Been doing some wiring on the jeep (Hellas, Rock lights, winch, ect.)...im still learning about all this electrical stuff so here's my quick question: will leaving my winch connected drain the battery? Should I just leave the positive terminal disco'd until I think I might need it?

Thanks for the help!

 

If you're stuck knee deep in a water hole, do you really want to have to take the time to connect the winch wire to the battery?

......didn't think so. Wire it up. It won't draw any power until you use it.

 

Exactly. Its bad enough that you will need to get out to hook up the controller and pull out the winch line. Definitely don't want to have to open the hood and disconnect your battery so you can connect your winch.

Plus if you are in a mud hole you do not want to shut off the vehicle at all because the mud and water will find it way into your exhaust. If that happens it could dry and become very hard which will completely block off your exhaust flow and cause many more problems once you get out of that hole.

We have left our JK sitting for at least four to five days at times and it fires right up. We have lights, cb, and winch all connected electrically and don't have any drain issues.

 

That's what I figured. I have it all wired up, but I thought I read somewhere that it would slowly drain your battery even when not on use.

 

I know a lot of guys that do , because of it not being a fused circiut . I have mine wired all times and never have hade any problem with last 4 rides with winches. Personal choice.

 

I wired mine to a marine disconnect switch that is near the battery. Anytime I go wheelin I switch power on as I am airing down tires.

I also did a big connector a foot off the winch so I can disconnect the power source and connect jumper cables with the same plug end. Never have to pop the hood on the trail even to jump someone. I think the connectors and jump cables are Warn.

 

On my previous Jeep, I would let the Jeep sit in the driveway for 2 - 4 months at a time with the winch wired up. No problems.

 

Good idea! I like it. Can you post some pics or a link to the connectors?

 

For what it's worth, I run a winch, five Offroad lights, cb, and maglight charger, all wired directly to the oem battery. It's four years old and still kicking

 

I leave mine unhooked with a quick disco. I always hook it up before going off road