Winch wiring question relating to earth

[edzz]

How should a 24v winch be wired so as to retain the function of the Pinzgauers master power cutout switch? When the PO installed the winch on my truck heavy gauge wires were run from the battery’s to the winch control box. There is a keyed safety switch (power shut off switch) installed in the positive cable.

Should that switch have been installed in the ground cable instead of the positive cable?

How have others wired theirs?

[cruzoropeza]

Hey Ed how's it going I have it the same way direct to the battery with a switch on the positive and not into the Pinz system, I think it's best to keep it direct because when your using the winch it pulls alot of amps. And I would leave the positive on the switch because it's safer for a shut-off switch do to the winch also grounding it's self to chassi ground.
(what bran winch did you get?)

Hope your doing good and I'm going to need some lessons on the ham radio!

[David Dunn]

Depending on the winch and how it grounds components, the ground lead going to the negative side of the battery from the winch will defeat the vehicle's disconnect since the winches' ground will be completing the circuit anyhow

[StuartL]

I agree with the above posts. Wire it separately direct to the battery and use a separate cut-off switch. The one you've got in the positive line is fine.

[audiocontr]

Actually, no, a cut off switch on the positive line will not rectify the grounding dilemma. Instead, the hi amperage switch should go onto the negative line. Otherwise the winch negative line will ground the chassis to the battery, bypassing the cut off switch behind the seat.

[David Dunn]

At least someone listens to us old farts

Nothing should ever be wired directly back to the negative side of the batteries, unless you can be at 432% sure that there is no possibility chassis ground at all.... remember that on the the gas Pinzes, the disconnect switch behind the seat is on the negative side, not the positive ( unless someone has decided to rewire things )
On my 716, the switch is the plus side, but I can't speak for others, as mine and a few other ones are unique for any Pinzes

A disconnect is good for a winch, but put the ground cable to the chassis side of the vehicle's disconnect switch, and possibly replace the cable on the other side with a heavy gage cable to the batteries,

[Tibbermore]

Hi - I agree with the approach in the last post but wonder if anyone has wired the winch in this way and if they experienced any problems with burnt contacts in the Pinz cut-off switch. According to the spec, for the the winch I have, it draws about 225 amps, probably a bit more on start up.

I bought a heavy duty cutoff for the winch and was wondering if it would be better to use this as the main cut-off switch and use the Pinz original in the winch negative lead as it is then not too critical if it does fail. Any one got any comments/advice on this approach.

I have mounted the cut-offs close together so physically swapping the connections is not a problem.

[audiocontr]

I keep my winch 100% disconnected from the battery terminal unless I'm going somewhere that it may be have a use. Then I just open the door, release the wing nut and put it on