A winch is a machine or a tool that has a cable or a rope that is used for lifting and hauling bulky loads. Winches are normally used with heavy-duty vehicles like ATVs, UTVs, etc. If you have an ATV winch it is always recommended to use a winch switch with it as it allows the operator to maintain a safe distance while winching.
Tools Required
The winch switch is an important component for operating the winch smoothly and safely. The winch switch allows the owner to control the winch from a distance. Wiring the winch switch to a winch is not a difficult process if one has the right tools for it. While wiring the switch to the winch you will need the following tools-
Wire: Wires will be required for connecting the switch to the battery terminals and also while installing the solenoid. Extra lengths of wires might be required if the initial wiring is not correct therefore keep enough wire ready.
Drill machine: When installing the solenoid and the switch you would need to drill in a few holes to attach the solenoid to the surface for which a drill machine will be required.
Solenoid: The solenoid helps in activating the winch motor and in activating the switch if the winch as the current is delivered from the battery.
Capscrews, Flat Washers, and Locknuts: These will be needed for holding the solenoid in place when installing it.
Steps to Wire Winch Switch on ATV
Wiring a switch to an ATV winch is not a challenging task though if one is doing it for the first time it can seem to be a tough job. It is very important to have the right knowledge and the right procedure for wiring the switch to the winch as one mistake can lead to a major accident. The steps for wiring a winch switch to an ATV winch are given below.
Step 1: Disconnect all the Wiring to the Battery and winch
When wiring a winch switch with an ATV winch the first thing that you need to do is to disconnect all the wiring with the battery, winch, and all other electrical connections. If there is a worn-out switch or solenoid present you need to remove that as well.
To disconnect the battery from the winch you would need to detach the negative end of the battery cable from the battery. This will also turn off the engine’s ignition. Lastly, make sure to disengage the clutch of the winch
Sept 2: Take the Necessary Safety Precautions
Wiring the winch switch to the winch involves dealing with a lot of electrical wires and gadgets due to which it is very important to take the required safety precautions to avoid any kind of accidents. As the wiring process will require you to deal with a lot of wires you should always handle them while wearing rubber gloves as they act as insulation and prevent any electrical shock.
It is recommended to wear safety gear and rubber sandals while working on the project. Also, make sure that there is no water or any other liquid near your workstation.
Step 3: Locate the area for Solenoid Mounting
Once all the connections are disconnected and the necessary precautions have been taken care of you can start with locating an area for solenoid mounting and getting access to the installation location. To get access you can simply remove the hood or close on top.
Once you think that you have got access to the required location you can start marking the spot for installing the solenoid. The location that you will be choosing must be dry and protected. While you are at it, also look for the accessory wire from the vehicle ignition switch. The location should be in close proximity to each other so that no alternations in the length of the wire will be needed.
Step 4: Install the Solenoid
Once you have made sure that the location at which you are planning to install the solenoid is secured and dry you can start with the installation process. An important thing to remember is that the solenoid should be mounted on a flat surface and should be within a distance of 24 inches from the winch motor.
To begin with the installation process, you would first need to drill two 7-inch holes at the site of the installation. Along the solenoid with the holes and use 3/4 inches long cap screws, flat washers, and locknuts to mount the solenoid and secure it at the determined location.
Step 5: Stat Wiring the Switch
Once the solenoid has been installed you can begin with wiring the switch to the winch. There will be a number of wires, but all of them will be color coded so there will not be much difficulty in recognizing them. Now to start with the process, you would first need to locate the black and red wires. The black wire will be connected to the positive terminal of the ATV battery and the red wire will be connected to the negative terminal of the battery.
There will be another wire white in color. The white wire will be connected to the switch ground terminal. The other end of the red wire and the green wire will be connected to the receiver ground terminal. This will finish up the wiring and once it is done you can install the switch in the marked location and connect it to power.
For wiring a winch I have written a completely separate article, you can read it here – ATV Winch wiring
Step 6: Check Everything
There can be a situation in which after you are done with wiring the switch the winch does not seem to function properly. In such circumstances, you should do a thorough check for any loosely connected wires if all the wirings are connected to the right terminal. The wires should be long enough as using wires which are shorter than the required length increases the chance of losing connection. Also, make sure that the switch is in perfect alignment before you plug it in.
Step 7: Test the Functionality of the Switch
Once everything is done and the switch has been wired to the winch, the switch’s functionality must be checked before it is used in the field. A poorly wired or dysfunctional switch can hamper the functioning of the winch and lead to major accidents.
To check the working of the winch switch, first, you need to make sure that the power is connected to the winch. If the winch is connected to power you can begin testing the switch by moving the switch manually to the desired location and if it works then it indicates that the switch works and can be operated on the next level.
So that’s it for wiring a switch to an ATV winch. If you wish to read more you can bookmark my website or just save some of my best articles like how to install ATV winch, Best snow plowing atv winch, best hand winch, ATV fairleads, how to decide what size ATV winch to buy, how many amps does an ATV winch draw and best atv winches for this year
Summary
The winch switch must be correctly wired as the functioning of the winch depends on it. Wiring the switch can seem to be an intimidating job but with the right tools and knowledge, one can easily do it on their own. If you are someone who needs to wire a switch to their ATV winch can refer to the step-by-step guide given above.
