Can an Electric Winch be Plugged into a 7-Way Connector on an RV

Updated 10/05/2016 | Published 10/04/2016

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Question:

I have a small 12 volt winch, it has a red and black wire coming from it. How do I connect these wires to a 7 way plug to plug into my RV?

asked by: Bill W

Expert Reply:

First you have to look at the amperage the winch draws and compare it to what the 12 volt circuit on the 7-Way connector is rated for. Winches can draw a lot of power and could easily over draw the 12 volt circuit on the 7-Way. Most 7-Way connectors are on a 30 to 40 amp circuit breaker or fuse. Even a small 1,500 pound winch can draw 70 amps or more.

What I recommend is to use separate wiring and connectors for the winch to avoid over drawing the 7-Way. If the winch wiring is 6 to 10 gauge you can use # BDW20047. Since you mentioned it is a small winch I don't believe the wires would be larger than 6 gauge.

You would then need enough wire to go from the rear of the RV to its battery. The largest wire gauge we have is 10, # 10-2-1, sold by the foot. The problem with that is that at a length of 20 feet the wire can only handle up to 46 amps at 12 volts. If you used some 6 gauge wire obtained locally it would be rated for 120 amps.

If your RV is really long then I recommend using quick connects # BDW20043 for 3 gauge wire. A lot depends on how far the battery is from the rear of the RV and how many amps the winch draws but this will handle the distance and power draw well.

expert reply by: Michael H