How much current can be drawn thru a cigaret light in an automobile? I have a power socket in the rear of my SUV and would like to know if I can run a small electric winch from it without over taxing the system? The winch is a 1500 pound that I would like to use loading a small Power king tractor on my trailer Tractor probably weighs 400 lbs. I am too much of an invalid to use the current hand winch. Thanks Henry
- Thread starter HenryO
- Start date
Just guessing here, but probably that cigarette lighter / power port will not carry the load. Even a small winch will pull more than 20 amps. Most of those ports are fused pretty small. They are intended to supply phone chargers or 12 volt power supplies for running small devices like DVD players or computers.
Easy fix though. Run a dedicated cable from the battery to the point of use. The size of the cable and connector you need will depend on the amp draw of the winch you plan on using. Be sure to fuse it appropriately or install a circuit breaker to protect your vehicle and your family. An electrical fire will take out your vehicle fast.
Greg
Easy fix though. Run a dedicated cable from the battery to the point of use. The size of the cable and connector you need will depend on the amp draw of the winch you plan on using. Be sure to fuse it appropriately or install a circuit breaker to protect your vehicle and your family. An electrical fire will take out your vehicle fast.
Greg
Brendon-KS
Well-known Member
- Location
- Goessel, KS
A winch that size will draw about 10 amps just running unloaded and will max out around 100 amps at full load. You'd be lucky to even be able to reel in the unloaded cable without blowing the fuse, let alone actually pull something. To do this right you'd need to run some heavy wire, maybe 4 gauge, from the battery to the back of the vehicle where you can hook up the winch. Make sure you have either a circuit breaker or fuse of the proper capacity as close to the battery as possible on the positive wire so a short doesn't burn up your vehicle.
CORRECT ANSWER it depends on the rating of the outlet and its wiring and fusing plus the current of the winch under load.
That being said (So Billy Bob don't have a calf lol)
I cant imagine a winch (unless its veryyyyyyyy small) that draws so few amps a typical cigarette lighter outlet can properly power it!!!!!!!!!!
Even if the outlet was rated at say 300 watts, that's 25 amps and many of those outlets are for small electronics and aren't even rated that high.
If I wanted to be able to plug in a 12 volt winch I think I would want at least a 50 amp (subject to winches size and current draw under load) or even a 100 amp supply meaning the use of those high current DC plugs and outlets with appropriate size wiring and fusing back from the battery AND I DONT SEE A TYPICAL CIGARETTE LIGHTER OUTLET AND PLUG AS HAVING THAT MUCH CAPACITY as they may be 200 to 400 watts...
Nuff said, now see what Billy Bob and Bubba have to say, they may say they have done it and it worked fine for years, so make your own choice
John T
That being said (So Billy Bob don't have a calf lol)
I cant imagine a winch (unless its veryyyyyyyy small) that draws so few amps a typical cigarette lighter outlet can properly power it!!!!!!!!!!
Even if the outlet was rated at say 300 watts, that's 25 amps and many of those outlets are for small electronics and aren't even rated that high.
If I wanted to be able to plug in a 12 volt winch I think I would want at least a 50 amp (subject to winches size and current draw under load) or even a 100 amp supply meaning the use of those high current DC plugs and outlets with appropriate size wiring and fusing back from the battery AND I DONT SEE A TYPICAL CIGARETTE LIGHTER OUTLET AND PLUG AS HAVING THAT MUCH CAPACITY as they may be 200 to 400 watts...
Nuff said, now see what Billy Bob and Bubba have to say, they may say they have done it and it worked fine for years, so make your own choice
John T
20 amps is the usual limit for any cigarette lighter or power port and 15 amps more common in older plugs. Even if you wired it heavier, the connection between the plug and socket will not carry any more then that consistently. That's why power inverters with male cigarette-lighter plugs are often no bigger then 200 watts.
no way
battery mounted on the trailer is usually easiest.
(for your intended use, even a small lawn tractor battery will do.)
Then any truck will do.
Most truck plug wiring has a jack/wire to run 12v to the trailer to charge it....or add one.
This way also lets you protect your truck electronics from spikes, etc.
just unplug the trailer when using the winch.
battery mounted on the trailer is usually easiest.
(for your intended use, even a small lawn tractor battery will do.)
Then any truck will do.
Most truck plug wiring has a jack/wire to run 12v to the trailer to charge it....or add one.
This way also lets you protect your truck electronics from spikes, etc.
just unplug the trailer when using the winch.
greywolf224
Member
Forget the cigarette lighter it will NEVER handle it.
No power plug can handle a winch. You will fry up your wiring.
The smallest of winches which is a 1500 lb winch draws ~65 amps
at max rated pull. And you need to always wire based on max possible rating. You need at the very least an 8 gauge wire which is rated for 65 amps and in my opinion still too small.
No car or SUV that I know of comes factory wired with wire capable of supporting any winch.
Use jumper cables connected from the winch directly to the battery.
I run 1500 lb winches on all my ATV's and I wire them up with 6 ga wire wire through a relay connected directly to a battery.
Years back I ran 1/0 wire from the battery under the body of my pickup and into the bed. I used a 225 amp fuse to protect the wire. I used it for my 2500 Watt power converter and hitch mounted winch.
No power plug can handle a winch. You will fry up your wiring.
The smallest of winches which is a 1500 lb winch draws ~65 amps
at max rated pull. And you need to always wire based on max possible rating. You need at the very least an 8 gauge wire which is rated for 65 amps and in my opinion still too small.
No car or SUV that I know of comes factory wired with wire capable of supporting any winch.
Use jumper cables connected from the winch directly to the battery.
I run 1500 lb winches on all my ATV's and I wire them up with 6 ga wire wire through a relay connected directly to a battery.
Years back I ran 1/0 wire from the battery under the body of my pickup and into the bed. I used a 225 amp fuse to protect the wire. I used it for my 2500 Watt power converter and hitch mounted winch.
Mark - IN.
Well-known Member
Hey Henry. The owners manual should show the fuses, cigarette lighter or whatever they call it these days, and the amperage rating/required fuse. Off the top of my head, guessing 10 Amp...but your owners manual WILL show you for sure. The winch itself should also tell you what the draw is, the fuse rating needed or required. I'm going to guess that they won't be close. My guess is like other winches, you will come directly off of the battery, adding a rated inline fuse between the winch positive and the battery positive. Since you are an invalid and your personal mobility is limited, you could have someone run the wiring from the battery to a socket at or near the trailer hitch/bumper, and then put a matching plug on the winch, which I assume will be removable after use. If not, then have someone mount the winch permanently, and wire it permanently.
Sorry Henry, but I doubt that the fuse or wiring for the lighter will last more than a few seconds after invoking.
Good luck Henry. Hope it all works out for you.
Mark
Sorry Henry, but I doubt that the fuse or wiring for the lighter will last more than a few seconds after invoking.
Good luck Henry. Hope it all works out for you.
Mark
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