I just got my Warn 2.5 today and briefly looked at the directions.

Looks like you need to locate a wire that is hot only when key is on to tap into.

Is there anyone who has already done this that could save me some time by pointing me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance (Don't have the factory service manual yet).

 

I believe it is red with black stripe, off the back of the switch.

----- Gimpster -----

 

Thanks.

 

Tap into the hot wire on the accessory plug. That's how I did mine, because if something fizzles it's not going to take out a crucial wiring circuit that would leave you stranded.

 

If the fuse blew for the wire I mentioned to him, It would only take down the lights. It goes to the ignition bat2 terminal and is fused by a 15 amp fuse. The accessory socket comes off the fuse box accessory fuse that is a 10 amp fuse. Yes the white/black wire off the accessory plug can be used but its only drawback is the lighter load fuse could blow sooner than the heavier light fuse.

----- Gimpster -----

 

I just finished the install, and actually used the accessory plug wire (before I read Prong's post), mainly because it was easy to get to, and I couldn't figure out how to get the headlight pod apart to look for the wire Gimpster suggested (Man, I gotta get a service manual...)

Anyhow, I think I should be OK, current wise, as I don't think the control circuit for the contactor draws much... and it seems to work fine.

The install was much more of a project than I figured, and more of a pain, but it turned out clean. I would have bought the machine with the winch already mounted, but the mount plate wasn't out at the time. Saved some cash ordering it on line and installing myself, I suppose.

It will sure be nice knowing that winch is on there. First time out with the quad, I somehow got the right front wheel into the left rut on a snow covered trail, and ended up sideways wedged between a big tree and a steep bank[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img]. (It surprised me by clawing it's way up the bank enough to get turned around).

 

You'll be fine with the control circuit for the relay tied into the accessory circuit. I used the same reasoning Prong did with my heated bars and thumbwarmer circuit. Mine doesn't have the accessory circuit, I had to use the lighting side as Gimp recommended. The control side of the circuit doesn't use much current, so 10 amps should be fine.

 

Yes, the accessory wire will work good with the winch on the 10 amp fuse. When I wire in a winch, I tap into the back of the ignition switch wire harness, in case down the road if the customer uses a sprayer or a spotlight plugged into the accessory outlet so they don't blow the 10 amp fuse. I have run across this problem before, overloading the fuse. My error, when I read your first post , I thought you were looking at the wires on the back side of the ignition switch.
Anyway... you'll like the winch.

----- Gimp -----