Winch Wiring Guide — 240v AC
This guide covers how to power a 12,000 lb winch using the Cybertruck's 240v 50A plug and four HP Common Slot power supplies wired in parallel. The 240v is split to all four PSUs. The DC side wiring is up to you.
Concept
The Cybertruck's 240v 50A plug provides the power. That 240v is split to four HP Common Slot power supplies which convert it to 12v DC. The four PSUs wired in parallel provide enough current to run the winch motor. The trick is getting the PSUs to turn on without a motherboard — that's where the pin jumpers come in.
Parts List
| Part | Qty | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 12k Winch | 1 | The winch itself — Badland 12k with synthetic rope |
| Hitch Mount | 1 | Standard 2" receiver mount — rear only |
| Power Supplies | 4 | 240v AC → 12v DC conversion |
| AC Cable (Type A) | 4 | Connect PSUs to CT outlets |
| AC Cable (Type B) | 2 | Power distribution chain |
| AC Cable (Type C) | 1 | Final AC distribution link |
| Signal Wire | 1 spool | Connects pin 34 across all PSUs |
| Resistors | 1 pack | Low-ohm, jumps pins 33 & 36 |
| Soldering Kit | 1 | For all wire connections |
AC Side Wiring
The AC side is straightforward: the CT's 240v 50A plug is split to all four power supplies via the appropriate cables. The three cable types handle the distribution from the 240v plug to all four PSUs.
PSU Pin Configuration
HP Common Slot power supplies need two modifications to run without a motherboard:
1. Signal Wire — Pin 34 (PS_ON)
Wire all pin 34s together across all four power supplies using the signal wire. Pin 34 is the PS_ON signal — grounding it tells the PSU to turn on. By wiring them together, all four PSUs turn on and off simultaneously.
2. Resistor Jump — Pins 33 & 36
Use a low-ohm resistor to jump pins 33 and 36 on each PSU. This provides a minimum load on the 3.3v rail, which some PSUs require to regulate their 12v output properly. Without this, the PSU may not start or may output unstable voltage.
⚠ Warning
You're working with 240v AC and high-current 12v DC. If you're not comfortable with electrical work, find someone who is. Incorrect wiring can cause fire, equipment damage, or injury.
DC Side Wiring
How you wire up the DC side is up to you. The four PSUs' 12v outputs need to be combined and connected to the winch motor's power terminals. Common approaches include bus bars, heavy-gauge parallel runs, or custom harnesses.
Key considerations:
- Use wire gauge appropriate for the current draw (the winch can pull 400+ amps at full load across all PSUs)
- Keep DC runs as short as possible to minimize voltage drop
- Use proper crimped terminals — no wire nuts on high-current DC
- Fuse each PSU output individually for safety
ⓘ Full Parts List
All parts with purchase links are on the main winch build section.