The winch motor is exactly like the starter motor in that it takes a heavy current, so a solenoid and heavy wires directly from the battery are needed to work it, just like the starter. If you were to wire a winch through the existing loom you would fry it, but nobody does, because all the new wires come in the kit.

 

Did the winch you just bought come with a fuse? I can't figure out how to post the picture of the winch kit I'm looking at but from the looks of what it comes with it doesn't come with a fuse. Either I'll buy a Kit the has a fuse set up or I'll have to find a way to put a fuse in with the wiring.

 

No it didnt come with a fuse.. It came with a circuit breaker for the positive wire.. Manual says it will trip and then reset if it heats up..

 

I bought this one..

2500 lb. ATV/Utility Electric Winch with Wireless Remote Control

 

Like I wrote at the top of the page, winch motors are like starter motors. How many starters have a fuse? The only one I can think of is the Suzuki LT80 which has a trip switch. A 1200W motor will pull 100 amps, so any fuse would need to be over that. The windings and cable are made to stand high currents and the winch probably has a clutch that will slip before the motor is stopped by overloading so, if there isn't a fuse included, the makers must recon you don't need one.