Winch Power Cable

Hi, just currently collecting bits to wire up my 10,000lbs superwinch.

www.superwinch.com/products/productdetai...3.82806.0.0.0?pp=12&

Planning on a 200amp split charge relay and fitting a large truck battery in the boot. Just wondering what size cable to run between the winch and battery considering the max line pull is rated at 350amps. It seems most cost effective to buy a quality set of jump leads just for the cable. Im wondering what others have used?

A good cheap option is a power cable from an accident damaged e46 bmw, they run the length of the car so are plenty long enough, and when a bmw is in an accident it blows a small airbag connector off of the end rendering them useless for there bmw purpose, so secondhand should cost you very little, there are a few different ones increasing in size for the diesel versions but even the petrol persion has a very thick cable, hope this is of some help, but as a said you would want a lead with a blown end from a breakers as undamaged ones are fortunes.

jimjiminyjay wrote: A good cheap option is a power cable from an accident damaged e46 bmw, they run the length of the car so are plenty long enough, and when a bmw is in an accident it blows a small airbag connector off of the end rendering them useless for there bmw purpose, so secondhand should cost you very little, there are a few different ones increasing in size for the diesel versions but even the petrol persion has a very thick cable, hope this is of some help, but as a said you would want a lead with a blown end from a breakers as undamaged ones are fortunes.

Oh No, No, No ,No, No!

That winch could draw 300 amps under full load! So BMW power cable will fry!

You need 50mm sq power cable or some people use thick welding cable - see:

www.vehicle-wiring-products.eu/VWP-onlin...ble/batterycable.php

for suitable cable.

Do Not skimp on winch power cable or at best your winch won't work well and at worst you'll have a little bonfire in your Jimny!

Use a proper Isolator too and proper connectors. None of it's cheap but neither is a burnt out Jimny!

Kirkynut

Couldn't agree more, and also run the negative back to the battery as well. Don't rely on an earth through a bolt locally to the winch.

Thanks Robert, great link, they seem to have everything I need to make up a split charge system and power to the winch. It's going to be an expensive install but don't fancy ending up in flames! I cannot believe the previous owner had run the cables straight to the main battery and had not fried it, or shorted the positive connections to earth ( I should have taken photos !) Dangerous!.

I'm considering buying these 50mm jump leads as I can chop off the croc clips and the cable is of correct spec, also it works out much cheaper.
www.workshopping.co.uk/product/Commercia...900-Amps/BC-JL50-5M/

how about this it will be about £30 cheaper than buying them booster cables for the same amount of cable

cgi.ebay.co.uk/WELDING-CABLE-365A-50MM-R...&hash=item5192e8e73b

Thanks Richard, I did'nt find that listing when looking, I will be ordering that on Monday (payday) That's by far the cheapest available, just got to measure how much I need from the boot to the winch. And decide on where to route the cable, possibly in some good hose for protection.
Then order a good split charge system and battery of which I am thinking of mounting the battery within a plastic tool box in the boot vented to outside.

The power cable i was refering too is very very thick and much more heavy duty than a lot of decent jump leads, i have used it before on a 8000lb winch and its never got hot, but im no expert so sorry if its not appropriate.

Sorry to hijack the thread but what is the smallest winch that is sensible on a Jimny, got chance of a cheap Champion 6000 lb one off a mate.

6000lbs is about 2.8 ton, sounds plenty to me for such a light car.
10.000lbs is for helping out our green oval friends!

I would say that 6000IB is about the minimum for a Jimny. Many have that size on a suzuki with no issues.

I have a 9500IB and it has slowed right down before when I've been winching up long steep inclines - but I was possibly in lifting territory by then as it was steeper than 45 deg but it depends on what you are doing.

If a cheap 2nd hand 6000IB has come up, grab it - if buying new, an 8000IB is often not much more.

Kirkynut

ive only got an 6500lb champion winch and ive had no problems, its winched me up a hill and even winched a pajero out so you shouldnt have any problems.

Gromit wrote: Sorry to hijack the thread but what is the smallest winch that is sensible on a Jimny, got chance of a cheap Champion 6000 lb one off a mate.