a set of jumper cables and all was fine. The batteries in those booster packs are not much more than a breakaway battery or large alarm back up battery. They are fine for quick shots of power but not much good for long term power supply.

The battery on the tongue is the better idea as it puts maximum amperage near the winch. Just so it stays charged or is charged by the tow vehicle.

My main two trucks have huge jump start terminals added under the rear bumper, this gives me near full battery power to the rear of the truck. They are wired with 4/0 welding leads directly to the battery. One came with this set up, the other I added. Its extreme overkill but I had the wire and it cost me nothing but some time to do. Adding such wiring also needs to be done correctly in that a short in these wires would no doubt result in a fire. Such wires need to be protected and routed well away from moving parts and exhaust and clear of any jacking points.

There's a big span in motor sizes when it comes to winches, most smaller winches use what amounts to no more than a power window motor while others are more like a starter motor. My smaller Power Winch has a motor which is only about 3.5" in diameter and about 4" long, the largest winch looks to use a motor which looks about like an older Ford starter motor about 5" in diameter and about 10" long. The scary part is that both came with the same wiring kit and plug, only about #8 gauge wire. I replaced the two larger motor's power leads with heavier wire several years ago.

 

[pteal28377]

Re: getting power to electric winch

Do not connect to 7 pin. and again say do not connect to 7 pin. That 12 volt constant is only 15 amp to a 20 amp fuse. This wire is more meant for supply aux power to a trailer while in tow usually for break away break systems.

I would use a battery mounted on trailer and charge before you go boating or run an 8 gauge wire from battery to back of tow vehicle with a 60 amp fused link ( or breaker). Ground to frame of vehicle install quick connect to cables and winch. Connect when you need winch. We use this method at my shop installing winches on various trucks and SUVs. Works great never had a problem.