Prevent 4WD Winch Power Cable Fires With These Tips!
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- Опубліковано 30 січ 2021
- I show you how to prevent 4WD winch power cable fires with these Tips!
Unprotected winch power cables can rub through and potentially start a fire under the bonnet of your 4WD, and that's the last thing you want.
I have taken my unprotected winch power cables out of the engine bay in my 4WD and applied a protective flexible conduit. This will protect the cables and prevent the winch power cables rubbing on sharp objects inside the engine bay, and shorting out that could potentially start an electrical fire.
A winch on the front of a 4WD requires a great deal of power from the battery for them to work.
Seeing this first hand what happened to the winch power cable on my mates 4WD.
I thought i would get mine out and cover the cables so this couldn't happen to me.
If you have a winch on the front of your 4WD, i highly recommend that you get onto this straight away, and inspect the power cables on your winch for any damage.
Cover the power cables with the same flexible conduit that i have used, and you will take away the risk of a potential electrical fire while you're out in the bush.
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Great Tim, I'm a licensed electrician of 40 years in the trade. Typically people ignore the black wire, but us sparkies know black is red until it hits the ground/earth. Top effort.
G'day mate,
Yeah the black wire is an important one, thats for sure.
I bet you have seen some bad cases after 40 yrs in the game.
Thanks mate i appreciate your reply.
Cheers Tim.
After watching this video I went and checked my cable. I found my yellow cable was pushed against the bull bar and had dent in it. Went straight bunnings got some conduit fire avoided lol
Gday Richard,
That’s great mate the video got you to check you winch power cables.
Top stuff mate.
Good thing you now have them covered and safe.
Thanks for your feedback.
Cheers Tim.
This is also a reminder to make sure you have a fire extinguisher handy for situations like this
Gday Gary,
Yeah great tip mate.
Would be very handy incase of fire starting.
Thanks mate for your reply
Cheers Tim.
Now that’s a video that all 4wders should watch. Great advice that will definitely save you and your 4wd.
Cheers Tim. 👍🍺
Gday Darren,
Thanks mate.
Hopefully the video gets a few people covering up the power cables on there winch.
I appreciate your feedback mate.
Cheers Tim.
I have been doing this for ages Tim, About time someone did a video on it.
Gday Adam,
Top stuff mate. So worth covering those winch cables up.
Thanks a lot mate for your reply and feedback.
Cheers Tim.
I sure wish I saw this video before learning the hard way haha
Oh no, I hope your winch didn’t catch on fire.
Cheers Tim
Great tip Batesy !! Something I've overlooked and will be addressing. Definitely sharing !!
Gday mate.
Thanks for that.
That’s great you’re going to look at your winch cables
Well worth it mate.
Cheers Tim.
Another quality video from you Tim, definitely helping newbies to the scene and keeping them safe so we all can enjoy 4 wheel driving and reaching these amazing places like in your videos.
G'day mate,
Thanks mate.
This is a big one for sure. If it saves one person from a potential electrical fire, the video has done it's job.
Thanks mate for your reply and feedback.
Cheers Tim.
Mate, you were just live last night! Love it!
G'day mate,
My regular videos are every Monday night and Wednesday nights.
Trying to get some videos out this year.
Thanks mate for your reply.
Cheers Tim.
Some great advice there Tim 👍
I know what we will all be doing this weekend!
Gday mate,
That’s great if you’re going to cover your winch power cables up.
Well worth it mate.
Thanks a lot for your reply.
Cheers Tim.
Another great video Batesy, awesome tip mate.
Thanks Shannon, i appreciate your feedback mate.
Cheers Tim.
Another top tip tim. I've always had insulators on my winches just to play it safe. Thanks for the video mate.
Gday Dave,
Thanks mate.
That’s a top idea how you’re protecting your winch cables.
Thanks mate for your feedback.
Cheers Tim.
Great advice mate. It’s also good to secure the cables (where possible) with cable ties
Gday Steve,
Yeah spot on mate. Zip ties are very handy for that.
Thanks mate for your reply.
Cheers Tim.
Great topic. All winches SHOULD have an isolator switch on them. Easy to cut power getting through to the control box and starting a fire. Using plastic condute is another thing you should have. Might seem unnecessary but it'll keep your cables in working order and in my opinion, Looks cleaner. Use the stuff on all my aftermarket under bonnet wiring. Cheap insurance against wires rubbing and failing. One other thing I would recommend for all 4wd owners is carrying atleast 2 decent size fire extinguishers incase you run into an unwanted electrical fire in your vehicle or someone on the tracks.
Gday mate,
Wicked feedback and tips in your reply
Thanks for that mate.
Cheers Tim.
Proper job!!! Great 👍 tip
Thanks mate.
Thanks mate.
Well worth covering those exposed winch cables for sure.
Thanks for your feedback.
Cheers Tim.
Not sure why they're not fused close to the supply from the factory.
I use ANL fuses. You can get them in 500a, so no worries about the current draw.
The conduit is also a great idea.
G'day mate,
Yeah it is a wonder considering the high current draw for a winch.
Thanks heaps mate for reply and feedback.
Cheers Tim.
Hi Lock your Huns 4WDing is your 500amp fuse still work ok when you used your winch did it anytime fused out when you are hauling a load?
Did you mount your fuse closer to the battery?
Geez mate, I would have never thought of this hey, great video. Ill get mine checked, shes due for a service any how. Nice one.
G'day mate,
The isolator key on your winch is really handy in times like my mate had to cut the power off to his winch.
I do have a video about isolator switches and how important they are.
Thanks mate for your reply.
Cheers Tim.
Great work
Thanks Kristine.
Cheers Tim.
Mate, great advice.
Thanks mate.
Certainly worth getting the cables covered.
Cheers Tim.
Another ripper vid champ 👌🏽
Thanks Frank.
I appreciate your feedback mate.
Cheers Tim.
Good advise tim the trips all about preparation before you go not prevention on the Track gonna be a few bonnets opened up for a look see including mine thanks for the Tip Tim
Peter
Gday Peter,
If this video has you checking before heading out on the tracks, is a good result for this video.
Thanks a lot mate for your reply and feedback.
Cheers Tim.
Great video mate. Also helps to put rubber washers where mounting it, helps reduce the vibrations. :) have a great day mate
G'day Daniel,
Thanks mate.
Thats a top idea about the ribber washers.
Thanks mate for your reply and feedback.
You have a top day also mate.
Cheers Tim.
Tim, I may have missed it, but I don't think you mentioned in the video on cable protection over current protection. over current is 101 electrical, every circuit and device connected to an electrical supply must have a current device that will safely open circuit when the current exceeds the rating of the device as close as possible to the power source, it doesn't matter if it's winch or a light in a car or a group of power points in a house, a street, a town the purpose is to prevent fires. sure the insulation of cables is very important, but a circuit breaker on that winch circuit would have saved a whole lot of stress. Cheers Mike
Great feedback mate.
Im not that techo when it comes to electrical topics. So i just kept it simple and mentioned having an isolator switch, that i also have on my winch cables.
Thanks mate for your reply and feedback.
Cheers Tim.
Great video Great advice 👍
Thanks mate.
I greatly appreciate your feedback.
Cheers Tim.
does not worry us as we dont have a 4x4 , but, love watching you
Gday Kevin ,
Thanks for your reply and feedback mate.
Cheers Tim.
hmmm not sure what to think of this
Awesome advice!! . . Definitely doing this as it will Look good as well as protecting the cables.. (I don't like looking at the colored cables) 🤔 better get that isolating switch asap
Thanks for aother great Video!
Putting extinguisher back in car too😁
Yes, it's well worth looking into.
Cover up those coloured cables and stop a potential electrical fire at the same time.
Thanks for your reply.
Cheers Tim.
Appropriate video Timmy, just installed new Domin8r Extreme. Seen design fault on the control box, no cable clearance on the mounting plate. Reshaped to fit, repainted, refitted. Shortened power & neg cables & reterminalled. Also fitted the flex conduit ,particular notice through front panel. Don't forget cable ties to clear & hold. Probably voided my warranty but now peace of mind.
Gday Mark,
Peace of mind is the go for sure. Yes, I have zip tied all the cables in place so they can’t move around
Thanks mate for your reply and feedback.
Cheers Tim.
Good video Timbo.
So out in the field on our comms cables carrying power we use a non split heavy duty "Flexduit" we also use "Wide Electrical Tape" & not duc tape, duc tape tends to loose its stick very quickly & starts unravelling.
Also when we terminate our tape we use 2 x table ties on around the outside of the tape to ensure that it always stays in place & can't unravel.
"Genuine" Electrical tape is thicker, has a better, longer lasting glue, streaches a lot less & deals with temperature changes much beter " especially heat V's duc tape.
Rgs
Wayne.
G'day Wayne,
Thats great feedback mate.
I'll keep that in mind about the tape for sure and i'll keep and eye on it.
Thanks for your reply mate.
Cheers Tim.
Excelente sugestão!
👏👏👏👏👏
Thank you.
I’m glad you found the video tips handy.
Thanks a lot for your reply.
Cheers Tim.
Amigo- Tim Bates- um Filho do Australia!
Thanks mate. Great info. ❤🍺🇦🇺👍
Gday mate,
Thanks for your feedback.
Cheers Tim.
I’ve seen so many winches without an isolator, very risky... don’t do it.. isolators are not expensive.. ask yourself “how often do I use my winch” great content 👍
G'day John,
Spot on mate. Having an isolator switch is a must on a winch, specially in times like my mate had.
Thanks for your reply.
Cheers Tim.
Winch isolators are manditory in some countries, basically it's good practice to have anyway on all high current applications. It also means that if you have an incident the cable doesn't short if crushed, which is pretty much a guarantee total loss if it does.
Yeah mate, they are well worth having on a winch or any other high drawing current wiring.
Cheers Tim
Gday young felah,good tip,talking about wires my landy has one cable straight to the starter motor with nothing to isolate it until l put a isolater on myself,it's a on going problem that landies have poor electrical fit outs.
G’day Greg,
Thanks mate.
Didn’t know that about the ol Landy mate.
Wonder if you can isolate that one wire some how.
Cheers Tim.
Come on Greg, never has a British vehicle allowed smoke to escape a component....
Just remember, it’s not broken, it’s British 😜
Onya Timbo , wise tip ! 👍🍻🇦🇺
Thanks mate.
Simple tip but cold be a very handy one.
Cheers Tim.
@@timbates4wdadventures Absolutely , no poor bugger wants to watch there pride n joy burn to the ground
Especially in a Forrest or on a total fire ban day , that could be devastating
Cheers to you mate 🍻👍
@@poeyd9624 spot on mate.
It would not be great at all.
Sorry Tim, have just seen the alert to this vid. I'm a bit busy so will view later. Atb mate.
Gday Bryan,
That’s cool mate.
You have a top day.
Cheers Tim.
@@timbates4wdadventures just viewed this episode. Appreciate your knowledge. Thanks for sharing mate. Atb from Nz. Take care.
Great input Tim.
Really not a good way to loose your truck
G'day mate,
It sure would be a bad way to loose your rig.
Thanks mate for your reply.
Cheers Tim.
Hi timbo
Great vid I got same winch I did this when I installed mine. Peace of mind .
Hey what brand are your diff bash plate on your gu.
Gday mate,
Yeah it’s great peace of mind for sure.
Better than having a wire catch on fire.
The diff guard is from Harris Hard Core in WA.
Cheers Tim.
@@timbates4wdadventures thanks Tim
Can't seem to find them on google or fb
Do yiu have a link or phone number at all.
A good time to add an isolator switch if not already fitted.
Gday Steve,
Top tip mate.
Thanks for that.
Cheers Tim.
Great vid Tim , but shouldn’t you have installed an isolator on the positive cable from the battery ?
G'day Luke,
Thanks mate.
I do have an isolator switch on my positive cable from my battery to my winch.
I made a video talking about the importance of having an isolator switch on your winch.
Thanks mate for your reply and feedback.
Cheers Tim.
Hey Tim, what was the reason you chose the opposite bullbar as opposed to TJM, ARB etc?
G'day Ryan,
No real reason mate.
But be replacing it soon.
Cheers Tim.
@@timbates4wdadventures will you be making a video on that? . . I plan on replacing mine with something a lot lighter. (would be great if you ended up doing my homework for me 🤣)
@@leannehickman4414 I will for sure.
what isolator switch would you recommend to handle the high amps for a long time that winches can use?
Gday mate.
Not sure on what switch to recommend.
The isolator switch that I have came with my winch.
Cheers Tim
@@timbates4wdadventures thanks for the response
@@testeagles6347 No worries mate.
Do you have a diagram of how to connect winch to the battery
Gday Dorothy
Sorry, no I don’t.
But there’s not many wires that come off a winch.
Thick red wire goes to the positive terminal and thick black wire to negative terminal on your battery.
Small earth wire just needs to be mounted to the chassis somewhere.
That’s pretty much it.
Hope that helps a bit.
Cheers Tim.
I’m looking for information on putting a fuse or circuit breaker on my 12k winch. But what amperage do I use. I have 350a fuse blocks that are supposed to be used on 1/0 cable, my winch has a 4 gauge cable.
Gday mate
Sorry I can’t advise on that.
You’d be best asking an auto electrician.
Cheers Tim.
@@timbates4wdadventures yeah I understand. Not one manufacturer has any information on fusing. I just emailed smitty and now waiting for a reply . I am very familiar with electrical. I install huge Car audio equipment and off grid solar so I know a 4gauge copper cable is only rated for 150-200 amp depending on the length of the cable maybe more. I’ll figure it out.
Nice 4wd rig you got btw.
@@Bigislandguy thanks a lot mate. I hope you can sort it out soon.
Cheers Tim.
Get marine heat shrink it also comes in different colours
G'day mate,
Ahh righto.
Didn't know of that option.
Great feedback.
Thanks mate.
Cheers Tim.
If there is ANY damage to the cable outer protection REPLACE! Why take the risk so the cables you have there are not ok... even with the additional cable casing.
Replacing is a good option if the outer casing is worn through to the wires on the inside.
Thanks for your feedback.
Cheers Tim
Great info. I re-routed my negative to have less chance of a problem. @muddyruttzz
Top stuff mate.
Glad you found the video helpful.
It’s worth protecting your winch cables from damage.
Cheers Tim