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Burnt out some more relays ( Hi-mount 6hp with 24v up its bum) on the Pirana Pursuit so started investigating for something better. I saw a set up using 6 relays that uses 4 relays for the "in" function , the extra 2 work in paralell with the the other "in" relays so they share the load and if one relay die's it will still keep working ( good redundency plan ) . The set up was i believe from the USA and used plastic coated relays for better moisture resistance . Im going to build up my own new set up, done some searching on the net and found some 200 amp continous rated relays that are made with Silver contacts ( best material for switching DC current ) so ordered myself 6 of them got a bit of a shock when i got the bill thou ( about $140 each relay ) but i own them now as they were a special order. What have other users done to overcome this issue with the s**t warn relays
Wally
THERES ONLY ONE SUBSTITUTE FOR CUBES AND THATS MORE and if you want more inchs stroke it !!!!!!!!!!!
You could have bought a single pack solenoid that quite a few of us use. I get mine from Dave Metcalfe (EXTREME MMM from this board ) for about $245. I've only heard of one getting burnt out and that was because they were running more than the 24V through it. If you want some testemonies then chat to Laurie Sternbeck and Kym Bolton etc. A lot easier to use, heaps cheaper, next to no voltage drop and more reliable.
I`m still using the standard warn relays. All I have done is mounted them in a water tight box. Haven`t had any problems yet and had this setup for about 7 years.
Guts wrote:I`m still using the standard warn relays. All I have done is mounted them in a water tight box. Haven`t had any problems yet and had this setup for about 7 years.
Are you running 12V or 24V?
[quote="Harb"]Well I'm guessing that they didn't think everyone would carry on like a big bunch of sooky girls over it like they have........[/quote]
I believe what kills the relays is stopping the winch under high loads. As DC motor's generate a fair arc until the distance becomes to large for the arc to continue and it stops. This oxidises the contacts and when too burnt will not make contact and no longer work. Silver is a excellent conductor of electricity and oxidises very little so is perfectly suited to switching DC power. I work in a steel plant and we have very large DC electric motors up to 10,000 HP and the contacts used in switching are always silver ( all precious metals are excellent i believe gold is even better as it does not oxidise but is $$$$$ ) When i removed my old relays a cut them open the contacts were badly burnt/melted from arcing and they were only 6 months old. The batteries i use pump out huge amps and this with 24v and really high loads something has to give so im giving the new relays i brought a go as i own them now.
Wally
THERES ONLY ONE SUBSTITUTE FOR CUBES AND THATS MORE and if you want more inchs stroke it !!!!!!!!!!!
80UTE wrote:I believe what kills the relays is stopping the winch under high loads. As DC motor's generate a fair arc until the distance becomes to large for the arc to continue and it stops. This oxidises the contacts and when too burnt will not make contact and no longer work. Silver is a excellent conductor of electricity and oxidises very little so is perfectly suited to switching DC power. I work in a steel plant and we have very large DC electric motors up to 10,000 HP and the contacts used in switching are always silver ( all precious metals are excellent i believe gold is even better as it does not oxidise but is $$$$$ ) When i removed my old relays a cut them open the contacts were badly burnt/melted from arcing and they were only 6 months old. The batteries i use pump out huge amps and this with 24v and really high loads something has to give so im giving the new relays i brought a go as i own them now.
Wally
The relays on Ian's GU came on when he slammed the front down as he was exiting the water at the prologue and again when he went nose first into a 6 meter washout. At the prologue just the in stuck on and nearly ripped his winch bar apart in the washout both in and out stuck on at the same time and fried the motor and nearly tore things apart
Has anybody tried a big capacitor across the relay contacts? Same principle as the condenser in a Kettering (points) ignition system - the energy in the motor windings charges the capacitor rather than arcing across the points.
Of course, all that energy needs to go somewhere the next time the contacts close. Maybe not such a hot idea?
Plan B: High power zener across the contacts? The voltage which normally produces the arc causes the Zener to conduct... Perhaps a 30V Zener - what's the highest power rating they come with?
beretta wrote:Anyone got a website with info on these babies?
If you mean the solenoid in the pick. They are manufactured by Albright in the UK, but there is no info on their website www.albright.co.uk
Thanks John, I've since found heaps of info on a few UK 4x4 sites, massive price variance between what they charge in the UK, then the US and here! Get em in the UK for about $140 Aussie (retail), bout $220 retail in the US and $240 here. Anyone heading to the UK soonish? I'm thinking the relos in law over there could be sending some my way!
beretta wrote:Anyone got a website with info on these babies?
If you mean the solenoid in the pick. They are manufactured by Albright in the UK, but there is no info on their website www.albright.co.uk
Thanks John, I've since found heaps of info on a few UK 4x4 sites, massive price variance between what they charge in the UK, then the US and here! Get em in the UK for about $140 Aussie (retail), bout $220 retail in the US and $240 here. Anyone heading to the UK soonish? I'm thinking the relos in law over there could be sending some my way!
I had a look on mine which I bought from the UK.
The sticker on the 12V version says:
Goodwinch Ltd
Type: DC88-394PL
Voltage: 12
The sticker on the 24V version says:
Goodwinch Ltd
Type: DC88-378PL
Voltage: 24
Goodwinch is David Boyer's company, which manufactures/sells winches. Since I did not buy these from him, I might suppose that he got Albright to make them as a special line.
I don't remember what they cost me to bring out, as they were included in an order for other parts.
You can also get the albright type solinoids as pictured above from Superwinch in Minto for $200 I picked one up a few weeks ago. That is the 12v version not sure about 24v.
stephen wrote:You can also get the albright type solinoids as pictured above from Superwinch in Minto for $200 I picked one up a few weeks ago. That is the 12v version not sure about 24v.
Yeah, The Col Hershe solenoids are great as they don't have a great voltage drop because the spring inside is slightly softer than the normal WARN items. In a normal vehicle they are fine and you wont notice any problems most of the time; however, when you have a comp truck getting the nose up to 3 meters in the air and then smashing back down to earth you can imagine the forces this places on the solenoids if they are mounted upright with the posts vertical and they lock themselves on both in and out at the same time.
beretta wrote:Anyone got a website with info on these babies?
If you mean the solenoid in the pick. They are manufactured by Albright in the UK, but there is no info on their website www.albright.co.uk
Thanks John, I've since found heaps of info on a few UK 4x4 sites, massive price variance between what they charge in the UK, then the US and here! Get em in the UK for about $140 Aussie (retail), bout $220 retail in the US and $240 here. Anyone heading to the UK soonish? I'm thinking the relos in law over there could be sending some my way!
Hey Beretta, where abouts in the UK did you get the $140 price from?
toughnut wrote:Yeah, The Col Hershe solenoids are great as they don't have a great voltage drop because the spring inside is slightly softer than the normal WARN items. In a normal vehicle they are fine and you wont notice any problems most of the time; however, when you have a comp truck getting the nose up to 3 meters in the air and then smashing back down to earth you can imagine the forces this places on the solenoids if they are mounted upright with the posts vertical and they lock themselves on both in and out at the same time.
So how have you got them set up? Are you just running one or have you got them wired up like a traditional solenoid pack? We're just wanting to run 12v just want to know how to set it up.
beretta wrote:Anyone got a website with info on these babies?
If you mean the solenoid in the pick. They are manufactured by Albright in the UK, but there is no info on their website www.albright.co.uk
Thanks John, I've since found heaps of info on a few UK 4x4 sites, massive price variance between what they charge in the UK, then the US and here! Get em in the UK for about $140 Aussie (retail), bout $220 retail in the US and $240 here. Anyone heading to the UK soonish? I'm thinking the relos in law over there could be sending some my way!
Hey Beretta, where abouts in the UK did you get the $140 price from?
Devon 4x4, so retail pricing, would do much better direct I guess. looking into this and have found out how to get them over here a lot cheaper. Anyone interested?