I just installed a Warn Winch on my 2000 Honda 450ES. Installation of the winch was simple with a Cycle Country snowplow winch mount (comes with roller fairlead that mounts in the front bumper). The solenoid found a home under the seat behind the battery by the fuse box. The wiring, very basic, but the part I didn't like was tapping into a perfectly good wiring harness to connect a small power wire that connects the solenoid to the ignition switch. Honda has gone to great lengths to seal the electrical system to keep water out, so why would I want to mess that up. Idea... instead of tapping into the harness I put a cigarette lighter plug on the end of that small wire and hang it on the handle bars. Now if I need the winch I just plug it into the recepticle on the side of the speedo pod, which activates the solenoid. This way the solenoid is only activated when I want the winch, and not every time I turn the key on. This is also a fused connection, to protect the system in case of an electrical short. This works great and looks neat.

 

Not a bad idea; now you have an auxiliary power outlet available, as well as a way to enable and disable the winch control switch independent of the ignition switch circuitry.

I understand some dispense with the in-line solenoid entirely and hook the winch control switch up directly to the battery; in this case, the winch control switch remains always active.

Tree Farmer

 

I made all my connections inside the headlight housing. Inside there they are well protected from the elements. I solder all my connections and wrap them with a special electrical sealer tape that is water and weatherproof. Also while I was in there I added another 12 volt accessory outlet on the other side of the headlight that was "hot" all the time so I dont need the key on to run my GPS and my camp lights.

 

I hooked up my old Bear with out the solenoid.Never had a problem. I always left one wire to the winch off. You take the black rubber boot protecter and slid it over the end to cover it. I used wing nuts,this worked very well for years. It only takes a few seconds to make it live or to de-activate it. And I never burned up my switch like everyone said I would.

 

I run all my accessory wiring in clear tubing and tie rap it to the frame, also seal the ends with silicone it keeps the water and mud out!!

 

Sounds like a good way you got her rigged up, I hooked mine up straight with a toggle switch since I already have a cigarette plug on my bike.

 

The 450 came stock with the 12v cigarette lighter jack as well, thats why I made use of it to power up the solenoid only when I need the winch. That way I didn't have to cut into the factory wiring harness to make a connection and have possible electrical problems in the future.

 

1 question for you guys, what is a solenoid???

 

The solenoid is a big electric switch used in high amperage applications ie. a winch or starter. It is sort of like a double switch, 2 small wires, one from ground and one from the ignition switch energize a large switch within the solenoid which connects the two heavier cables which are connected from the sides of the solenoid to the appliance ie. winch or starter.
Hope this helps.

 

So would my quad have a solenoid??. And yes I get the idea now...Thanks