Electric Anchor Winch Wiring

Hi guys,

Just need so quick advice on the typical wiring for an electric anchor winch.

These are the bits I can find on my boat:-
1) Winch with its motor
2) Circuit Breaker (I think for the motor)
3) Switch (up/down) in the cockpit
4) Switch (I suspect for the control circuit)

My question is, will there be (somewhere hidden behind a panel) a relay? I'm assuming the switch controls a relay which then operates the winch motor. But I'd like to be sure before I start stripping my boat looking for a potentially non-existent relay.

Hi John

I don't suppose you can follow the power cable from the battery to the winch and find a relay along the way or follow the wiring from the switches back to a relay

Regards Don

There will most definitely be a relay or maybe two.

Your switches etc are the control circuit (low current draw) and the heavy duty cabling is the power circuit (high current draw).
Control circuit makes the relay close to provide power to the motor.

If you are really having difficulty finding it, disconnect the positive from the motor, wrap it up in tape so it doesn't short out on anything, and operate the switch - hopefully you can hear the relay clicking each time you operate your up / down switch.

Thanks for all of your advice.

Looks like I'm going hunting for the relay(s). I like the idea of listening for the energising relays without the background noise of the operating winch.

I'd like to parallel up the cockpit switch near the winch to remove some of the communication required between helm and bow!

Thanks again!