Home Grown Solutions

[cico7]

That's a straight up bad idea... lol sorry, no sugar coating that one. You basically ran a high amperage un-fused line to your front bumper. The slightest fender bender and you're going to (at least) fry the battery or (at worse) fry your entire vehicle.

I would disconnect that line until it's fused properly.

I disagree, but I am going to disconnect until I get other input.
If I am in a fender bender, a number of things can fry the battery.
However: there isn't the protection the battery has and if I rear
end someone and get a spark and a leaking gas tank....
....I will still temporaily disconnect.....

[Matt]

So you're saying there's no a problem with taking a straight positive from the battery and touching it to ground?

Fires don't need to be started with gas. Get plastic (all around the front bumper) hot enough and it will ignite.

Your battery is very well protected by fuses; if you're in an accident and ANYTHING in your vehicle shorts, the fuse will pop before the battery frys or worse. Except for that one line you put in.

Edit: I dont know what the stats are... but i'd bet the majority of vehicle fires are caused by electrical issues (usually someone jumping a fuse or putting in an incorrectly fused circuit)

[HueyPilotVN]

Matt,

I can see why you are cautious, However the main positive cable from your battery is a similar setup. Unless you have a fuse or circuit breaker at the battery you will always have the risk of the "hot' cable shorting in a crash. If you look at most of the winch setups you will find that very few have an inline fuse in the primary power cable. Here is a picture of mine which uses the same type of connector as Cico.

I did install an inline key switch so that I can disable the line unless I need it. That might allay your fears about a front end collision somewhat.

[Matt]

The main positive from the battery is a very short run to the main fuse block and won't short unless you're in a major accident that basically wipes out the engine compartment.

A key switch however is an applicable solution since it basically cuts the line off as close to the battery as possible.

[HueyPilotVN]

Here is a discussion on the subject from another forum.

http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f27/winch-fuse-97485/

[Matt]

Yeah... a switch would be a good idea... as long as the operator remembers to keep it off when not in use. Winch bumpers are also a slightly different application than what was posted. It would take a considerable impact to damage the wires on a winch enclosed in a big steel bumper.

A straight line run to the front center of the front bumper without some sort of fuse or switch is still a very bad idea IMO.

[HueyPilotVN]

Here is what you need Cico. I am sure you can find it.



I installed it with quick ties in the area in front of trhe battery and tethered the key to it so I would not lose it. Leave it off all the time when not in use.