Winch isolator switch

[Disco_Stu]

Hi all.

Fitted my new winch and bumper today :) Finally got round to it after buying them before christmas.

Everything seems to work fine except that "In" and "Out" on the remote seem to be reversed. If the remote is right then the wire rope would spool onto the drum topside first so there must be a mix up in the wiring somewhere. Temporarily fixed this by putting tape over the remote and writing in and out the way it seems to work!

Before I wire it in permanently, I need to decide where to mount my isolator switch. Its the circular removeable key type with two bolt holes either side. It looks like it should be mounted behind a panel with the cylinder part sticking through.

Anyone using one like this and if so, where do you mount yours? - pics appreciated.

Stu

PS. The second photo is me welding the bumper and winch bolts up. No ones nicking this one....

[Jake]

Wasn't for a winch but this is where i put the cut out switch

 :D

[Range Rover Blues]

Mine's there on the RRC too.

[extreme90]

you want it to be in a place where you can get to it quickly

also, make sure the isolator isnt a cheap nasty one
you need one that has a constant amp draw of atleast 500 amps
my 8274s are on switches that are rated to 2500amps constant load, so they stay nice and cool and dont melt  :lol:
dan

[Disco_Stu]

you want it to be in a place where you can get to it quickly

also, make sure the isolator isnt a cheap nasty one

Thats what I was thinking. I'd prefer not to have topen the bonnet in an emergency situation. I need to come up with a suitable "External" place to mount it.

The isolator was supplied with the winch, I assume its rated to cope with whatever power the winch draws. I suppose the operative word in that sentence is assume 

I may cut a bit more out of my grill and wack an ally plate in there then I've got a flat surface to mount it to. What do you think? Any better ideas appreciated.

Stu.

[extreme90]

inside the cab
they dont like muddy water
get me a picture up of the isolator
ill tell you the rough rating of it  ;)

[Disco_Stu]

Cheers Dan. I'm off to work until wednesday night now so I'll try to get one up then.

Stu.

[L90OOK]

If I was fitting one on a Disco i'd fit a remote one like THIS.
Being remote means it can live next to the battery & be switched from inside cab...I'd switch it with one of THESE.

[Singlefin]

If 'in' and 'out' are the wrong way round, is the cable wound onto the drum the right way?

[Disco_Stu]

If 'in' and 'out' are the wrong way round, is the cable wound onto the drum the right way?

Im hoping so. The cable starts on the bottom of the drum. Starting on the top of the drum would make it scrape on the letterbox opening in the bumper. Theres also a sticker on the body of the winch saying feed onto spool in this (the direction I've used) direction. The only trouble is that makes the remote "Wrong" if you know what I mean.

TraybackDan, this is the one i've got.

[Disco_Stu]

If I was fitting one on a Disco i'd fit a remote one like THIS.
Being remote means it can live next to the battery & be switched from inside cab...I'd switch it with one of THESE.

Cheers L90OOK.

I'm not at my best with electrics so forgive the possibly dumb questions :)

I need to run my big thick red winch live to the isolator - from the isolator to the battery. If I put the switch you posted (very cool btw) in the cab, do I need to run that dirty big cable all the way there and back or does it use a different feed/wire/what?

I'm getting sick of this, I know sod all about basic electical work on cars. I can wire sockets and fit lights at home no problem but I'm lost when it comes to cars.
I'm gonna buy this...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Automotive-Electrical-Manual-Haynes-Manuals/dp/1850106541/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200570816&sr=8-2

Stu.

[L90OOK]

If I was fitting one on a Disco i'd fit a remote one like THIS.
Being remote means it can live next to the battery & be switched from inside cab...I'd switch it with one of THESE.

Cheers L90OOK.

I'm not at my best with electrics so forgive the possibly dumb questions :)

I need to run my big thick red winch live to the isolator - from the isolator to the battery. If I put the switch you posted (very cool btw) in the cab, do I need to run that dirty big cable all the way there and back or does it use a different feed/wire/what?

I'm getting sick of this, I know sod all about basic electical work on cars. I can wire sockets and fit lights at home no problem but I'm lost when it comes to cars.
I'm gonna buy this...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Automotive-Electrical-Manual-Haynes-Manuals/dp/1850106541/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200570816&sr=8-2

Stu.

Stu

The advantage of this isolator in Disco's means you DON'T have to run the big cables to the cab & back, as you can locate the isolator to suit, & you can make or break it with the remote switch.  All you have to do is run a +'ve (preferably ignition fed) to one pole on switch.  From the other switch pole to the isolator (smaller terminals on the isolator), the other small terminal on the isolator runs to Earth...HERE (AUX BATTERY ISOLATOR WIRING)is the wiring diagram using the isolator as an aux battery isolator but the principle is the same  :)

I need to run my big thick red winch live to the isolator - from the isolator to the battery.

  Correct  :dance:
You will also have to run the Earth from the winch to the Battery  ;)
 

[Disco_Stu]

You will also have to run the Earth from the winch to the Battery  ;)
 

Bah, i'm not that bad!!!    :oops: :oops:

[L90OOK]

You will also have to run the Earth from the winch to the Battery  ;)
 

Bah, i'm not that bad!!!    :oops: :oops:

:oops: :joker: :-'
Wat I meant was don't run the cable to chassis earth, like I have seen, run it to the battery  :joker:

[Evilgoat]

.

[Range Rover Blues]

It also pays to keep the winch wires as short as possible, even when thay are that thick there is still some power lost in long cables.

As for the drum going the wrong way, somewhere someone has crossed 2 of the wires over, either in the solenoid pack or the remote.  It's easily done and rectified.

[Wanderer]

TBH All leads should be as short as possible as mentioned by Andy. If you run into the cab to an isolator switch then you'll be getting volt drop at the winch as pulls the current. This will make the winch under perform. As well as the being possible chaffing problems when going through the bulkhead and there would more than likely not be an inline fuse.

Ed

[Wanderer]

BTW The easiest way of correcting the switching would be in the connector on the controller as it goes into the solenoids. If it's like the Goodwinch one then you just need to open it up and swap the connectors in the plug.

Ed

[Disco_Stu]

Cheers guys, some thinking/shopping/learning/fettling to do then :)

Stu.

[extreme90]

thats a cheap boat isolator that's around 150 amps constant load IIRC
would have to look in the book tomorrow at work for you to double check

can i make a suggestion whilst your shopping, bin the std solenoids before even using them
there rubbish
fit a contactor and never worry again  ;)
it took me over a year to kill mine, and i only did that cos i was dragging dead weight 90 through a bog over my bonnet
my 8274 was struggling on double line  :P
the contactor welded together as i wouldnt give up  8-[
dan

[ross501]

should the winch cable come off the top or bottom of the drum

[L90OOK]

bottom