walhonding300 53 Posted January 9 I have never installed a winch myself before. The directions I received are vague. Do I need to hook the red "key" wire coming from the switch or can I wire the winch up "hot" so the key does not need to be on? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ATC4ever 1,083 Posted January 9 Ive seen them done both ways. Just as long as its fused. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeepwm69 7,628 Posted January 9 I'd hook the red wire up to a hot wire they is only hot with key on. Otherwise, if you get a sticking switch or contactor you might come back to a wheeler with a destroyed winch. I had one do that several years ago. Just kept trying to wind in until the battery was dead, and the roller fairlead was destroyed. What machine are you working on? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
walhonding300 53 Posted January 9 Well odd thing is it's not going on an ATV lol. I am going to order #2500 for my Honda once I know what I am doing with this one. I picked up an X Force #3500 Rural King brand up for $75. They switched to Champion winches so this was sitting on a sale pallet. It's going on the carry all for my sub compact tractor. I am trying to keep the wiring as simple as possible because I will be taking it off quite a bit. I will only be using it when I am dragging firewood logs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeepwm69 7,628 Posted January 9 Ah, ok then. I would mount the contactor to the tractor and battery, and use something like this for the wiring, put the winch itself on some sort of receiver hitch type mount. https://www.amazon.com/Bulldog-20018-Quick-Connect-Winches/dp/B000KJ1L18 For a tractor you could tie the red wire for the "key" to a wire that is hot with the tractor running, OR you could run a wire from battery to a toggle switch, and then hook the red wire to the other side of that toggle. That way you plug winch in with that heavy connector, flip switch, and you're ready to go. No risk of the contactor going nuts and killing your battery/ burning your tractor down that way. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
walhonding300 53 Posted January 10 Thank you. I am going to order one of those connections. I do have the winch on a receiver mount. Only $25 on amazon for one that size. As far as the "key" wire is concerned, just to get it straight... I could wire the "key" wire directly to the "hot" wire powering the winch from the battery? The winch will only be hooked up for use and then taken off. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeepwm69 7,628 Posted January 10 30 minutes ago, walhonding300 said: Thank you. I am going to order one of those connections. I do have the winch on a receiver mount. Only $25 on amazon for one that size. As far as the "key" wire is concerned, just to get it straight... I could wire the "key" wire directly to the "hot" wire powering the winch from the battery? The winch will only be hooked up for use and then taken off. You could run that wire directly to the positive wire terminal on the contactor. All you need is 12V, so you could really hook it up anywhere that is a powered wire. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
walhonding300 53 Posted January 18 Finished it up. Still have plan to buy one of the quick connections recommended. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jeepwm69 7,628 Posted January 18 What hitch mount is that? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
_Wilson_™ 6,568 Posted January 18 3 point i cant tell what class its prolly the same class as Shades kubota..... nice build... but you could take that power cord and a bigger top link Tube and run the cord inside the top link tube for protection.... just tossing in.... a bit of modding (holes and rubber garments) would need to be done....or are ya talking bout the receiver ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
walhonding300 53 Posted January 22 Its just one I bought for $20-30 on amazon. I like the idea of running the cord through the top link if I leave it on for an extended period of time. This however will probably be off of the machine more than it is on. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites