Switch Rating for Winch?

[Hayes]

I did the solenoid thing on my 80.

I initially used a $12 Warn control solenoid, but like 619Toy pointed out--the winch uses 4 of those in parallel. I burnt-out the solenoid the first time I used it under load.

I ended up getting the exact same solenoid Warn sells for use as a disconnect switch . It works great.
I used a factory fog light switch in the cab.

Here's a writeup of mine (it shows the Warn control solenoid--I have since changed it out):

https://forum.ih8mud.com/showthread.php?t=69043

Hayes

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Qucik disconnect cables are my preference... that way I can easily use the battery for other items (welder, inverter, jumper cable, etc) and also have an "emergency" winch disconnect if needed.

They are available for up to 350A

 

[CruisinGA]

I initially used a $12 Warn control solenoid, but like 619Toy pointed out--the winch uses 4 of those in parallel. I burnt-out the solenoid the first time I used it under load.

Not correct, true there are 4 solenoids, but they are not in parallel. There are four solenoids to switch the polarity of the poles on the winch motor when reversing direction.

I ran a Belleview with a ramsey 8000# motor HARD on one of those $12 solenoids and never had a problem.

Not sure why it failed in your situation.

 

[Hayes]

Not correct, true there are 4 solenoids, but they are not in parallel. There are four solenoids to switch the polarity of the poles on the winch motor when reversing direction.

I ran a Belleview with a ramsey 8000# motor HARD on one of those $12 solenoids and never had a problem.

Not sure why it failed in your situation.

Yeah.
Not sure.
A very helpful gentelman at Six States (John) suggested I use the $12 solenoid--and he works on Warn winches all day long. After I burned out the first one, he gave me another one, and I burned that one out as well. I checked and rechecked my wiring--nothing out of order. Then John gave me one of the solenoids Warn uses for their switch system--it has worked just fine.
I don't really have an explanation, I just know that what I've got now, works.

Hayes

 

[alia176]

Are we all sure that none of the winches can exceed 600 amps on full load/deeply quagmired in mud/poorly maintained solenoid pack/wire size too small/etc? It seems that a simple disconnect is the way to go in this situation IMO. It truly follows the KISS rule.

The warn solenoid idea is interesting but doesn't Warn use two solenoids for forward and two for reverse ( in a typical solenoid pack)? It seems that two solenoids are sharing the load so I can't see how using a single one is a long term solution. Just an observation.

 

[CruisinGA]

doesn't Warn use two solenoids for forward and two for reverse ( in a typical solenoid pack)? It seems that two solenoids are sharing the load so I can't see how using a single one is a long term solution. Just an observation.

Not true.

If you look at a standard 3-pole winch motor and how it is wired, and what has to get switched for reverse/forward it would make sense why you need 4 solenoids and why none of them are EVER wired in parallel....

I'm not saying to not use 2 solenoids, obviously that is better, but I am saying that each solenoid in a standard 4-solenoid pack must be able to handle the entire load of the winch.