What is a winch contactor?
The contactor is an electromagnetic switch that controls the power to the motor. Different winch manufacturers use different terms for a contactor. Solenoid, control box, breaker, and relay all refer to the contactor.
What’s it do?
The winch contactor is similar to a fuse box or circuit breaker in that it acts as a safety mechanism to prevent damage to the motor. It’s designed to break the circuit if the motor gets too hot.
How’s it work?
The contactor is designed to mimic the heating properties of the motor by heating up to the same degree and at the same rate as the motor. If the motor reaches its critical temperature, the overload circuit will trip, cutting off power to the motor. The contactor also cools at the same rate as the motor, so after the motor has a chance to cool off, the contactor will allow power to reach the motor again. To prevent the contactor from kicking into overload protection, give the motor a rest if you are winching over long distances or under a heavier load than usual.
Tags: How a Winch Works, Winch Contactor
