Winches and power drain

[ArlyA]

Well I must say that this thread has produced a wealth of info -- thank you all. The bottom line I draw from all of this is that a winch on an ATV is of pretty limited value.

I'll have to differ with that assessment. If you keep your engine running and know they are your batteries nemeses, they are still great asset to have along. .

 

[Oldpath05]

How does DC winches compare with other things that run on battery that has lot of amp draw like power dump trailers.........

 

[5030]

Power dump trailers use a linear actuator to dump (usually or a 12 volt powered motor / hydraulic pump and neither pull the amps a winch does at full pull.

 

[Oldpath05]

My issue with my side by side is it's an EFI motor and the ECU requires a minimum of 9 volts to remain operational so If I did run the battery flat, the unit would shut off anyway. Too heavy to push anywhere...

If you run the battery so flat from winching that you cant even get enough juice to click the starter, then theres two things going on here, 1> you dont have a high amp battery, 2> your doing to much winching. One of the downfalls of automatic transmissions is they cant roll down hill to start.

 

[Oldpath05]

Really, news to me...lol

I thought you just ran the battery down and pushed the ATV home...

That was back in the old days now you just call one of your buddy's on a cell phone at 2 am.

 

[5030]

That was back in the old days now you just call one of your buddy's on a cell phone at 2 am.

That would go over like a lead balloon.

 

[Oldpath05]

Yeaaa, there's no free lunch, electric winches are power hogs, that's why they invented the pto winch!

NO ATV alternator can keep up with a electric winch, not even a small electric winch... There isn't even enough room inside an ATV's motor/side covers, to put a big enough alternator in, that would even come close to keeping up...

SR

I've been getting free lunches for a month now at work...........

 

[Oldpath05]

I'd be more apt to believe you have had too many beers, before you typed that...

SR

No beer just a natural amp high, I get those once in a while. Would you believe my tractor DC winch runs on solar power............

 

[Oldpath05]

Power dump trailers use a linear actuator to dump (usually or a 12 volt powered motor / hydraulic pump and neither pull the amps a winch does at full pull.

:thumbsup:

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Would you believe my tractor DC winch runs on solar power............

Even when you have your hat on????

SR