What size trigger wires for winch solenoid - Maxwell HRC 6

[Fed]

The Maxwell table says that up to a total 10M run (2x5M) you can use 6.5mm˛.
If you plug that into the Voltage drop calculator you will see that they accept a voltage drop of up to 1.3 Volts.
http://redarc.com.au/handy-hints/cal...rop-calculator
You are at 12M in total (2x6M) with 13.29mm˛ (6B&S) cable which would only need to be 7.85mm˛ to keep within the guidelines of the Maxwell table I posted earlier.

[ozscott]

Thanks Fed - the problem I was raving on about was that this motor is actually a 600w not the 400 per the manual - ie I have a higher model up - HRC 8 which sets out the following specs:

HRC-FF 8 12V Systems
Cable Length

Cable Length Cable Size
mm˛ - AWG
Up to 10m (33') 16mm - AWG 5
10m - 17m (33' - 56') 26mm - AWG 3
17m - 27m (56' - 88') 42mm - AWG 1

So according to the manual the 600 watt motor is min 16mm squared. I am going to suck it and see how the 6B&S goes I think. The manual also says you can use lesser sized wire, but not to go under 6.5mm squared for the 50 amp breaker...so it appears that 'acceptable' voltage loss can be pretty high. I have double the minimum for that breaker (setting aside the motor size) so I should be right even if the motor may not be able to use all its 600w rating...

Cheers

[Fed]

Download the manual from the Maxwell website.
specs.jpg

[ozscott]

Thanks Fed - mate thats another winch - its confusing because they call mine a HRC also, but mine is the HRC 6 FF...http://www.maxwellmarine.com/support_manuals.php and its the one under HRC 6 and then the sub menu HRC FF. I dont know how to post up the image like you have done but that manual shows the HRC 6 as 400 watt and the HRC 8 as 600...

Thanks again mate.

[Fed]

So you have a HRC 6 FF?
I don't see any listing for it.
It doesn't matter anyway because you have a 600W motor with a 50A circuit breaker and any cable over 8mm˛ will still fall into their voltage drop guidelines.
Your 6B&S is equivalent to 13.29mm˛, way over the minimum.

[Fed]

but mine is the HRC 6 FF...http://www.maxwellmarine.com/support_manuals.php and its the one under HRC 6 and then the sub menu HRC FF.

I must be going blind or something or senile more likely???
Where exactly is the HRC FF?

[Fed]

Found the sucker, that one is still only calling for 10.5mm˛ cable for a 10-17M total cable length.

[ozscott]

Thanks mate. The 10.5 is for what the manual says is he hrc 6 400watt but my motor is marked 600watt - even though I ordered the HRC 6. The hrc8 is 600 watt and it calls for 26mm squared wire for the 10-17m run. I have emailed Maxwell about it but I will still suck it and see with the 6b&s I think. Cheers

[ozscott]

Thanks mate. The 10.5 is for what the manual says is he hrc 6 400watt but my motor is marked 600watt - even though I ordered the HRC 6. The hrc8 is 600 watt and it calls for 26mm squared wire for the 10-17m run. I have emailed Maxwell about it but I will still suck it and see with the 6b&s I think. Cheers

Ps a seller and installer mentioned to me that he thought Maxwell had upgraded their motors to 600w. This post also refers to it. http://www.mrfisho.com.au/index.php?...=10746&p=88972


Thing is Maxwell have not changed their manuals nor their advertising!!!

[Fed]

Your 6B&S will be more than enough but you should send an email to let them know they are mistaken.
Don't forget @ 12M you're at the very bottom end of the 10M->17M scale.

400W -> 600W should increase the mm˛ cable size by exactly the same proportion.

Using their own table on a 10M-17M run they say an increase from
10.5mm˛ to 26mm˛ is required..... it's just not right.

Refer them to the voltage drop calculator I posted, tell them to lift their act and correct their documentation.

PS: I just went out the back & kissed my anka yanka.

[ozscott]

Too true!! Cheers and thanks again mate.

[ozscott]

Ok so the windlass is a beast and the wires are proving spot on even with extended use. This is a very understressed winch and bloody quick . Cheers and thanks

[Jarrah Jack]

Ok so the windlass is a beast and the wires are proving spot on even with extended use. This is a very understressed winch and bloody quick . Cheers and thanks

A guy who sells winches asked me why I put one in my boat. I said because I was a lazy bugger and so are my deckies. Welcome to the club Scott.

[HH565L]

Glad to hear its all working as expected Scott.

Terry, the bloke you're talking about probably just wanted to know what motivated you.

People install winches for a number of reasons. Being Slack is just one of them.

PS: It was good to catch up mate.