Chopping a car in half with a winch

[battenberg]

I was chattin to someone at our regional landy meet the other day and they were talking about some kids somewhere who would think it clever to pay out the winch line over the top of the car, attach it to the tow hitch and short out the winch cables and leg it... leaving you motor to chop itself in half... sort of..!

be warned about any exposed wiring on your winch..!

 

[dingwalldemon]

As practical jokes go, i would find that quite amusing, so long as it wasnt my Disco!

 

[ratty]

I was chattin to someone at our regional landy meet the other day and they were talking about some kids somewhere who would think it clever to pay out the winch line over the top of the car, attach it to the tow hitch and short out the winch cables and leg it... leaving you motor to chop itself in half... sort of..!

be warned about any exposed wiring on your winch..!

Stick an isolator switch inside the car and leave it off unless you are using it and they can't short it out to get it to work.

Then pull your cable tight so they can't pull the cable out on freewheel.

It is basic stuff. If you are running a winch without a cut off you are an accident waiting to happen. One sticky solonoid and your landy is wrapped around the tree you are winching off.

 

[The Mad Hat Man]

so how many of yooz guys with a winch dont have a cut off?

 

[Dave 2000]

Stick an isolator switch inside the car and leave it off unless you are using it and they can't short it out to get it to work.

Then pull your cable tight so they can't pull the cable out on freewheel.

It is basic stuff. If you are running a winch without a cut off you are an accident waiting to happen. One sticky solonoid and your landy is wrapped around the tree you are winching off.

Could you clarify? Are you saying run the heavy + into the car and use a battery isolator?

Or.. just run a cutout wire to the solenoids which will not help if the solenoids are stuck anyway?

If it is the former let me know the make of your battery cutout, the ones I have seen advertise 500 amps and then you find thats at 24 volts. I could be wrong but if you half the voltage does the amperage that the isolator can carry half as well leaving just 250 amp and most winches exceed that?

regards

Dave

 

[The Mad Hat Man]

V=IR
if volts reduce by half, then current increases by a factor of 2.

Watts = VA therefore if 12*X is half of 24*X, where X is the current consumption of the winch.

 

[Dave 2000]

Got it, I knew something happened to the amp thingies when mucking about with the voltage doofers.

regards

Dave

 

[Pikey]

Get a PTO winch that'll confuse the fookers.

 

[ratty]

Could you clarify? Are you saying run the heavy + into the car and use a battery isolator?

yes

Or.. just run a cutout wire to the solenoids which will not help if the solenoids are stuck anyway?

no

If it is the former let me know the make of your battery cutout, the ones I have seen advertise 500 amps and then you find thats at 24 volts. I could be wrong but if you half the voltage does the amperage that the isolator can carry half as well leaving just 250 amp and most winches exceed that?

Dave

look
HEAVY DUTY BATTERY ISOLATOR SWITCH (1000A) + Metal Key on eBay, also Lorry Truck Parts, Lorries Trucks, Commercial Vehicles, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 20-Feb-08 07:31:26 GMT)

 

[ratty]

Could you clarify? Are you saying run the heavy + into the car and use a battery isolator?
Dave

You don't have to run it into the car unless you sit in the car while winching. I have a 1000 peak amp cut off inside the landy and an anderson connector on the outside so I can isolate my winch it in two ways and two different places in an emergency.

 

[ratty]

so how many of yooz guys with a winch dont have a cut off?

You wouldn't be trying to worry these boyz would you Mr MHM?

 

[The Mad Hat Man]

see the poll

 

[ratty]

C'mon then MHM. I have voted. state yer opinion in the poll thread.

 

[The Mad Hat Man]

i aint gorra winch connected at the mo (its just fur show), but I am interested in peeps opinions before I decide - i reckon (being a bit of a wuss),I wud err on the side of caution and have one - but where?

 

[Pikey]

If your running a twin battery setup just fit a battery isolator switch in the cab somewhere. I'd buy an enclosure box from maplins big enuff to take the switch plus a few extra light switches. and mount that on the top of the dash above the centre console.

 

[ratty]

For those who have a winch fitted and wired up stick yer vote in the 'isolator poll' and your reasons for and against an isolator.

 

[hughesy]

Don't spose there's a vid of summat being cut in half?? I'd love to see it done

 

[Sirus]

Well theres an invitation for some oik to do it

 

[The Mad Hat Man]

yu bring yo mota over, hughesy - sure we can arrange summat

 

[hughesy]

****in hell get over yerselves I only meant it'd make an intresting vid on u tube or something. Mine's got a separate battery with an isolator and a cut off switch to the winch so good luck to 'em