Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Does a warn winch need to be fused? or is there an internal fuse or something? or is it not needed?

The Warn Winch (I have a 9000) does not have a fuse. Its the same theory as your starter motor, since a winch motor is prettty much like a starter motor anyway.

Basically the winch motor draws so much current from the battery that the additional resistance introduced into the circuit by a fuse would lower the voltage to the winch motor and reduce its power. Thats also why the leads are so fat. See figures below. At 9000lbs pull the winch draws 460 amps!!!!

12V DC PERFORMANCE SPECS 9000lb Warn Winch

0 70 amps
2000lbs 180 amps
4000lbs 255 amps
6000lbs 330 amps
8000lbs 415 amps
9000lbs 460 amps


If the winch motor goes wrong (windings burn out due to excessive pulling weight) and the battery shorts out through it dont worry the copper windings will fry and go open circuit as quickly as any fuse, and before your battery explodes.

excellent thanks mate the last bit was the bit i needed. i knew puuttting a fuse through it would lowe its voltage a huge amount and sorta make it less effective but couldnt figure out what happened if it did burn out.. cheers

ben