P500 What size circuit breaker?

[Mudder]

Running 6 ga wire to hood and picked up a Bussman 150 amp waterproof switchable breaker. They also had 100. Which size amperage is recommended? Running winch 2500lb, but want to have enough to if I upgrade winch to 4500 lb. Keep the 150 amp or should I swap it out for the 100?

 

[Admin]

 

[bigbore]

Running 6 ga wire to hood and picked up a Bussman 150 amp waterproof switchable breaker. They also had 100. Which size amperage is recommended? Running winch 2500lb, but want to have enough to if I upgrade winch to 4500 lb. Keep the 150 amp or should I swap it out for the 100?

According to the Internet Superwinch site, the Terra 45 is a 1.6 hp motor. Again, an online calculator shows 1.6 hp = 1200 watts. 1200/12 volts = 100 amps.

Honestly though, at 100 amps, other than a complete short circuit I can't think of a reason why 100 amps would be better than 150. I would reason that you will have to consider what you will be doing to push a 4500 to the max on the P500 and do you want it to be able to sustain the draw. Having said this, I am neither an engineer nor electrician.

 

[Mudder]

According to the Internet Superwinch site, the Terra 45 is a 1.6 hp motor. Again, an online calculator shows 1.6 hp = 1200 watts. 1200/12 volts = 100 amps.

Honestly though, at 100 amps, other than a complete short circuit I can't think of a reason why 100 amps would be better than 150. I would reason that you will have to consider what you will be doing to push a 4500 to the max on the P500 and do you want it to be able to sustain the draw. Having said this, I am neither an engineer nor electrician.

Thanks for the calculation, good to know.

 

[Montecresto]

Running 6 ga wire to hood and picked up a Bussman 150 amp waterproof switchable breaker. They also had 100. Which size amperage is recommended? Running winch 2500lb, but want to have enough to if I upgrade winch to 4500 lb. Keep the 150 amp or should I swap it out for the 100?

Your 6 gauge wires the dictator. 100 amp.

 

[bigbore]

Your 6 gauge wires the dictator. 100 amp.

I forgot, "capacity of the lowest rated component in the circuit". Nice catch!

The winches come with a breaker. Don't know the rating though.

 

[joeymt33]

I put a meter on my Warn 4500 and it pull just over 300 amps right before it stalls!

Here's the info on a Warn 2500....says it will pull 152 amps

 

[bigbore]

I put a meter on my Warn 4500 and it pull just over 300 amps right before it stalls!

Here's the info on a Warn 2500....says it will pull 152 amps

View attachment 26643

Superwinch site says 180 amps for their 4500:

Bottom of the page, tab over to "45"
Superwinch Terra Series

Still a LOT higher than the online calculator for a 1.6 hp electric motor. I suspect the online calculator doesn't assume such heavy loading of the motor. It seems to predict medium loading which is consistant with the middle of the winch operating range. I have to wonder again what the rating on the supplied Superwinch breaker is, I can't imagine it is 300 amp. Also, the wire they supply is 8 gauge stranded right?

 

[joeymt33]

I believe it's 6ga on mine but I could be wrong. I can tell you that there has been several times where we've stalled the winch trying to pull Delton, or move trees and stumps, etc. it would be annoying to have it trip over and over.

Good news is they are not too expensive and you can buy a couple different sizes and go higher if you need to.


Signature:

QUOTE by Sharp, Where's Don? He's probably spray painting stuff lmfao!

 

[Mudder]

Found this chart on site. Battery Cable Automotive 12 Volt - 6 Gauge to 4/0 AWG - Wiring Products Says to also include chassis ground distance for voltage drop?

 

[Montecresto]

Found this chart on site. Battery Cable Automotive 12 Volt - 6 Gauge to 4/0 AWG - Wiring Products Says to also include chassis ground distance for voltage drop?

View attachment 26653

I see 6 gauge is 100 amp at 6 feet, perfect.