Galvanic reaction!

[ridgerunner]

I have my trucks wired up front and rear so I can use a winch on either end via a winch cradle. I used large red Anderson connectors as shown in this pic. Today on the rear of my Ram I noticed the plastic connector cracked open. I opened it up and it fell apart in my hand. The "power" end that was in this connector was rotted back over an inch, it was gone! Rotted away! This connector has only been there for one year and was coated in dielectric grease and I zip tied the rubber cover over it to keep out dirt/water. The ground wire is fine and is mounted to the frame. What am I doing wrong? The front connector on the front of the truck is like new.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I don't know but now I have to go check my truck.

 

[gw33gp]

If you drive a lot where the roads are salted, your could have salt fog chamber environment at the rear of your vehicle. It will creep into every crevice it can find. This is very bad on materials that corrode. This can even create a surface conductivity that can flow a few electrons in your connector. I think this could accelerate the corrosion. That is all I have as a potential cause of the problem.

 

[ridgerunner]

I have the wires hooked directly to the battery. I wonder is a cut off switch would help?

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

It could. That would move electricity out of the equation. A strong enough switch to carry this amps will cost tho, I paid about $C50 for the one in my race truck. You may be able to use a fender solenoid/relay but I don't know if they can carry the continuous current draw of a winch.

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[Mark_88]

I've never been off road, officially, but I can see a problem with this setup that would inspire me to buy a second winch.

After blowing a tire in the middle of a junkyard mud hole I realized that if I had to do any kind of hookup or mucking around in the mud hole I would want it to be as minimal as possible.

I would also recommend the disconnect at the battery in that case then you would only need to hook it up before wheeling so that it would be instantly ready when needed.

To have to muck about with putting a winch on while in a mud hole would be a possible source of major aggravation...what with knowing how prone I am to dropping tools, nuts, bolts, and even parts in the process...I would want all of that in place instead of having to swap it out...

Just saying...I know these things are not inexpensive and all that...but just sitting here thinking about it gave me shudders of "what ifs" to the point of forcing my fingers to attack my keyboard...this too, shall pass...as they say.

 

[ridgerunner]

The winch set up front and rear is only to get me out of a bad spot. Sometimes U cannot pull yourself forward. I do not want a winch on the front or rear full time do to the added bulk and corrosion, mud, salt etc. I also have a plow set up for the front so it is a no go without serious fab work. I am always working alone out in rural BFE without cell service so the winch is added security. The winch and homemade cradle are quite heavy but I can handle it fine, beats the chit out of the come along I used to carry (which I bent/broke a few over the yrs). Getting older I guess. Gonna have to look at the cut off switch for the battery

 

[Mark_88]

Well, that does make more sense now...thanks for the clarification.

I was thinking along the lines of someone who goes off road as a recreational thing...not something out of necessity every day due to work or whatever. In that case, if it is planned outing then having the dual winch setup would maybe work out...

I've never actually wanted a winch on my truck because it would tempt me to go places where I would most likely need it...as in 'hold my beer while I try something"...

 

[ridgerunner]

Well the beer would be used after I got un-stuck and off to the next job site...late I am sure

 

[killj0y]

This is exactly what I've been wanting to do. How's it work for you?

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[ridgerunner]

This is exactly what I've been wanting to do. How's it work for you?

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The beer is always good and welcome...oh U mean the winch set up right Haven't used the winch on either truck when out and about but have used it to pull out my old F150 wood truck buried in the mud!