It's this for the winch only? Just use whatever gauge is factory on the winch.
Advice request: How to wire aux equipment (winch/lights/GMRS) to GX460 battery
- Thread starter Roody
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- Thread starter
- #82
I'm striking out finding exact specs for the stock Warn cable itself (not even Warn's own sale spec sheet shows it) but Google tells me it's 2 AWG.
This is what the sheet shows for what @r2m was mentioning
Hiluxforever
SILVER Star
Where are you planning on mounting the switch? That's a lot of heavy gauge wire to run in the engine compartment without some type of protection. I'd keep the positive lead as short as possible, i.e. mount the switch as close to the battery as possible.
Unless you're are really heavy winch user, you'll probably never exceed the capability of the stock wiring.
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- Thread starter
- #85
I have 3 places I'm considering mounting it. The longest possible run from the switch to the battery would be like 18".
But, if I remember correctly, I was also looking for wire length too, since I know the longer the wire, the more resistance, and I could've sworn I'd come across a site that had AWG for amp and distance.
I believe it may have been something like so much resistance per foot length for a given AWG at so many amps.
- Thread starter
- #87
So would a 1' 2 AWG wire from the switch to the battery work even if the winch-to-controller and controller-to-switch is 4 AWG?
It wouldn't hurt. Though there'd be a negligible voltage drop for the same length of 4 AWG going to the switch, its still a drop because of the added resistance of each component.
- Thread starter
- #89
This is all a different language to me LOL
2 AWG would effectively be no different than 4 AWG for such a short run, but 2 AWG will offer less amp drop over a 2 hour cycle (which is an insane amount of time on the cable)? Is there like... a safety or fire or short-out concern running 2 AWG vs 4 AWG?
2 AWG would effectively be no different than 4 AWG for such a short run, but 2 AWG will offer less amp drop over a 2 hour cycle (which is an insane amount of time on the cable)? Is there like... a safety or fire or short-out concern running 2 AWG vs 4 AWG?
Bigger is always better, if you have 2 AWG, I'd think you're good to go.
After you've wired it all in, you can always try a pull with the winch with one hand on the wire to see if it gets warm, which I'd bet would not even get a little warm.
Hiluxforever
SILVER Star
Does it need to b
Yes. Length adds gauge otherwise the resistance of the line causes losses that generate excessive heat. Thats going to an inverter thats always on. Where as a compressor or a winch is intermittent and not 100% duty over a 2 hour period. You definitely still want larger cable. I think I ran 2 or 4 for my winch, but some folks were running 00 and thats just a waste of money and resources.
Hiluxforever
SILVER Star
It would become unservicably warm after 2 hours of 100% power consumption. Which most device, short of things like chargers operate at peak power consumption.
Thats just being one size to small if its significantly too small it will briefly become a incandescent light bulb filament.
I would rather spend that money on a better quality cable, pre termed domestically.
Which is basically what I did. I went for something with a 50% duty rating and got really nice hydeaulically crimped ends and an anderson connector.
It’s really not a hard decision. Use 2AWG cable & be done with it. In most cases, bigger is better.
The only downside size to larger cable is ‘do you have the room for it ? Personally I use 2 gauge welding cables on both of my 8274s. Welding cable is much easier to bend into proper shape when/if you don’t have much room.
My winches get used a lot, most pulls are rinky dink & short pulls…but many have been long & hard. I believe 4g would work…but ‘bigger is better’.
The only downside size to larger cable is ‘do you have the room for it ? Personally I use 2 gauge welding cables on both of my 8274s. Welding cable is much easier to bend into proper shape when/if you don’t have much room.
My winches get used a lot, most pulls are rinky dink & short pulls…but many have been long & hard. I believe 4g would work…but ‘bigger is better’.
Hiluxforever
SILVER Star
I am getting old... lol. My initial check with the code book was between 2/0 and 4/0. SommIt’s really not a hard decision. Use 2AWG cable & be done with it. In most cases, bigger is better.
The only downside size to larger cable is ‘do you have the room for it ? Personally I use 2 gauge welding cables on both of my 8274s. Welding cable is much easier to bend into proper shape when/if you don’t have much room.
My winches get used a lot, most pulls are rinky dink & short pulls…but many have been long & hard. I believe 4g would work…but ‘bigger is better’.
I looked back and it was 72$ for 2x 2awg power cables with an anderson cable on one end.
Thats both positive snd negative leads and then I just habe to disconnect the snderson connector and pull two screws off my controller and it can all come out with my winch mount.
They sell the more finally braided welding wire too. I cant remember exactly why I ended up
Going with spartan, but the cables themselves are what I would call equal or better than oem. They were much nicer than what warn included. You can spec exactly how you want it so the fit and finish is <chef's kiss>
Spartan Power Custom Heavy Duty Terminated Battery Cables
Spartan Power Custom Heavy Duty Terminated Battery Cables are Made in the USA and are the highest quality 600V hook up cables you buy today.
spartanpower.com
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Spartan Power Custom Heavy Duty Terminated Battery Cables
Spartan Power Custom Heavy Duty Terminated Battery Cables are Made in the USA and are the highest quality 600V hook up cables you buy today.
spartanpower.com
That’s a good link & the Spartan stuff seems well made & actually very fair priced. I also use the Anderson connectors.
Hiluxforever
SILVER Star
Once you used cables with hydraulically crimped ends you'll never go back. They are just so much better in every way. I wont crimp it myself unless it small like 14- 18 awg.Spartan Power Custom Heavy Duty Terminated Battery Cables
Spartan Power Custom Heavy Duty Terminated Battery Cables are Made in the USA and are the highest quality 600V hook up cables you buy today.
That’s a good link & the Spartan stuff seems well made & actually very fair priced.
I prefer phoenix connectors for smaller stuff when possible to keep my OCD at bay. Working around controls may have rotted my brain. I need to get back to Datacom.
i used spartan in the past as well. good stuffI am getting old... lol. My initial check with the code book was between 2/0 and 4/0. Somm
I looked back and it was 72$ for 2x 2awg power cables with an anderson cable on one end.
Thats both positive snd negative leads and then I just habe to disconnect the snderson connector and pull two screws off my controller and it can all come out with my winch mount.
They sell the more finally braided welding wire too. I cant remember exactly why I ended up
Going with spartan, but the cables themselves are what I would call equal or better than oem. They were much nicer than what warn included. You can spec exactly how you want it so the fit and finish is <chef's kiss>
Spartan Power Custom Heavy Duty Terminated Battery Cables
Spartan Power Custom Heavy Duty Terminated Battery Cables are Made in the USA and are the highest quality 600V hook up cables you buy today.
NIce! Myself, I just use a big-ol pair of channel locks and crimp on an appropriate size compression lug and then heat shrink either a red or black tubing on it.
Actually, thinking back, I may have had to use a hammer to crimp those huge lugs.
There's no harm in using 2 AWG but there's also no appreciable benefit either. I'd probably just run 2ga for that section because the cost difference for such a short run in minimal but in the end it doesn't really make a difference.
Most winch pulls are measured in seconds, not hours, so there's no need to worry about continuous duty. The winch motor itself has a limited duty cycle so heavier wiring won't improve that. Even if somehow you had an infinitely long winch cable and a winch that can run forever without overheating the rest of the electrical system is going to be the limiting factor, neither the battery nor alternator can supply that kind of power for very long. That's why I wouldn't go too crazy with the overkill because wire is expensive and if it's not needed why spend all that extra money.
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Roody, These may help you:
"I" = Amps, "P" = Watts, and of course "V" = Volts. These are very handy formulas for basic electrical work. Trust me, I'm not an electrical type of guy.
"I" = Amps, "P" = Watts, and of course "V" = Volts. These are very handy formulas for basic electrical work. Trust me, I'm not an electrical type of guy.