Troubleshooting Contactor/Solenoid on 12V Powered Winch

Updated 02/21/2014 | Published 02/19/2014

Question:

Hello. Recently my contactor stopped working it only lets the cable out not in . I noticed that a lot of winches dont have a contactor. Can I eliminate this and just have two switches one for in and one for out. Thank you.

asked by: Brian

Expert Reply:

You can do a bypass test to see whether the problem is in the switch or solenoid. Take a jumper wire from the battery +12V and touch it to the green wire on the solenoid. The winch should operate in one direction. Then try applying the +12V wire to the black wire on the solenoid. If the winch does not work in the other direction then the solenoid is bad.

The direction of the winch operation, in or out, is determined by which of two solenoid contacts is connected to the 12V power input from the battery. If the winch operates only in one direction you can first try checking that all connections are solid and free from corrosion.

Next you can test the winch motor itself in the same way by applying +12V power to the two terminals on the motor, and then reverse them to see if it operates in the other direction. If the winch operates both ways when powered directly then you know the winch itself is okay and the problem is likely in the switch.

It is not possible to wire the winch with just two power switches and no solenoid.

expert reply by: Adam R