Compare Superwinch's EP and EPi Winches to the competition.

The S Series celebrates its 10 year anniversary.

Superwinch Thimble specification sheet.


The Superwinch Solenoid Story

An electromagnetic solenoid [Ed. note: a solenoid is by definition electromagnetic.]

When the engineers at Superwinch were designing the EP series winches, they wanted a fully sealed solenoid as tough and equal in performance as the winches themselves. They looked at the best solenoids they could find, industrial strength components, but even those solenoids could not match the performance consistency of the EP winches. So they designed their own solenoid. These robust solenoids are found only in Superwinch products.

In front-of-vehicle winching applications, off-roaders see the weakest point in a winch as the solenoid. As a point of wear, both mechanically and electrically, solenoid replacement is common. Other winch manufactures have for years used a set of four, sealed, yet relatively inexpensive solenoids tied together by buss bars and attached to a thin base plate by bent metal tabs. This configuration is susceptible to vibrations that can weaken the contacts in the solenoid and cause failure.

Superwinch comes in contact everyday with off-road instructors who make their living behind the wheel of a 4x4, training and guiding 4-wheeling weekend warriors to a safe, enjoyable experience in the wilderness. These instructors primarily use Superwinch products. One, from southern California, requires his three-day students who don’t have a Superwinch to pack at least two spare solenoids because he has seen them fail many times. Bill Burke had the same opinion, “professional instructors know.”

Let’s take a look at the differences between the Superwinch solenoid and the competitor’s solenoid, in this case, WARN’s most popular winch, the XD9000.

Problem Number 1
It takes four solenoids to run their winch. These four are held together by copper buss bars and are attached by way of turned down metal tabs that allow movement of the solenoid assembly. Since the buss bars are the only mechanical holding device that connects and keeps them in one place, movement can begin to loosen the buss bar’s hold on the solenoids.

SW Answer:
We use a single unit that is firmly attached with a steel bracket and cannot move or loosen.

Problem Number 2
The actual contactors, a butterfly shape, which transport current from the battery are very lightweight and make little contact with the small copper studs in the top of the solenoid housing. This means less current is transferred and as the solenoid is used the light material tends to loose its spring. Since both points must make contact, failure can occur.

SW Answer:
The Superwinch solenoid contactors are large, flat and round. They make positive contact with a large surface area transferring the full current through the contactors to the winch. Our contactors are plated with silver to produce a more positive conduction. Since this greater conductibility results in more heat, the pads are scored to dissipated heat quickly. The area of contact is substantially greater than the competitor’s products, and like the gage of the electrical wire used, bigger is better.

Problem Number 3
Another problem is the welding or plating effect that actually transfers copper from one point to the other, creating a “burn”, therefore making electrical contact impossible.

SW Answer:
The silver plating and scoring of the contactor also prevents the welding effect that plagues other solenoid contactors.

Problem 4
The contactors move into the “on” position with electromagnetic current. The weight of the copper windings, the consistency of the coiled wrap, the material purity and thinness of the wire can all play a role in the power that pushes the plunger, with the points at the end, inside the copper coil.

SW Answer:
While WARN uses four coils, one per solenoid, the weight of all four do not come close to the nearly ½ lb of copper in the Superwinch solenoid. The robustness of the Superwinch coil gives the plunger and points a strong positive push against the mating contactors for many years of reliable service.

Problem 5
One gasket on four solenoids is more likely to fail than one.

SW Answer:
When we first introduced this solenoid, we demonstrated it submerged in a fish tank. Need we say more?

Superwinch T2000… A Success Story Ten Years Strong

Launched in 1996, the Superwinch T1500 was the original compact, light-duty winch. The market responded with record-breaking sales year after year.

With all the power of the industry’s most compact switch, the Superwinch T2000 adds 33% more pulling capacity. It’s still the market favorite for convenience, performance, and price.

Superwinch S Series winches are the whole package… power, convenience, and smart styling. Since their launch in 1996, S Series winches have been upgraded with more powerful motors, an integrated sealed switching solenoid, and a rugged new handheld remote.

Revolutionary design. When Superwinch introduced the S Series ten years ago, reviewers called it bold, daring, and sophisticated—and that was just the outside. On the inside, the S proved to be the power performer that trailering professionals and contractors hoped for. Today, S Series winches are known worldwide for reliability and rugged construction and are the most popular performance trailer winches in the world. From their sleek appearance to their workhorse motors, the S3000, S4000, and S5000 continue to earn the respect and endorsements of professional racers everywhere, including Don Schumacher Racing and Jim Dunn Racing. Drivers prefer the brand-name winch that reliably protects their investment while maintaining a modern, precision profile.

Pursuing perfection. It’s a feature that sells itself… S Series winches remain the longest lasting winches in their weight class thanks to a virtually indestructible gear train. Still, design enhancements are part of the Superwinch promise. In 2004, the S Series introduced the now famous 30’ handheld remote—the only one of its kind in the industry. The original models in 2500, 3500, and 4500 pound pulling capacities were upgraded to S3000, S4000, and S5000 pound models, popularly known today as “the Racer’s Choice.” Advancements in seal technology have perfected the S Series’ resistance to effects from submersion and high-pressure spray.

Unlike spring-loaded models, S Series winches permit effortless engagement of the freewheel—a Superwinch exclusive

Make it portable. As demand for the S Series increased, so to did the applications that this winch could perform. Consumers wanted to be able to use and anchor this lightweight powerhouse in a variety of locations. In response, Superwinch added a portable cradle, quick connect power couplings and a heavy duty receiver tube that allows the cradle with winch to slip into any 2” Class III hitch receiver. Many Superwinch customers have added receiver systems to the front of their vehicles so their S Series winch can pull from the front or the rear of their vehicle adding to its versatility.

Worksite partner. Hard work and good looks aren’t just for racers. The same rugged reliability that makes S Series winches the most popular trailer winches in the world makes them the choice of tradesmen and equipment specialists on the job. Arborists routinely use S Series winches for stump and log removal, while construction contractors rely on the S for safely transporting equipment and materials onto truck beds and around building sites. Anywhere a reputation is riding on a tough, high-performance (portable) winch that keeps the power on and the weather out, only one winch is good enough… and it’s only available from authorized Superwinch dealers!