Winch - Wiring In-Cab Controls

[Johnny4runner]

I'm getting ready to install dash mounted controls for my winch (on/off switch and momentary on/off/on (for in and out) (Thanks OTRATTW!)). It should be pretty straight forward, but I cannot decide whether I should pull the 12V power supply from the winch or from an ignition triggered accessory circuit. A couple of other installations I have seen pull the power to run the solenoids from the winch:

In-Cab Winch Control Install (OTRATTW) - TTORA Forum

and I think that's how 12VoltGuy does his also.

But it seems like it might be easier and smarter to pull power to control the winch solenoids from a fused accessory circuit linked to the ignition. Being able to run the winch without the keys in the ignition sounds a little sketchy. Am I missing some benefit to pulling power from the winch instead?

The significance right now is whether I need 2 wires or 3 wires between the winch and the cab.

 

[fourwd1]

I don't see where it would make a difference, as long as everything is properly fused for safety.

 

[Johnny4runner]

I don't see where it would make a difference, as long as everything is properly fused for safety.

Sounds like a good reason to use an accessory circuit from the fuse panel, or maybe an add-a-fuse. That is also one less wire to route into the cab. I assume to run the solenoids I can use pretty minimal AWG, like 18AWG?

 

[aha2988]

I don't see where it would make a difference, as long as everything is properly fused for safety.

figured you would just say buy a wireless controlled winch and problem solved lol

This is why i purchased the TJM it has a wireless remote :bounce:

 

[fourwd1]

18 gauge should be sufficient to handle 12V to a relay coil.

 

[Johnny4runner]

I got the on/off/on switch and a switch for my HID offroad lights from OTRATTW today. Pretty slick. I have a toggle w/ guard to use as a safety / energize the winch controls. I just need to find some time to install it all.

figured you would just say buy a wireless controlled winch and problem solved lol

This is why i purchased the TJM it has a wireless remote :bounce:

Yea, there is a wireless control for my Engo winch also. But what fun would that be? Plus I'll be in the cab most of the time when I'm winching anyway, and I don't need another handheld controller to lose.

This project also let's me indulge my creative/wacky side also. What do you think of a warning light on the bumper that turns on when the winch controls are energized? Good, bad or ugly?

 

[aha2988]

I got the on/off/on switch and a switch for my HID offroad lights from OTRATTW today. Pretty slick. I have a toggle w/ guard to use as a safety / energize the winch controls. I just need to find some time to install it all.



Yea, there is a wireless control for my Engo winch also. But what fun would that be? Plus I'll be in the cab most of the time when I'm winching anyway, and I don't need another handheld controller to lose.

This project also let's me indulge my creative/wacky side also. What do you think of a warning light on the bumper that turns on when the winch controls are energized? Good, bad or ugly?

well your picture makes the light look about the size of the sun lol but I could see where an indicator light may prove to be a good idea. I would put the indicator in the truck just to ensure me that the power is going to the winch if the lead isn't tight you wouldn't know it's winching other than the sound.

I can't really figure how you would spend most of your time winching in the cab as typically you have to get out and work the clutch on the winch anyway as well as hook to a winch point, then you get back in the truck; however, I do see how having the switch in the truck is convenient instead of dangling the control wire over the hood or something

.. yeah It shouldn't take me to long to lose my wireless remote lol.

 

[dbfsdhbhao]

I don't see where it would make a difference

 

[Johnny4runner]

Not my pic, but yea, I'd want an exterior warning light real bright to see in the daytime. I'll have to noodle on the exterior warning light, seems easy enough to do but not very necessary.

I got one of these to mount in the cab to indicate when the controls are powered also (yellow LED).

I'm trying to decide how to wire the LEDs in the on/off/on swich. (1) on with the dash lights, (2) on when the controls are powered (already have the yellow LED for this), or (3) on only when I press the control. I'm thinking #1 probably.

I had a little trouble finding a diagram showing the wiring lay out for the on/off/on switch. I ultimately found one for a single LED version of the switch I got. Mine is basically the same, except with two contacts for the second LED at the bottom (below contacts 3 & 6).

http://www.4x4offroadclinic.com.au/downloads/419099/winchswitchonelight.pdf

I can't really figure how you would spend most of your time winching in the cab as typically you have to get out and work the clutch on the winch anyway as well as hook to a winch point, then you get back in the truck; however, I do see how having the switch in the truck is convenient instead of dangling the control wire over the hood or something

.. yeah It shouldn't take me to long to lose my wireless remote lol.

I typically find when I'm winching myself through an obstacle I'm in the cab driving at the same time (steering and helping the winch along by giving the wheels a little gas). When I winch someone else I'm in the cab to hold the brakes--winching in park can bust your transmission.

As far as getting out and dealing with the clutch and the dirty work--I let my brother handle that--he is there for a reason, right? :whip:

 

[BrianSD_42]

I believe BigFishAllDay did something very similar with his winch install. I don't have the link handy on my phone but will try to find it when I get home.

 

[Johnny4runner]

Just to close this out I finally finished the installation of my in cab winch control. I got a little distracted over the summer so it took awhile. I used the 3 conductor cable in the TTORA write-up. Except I pulled power from an ignition switch source on the fuse box, not from the winch control. That left an extra conductor which I used to power up a small strobe I mounted to the bumper to let my helper know when I've armed the switch and am about to pull line.

The solenoid box side was pretty easy to hook up. I found the contacts on the solenoids to pull line in (black) and to put line out (white), and conveniently there was a white and black conductor in the cord that I bought. I just crimped a ring connector onto the wire and screw them onto the solenoids. But be warned that some of the black wires in the solenoid box are ground, not the trigger for line in, so sort that out (I have an Engo E10000).

The strobe was easy enough. My Shrockworks bumper had some holes already in a good location (for the winch control if you have an extension cable). And I used the remaining green conductor to run power to the strobe (a cheap LED strobe I bought on DX.com).

The cab side took some more time because I realized that I'm running out of real estate for switches. The arming switch did not need a switch blank to fit in but the Contura in/out switch did and I had only one left. But I realized that there is not much room for the arming switch body behind most of the dash cover. I ended up adding the arming switch to the left of the row of 4 switches (below and left of the steering wheel). To put the arming switch there I had to Dremmel out a decent chunk of plastic from behind the dash cover--a lot of trial fitting and grinding a bit and further fitting. I had to move my AC inverter switch over to the far right also so I could have the arming switch next to the in/out control.

Here are a few pics:

Switch armed:

Without flash:

Additionally, here is the strobe. The strobe turns on when the switch is armed (ignore the extra cables, I had the battery on a charger at the time):



Let me know what you think--lame or worth while?