Power Drain

Well, when i winched my mates 90 up around 100ft I didnt really have a problem, I just took my time to prevent overheating/damaging the winch. When winching the polo up it was less distance, weight and angle. The lights dipped whilst winching then progressivly got worse. I frequently stopped to give the winch a break and time to put a bit of charge in the battery then when I started again it was fine for around a minute or so then it would die again until it eventually drained all battery power and wouldnt restart.

so did YOU turn ur engine off after this? if you did no wonder it wouldnt start with no charge.

No, it cut out while winching it just lost all power, i had to get somone to jump start me.

Assuming the motor is about 4.2Kw (average for a 12000lb winch) then it'll be drawing 350Amps. If your only putting 45amps back in to it isn't going to take long to flatten the battery.

hang on... is u running on diesel or petrol?

Its a Husky EW8*** I think ita 8,000lb. So I need an better alternator then i guess.

Its a 2.5 TD(19J) 90 mate.

o sorry just read OP u got a doozel i can understand the winch power loss but why the engine cut out is a mystery to me. diesel engines can run without a battery once started...

your winch will be pulling between 140 and 405 amps depending on line pull.

D.G.F.S. said:

Its a Husky EW8*** I think ita 8,000lb. So I need an better alternator then i guess.

Click to expand...

about 290 amps then. you need a good twin battery setup and you need some sort of splitcharger system to prevent your main battery from been drained.

So basically after winching on the sunday, I hadnt put enough charge back in before using the winch again? Even with the engine running.

So will the Varta Battery ive just got be sufficient with a banner on a split charge system? With no need for a higher amp alternator.

probably not especially with the temperature been as low as it has been Cold temps do ya battery no favours at all.

I will have to get one of those OEM LR waterbottles for the battery then! Seriously though no need for the alternator, just split charge and second battery then?

D.G.F.S. said:

So will the Varta Battery ive just got be sufficient with a banner on a split charge system? With no need for a higher amp alternator.

Click to expand...

as long as they're both good batteries then you should be ok. Now you know why I recommend a tirfor no batteries to flatten.

nah you will have exactly same problem but you wont need a jump start because the winch wont dry ur starter battery. new alternator i think

Fair point! I think I will invest in one in the near future.

I is gettin confused a wee bit now!

Im thankful i got a PTO winch.

MudHunter said:

nah you will have exactly same problem but you wont need a jump start because the winch wont dry ur starter battery. new alternator i think

Click to expand...

WTF are you on??

aren't you gonna at least recommend he check the output from his alternator before he splashes out on a new one??