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Winch wiring question {trailer}

4K views 9 replies 7 participants last post by  tonka toy 
#1 ·
I added a big truck bed toolbox to the tongue of my trailer and mounted a 8k winch and a battery inside.





Right now the winch is wired right to the battery and I have to remember to throw my charger on the battery before I use it. I want to wire the battery to my 12v acc. in my 7pin plug so when its plugged into my truck it will recieve a charge and always be charged up ready to go.

I have never done this before and not sure on the safest way to do this.
Do I wire my plug on truck right to trucks battery or any old 12v acc ok?
Will the draw from the winch be to much for that little wire? Should I unplug from truck before using winch?
 
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#2 ·
It will be a pain, but I would suggest running heavy gage dedicated wires direct from the battery, similar to what you would use to mount it on your truck, eliminating the trailer battery. For two reasons; 1st being , depending on age of your tow vehicle, the second battery connected into the trucks wire harness may have some undesirable effects; 2nd, yes the little wire will not hold up to the current, it may charge the battery ok, but forget to unplug the 7pin just once and you may end up replacing a LOT of WIRES. I would think if you want to keep the 2nd battery, it would have to be installed similar to how a dual battery system would so you don't fry your pcm/cpu
 
#3 ·
See thats kinda what I was thinking but my old man keeps telling me to wire it to the plug. He says all his 5th wheel campers had 12v batteries wired to the 7prong so it would stay charged and he could turn lights and radio on in camper with it hooked to truck still.

But he is old...
 
#6 ·
you use the following

Continuous Duty 12V Solenoid, 200 AMP, 4 Stud
Interchanges with:
Cole Hersee 24059
White Rodgers 70-111221-5A
Johnson Electric 5117340
Motorcraft SWX88
Prestolite 15-108, SAS4202
Yale 502265300
http://webhosting.web.com/imagelib/sitebuilder/misc/show_image.html?linkedwidth=actual&linkpath=http://www.pdxrv.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/PL15133.jpg&target=tlx_new&title=Continuous%20Duty%2012V%20Solenoid,%20200%20AMP,%204%20Stud
40 amp relay
wire it so when the truck key is in the run/accessory position it will energize the solenoid. then wire in the relay so whenever you touch the winch in/out it will d-energize the solenoid

it's very easy if you know what your doing and good with electrical
 
#7 ·
I understand the idea behind your setup but just cant picture how to wire it in my head without the parts in front of me.

And after the other suggestion above I also thinking about adding a solar trickle charger so the battery will be full if I need to use the trailer/winch before the truck gets a chance to recharge the battery.

Im thinking of ordering this.
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200578631_200578631

I could cut out a window in the lid of my toolbox and mount the solar panel on the inside of the lid so its always catching sun light.
 
#8 · (Edited)
Its been awhile but I think this would be your basic relay setup to isolate during operation. Ground #85, get 12v from the winch motor for #86 when the winch motor sends power it will activate the relay and seperate #30 from the normally closed #87a. So then all you need is your ignition on #30 and #87a will be your output to activate the solenoid and charge your battery. Someone can double check my setup there may be alternate ways to do it but I think this should do the trick.




I should add that this may get you by with a smaller gauge wire but I have to agree with RioGrande adding heavier wire or a true dual battery setup with heavier wire is a better option IMHO.
 
#9 · (Edited)
You could add a "battery lsolator" which is a big ass diode(s).

This is another way RV manufactures charge dual battery sets from vehicle and prevent them from draining each other.

I would consider 6 ga. wire and (2) 50 mini amp breakers as a min. put a breaker at each end as close to power sources as practical.


**for powering the winch 6 ga is way to small, that's just for a 50amp charge line for the 2nd battery.
 
#10 · (Edited)
I just ran wire (battery cable or welding cable) from the battery under the hood to the rear of my truck. At the rear of the truck and on the leads off the winch I put forklift/plow connectors so I could easily un plug the winch when I unhook the trailer. It eliminates the 2nd battery. Super easy and reliable.

I also made jumper cables that plug in to the same wiring in the rear of my truck so if you have a car/truck/rig or......... On your trailer you can jump it with out unhooking the trailer and turning your truck around.
 
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