Winch batt low power

I was using my winch at the weekend (P+P day) used it twice on the day.

Iv washed the rope down today and to repack it properly, when i came to reel it back on the drum the winch batt ran flat?

Its on a split charger and normally charges up fine, i thought it would charge up better than this??

My question is.... is this normal and how long does you winch batt normally take to charge back up to 'full'?

I had the engine running each time i was winching at the weekend and each time was no more than 2-3 mins work

Cheers Scott

Can you do some voltmeter readings, for example voltage now, voltage once fully charged (off a battery charger), same thing a day later, voltage during running winch, voltage not running winch but with the engine running (ie charging battery), etc This will help determine if its a battery fault or a charging fault. The same readings for the main battery will help too.

What type of split charger? if it's just one of the caravan ones, you've no chance, buy a proper one. otherwise it's either a knackered battery, or it's not charging somehow.
The acepted method of wiring up a second battery is, that the alternator charges up the winch battery, and the vehicle battery is charged through the split charger, not the other way around.

Cheers for that guys, Iv just been out and checked...

The winch batt is at 11.94v with or without the engine running

The main Batt is at 14.22 with engine running so problem lies with the split charger!

Its a 'Smartcom' charger, not sure what or if there any good it just came with the Landy when i bought it?

Me alternator is wired up to the main Batt then split charger goes to the winch Batt...... I didnt know its meant to go the other way round??

The winch battery is seriously undercharged. What's probably happened is the split charger failed a long time ago, and the winch battery has run down and down over time. If its been a while it might be internally damaged now (the plates get coated with something and it cannot accept or hold full charge again).

Many battery failures (in general) are charging system failures.

You're correct, it's no longer charging your battery. That split charger is only rated at 30amp.
When you are winching a "heavy" load, your winch can be drawing 250 to 300 amp. That's why you connect the alternator to the winch battery, and use the split charger to keep the vehicle battery topped up.
When pulling on the winch, you can then get 70/100 amps from the alternator (depending which it is) plus the cracking amps from the first battery, ie 70/100 amps, plus 70 /100 amp from the car battery (in theory, providing it's got a good heavy duty split charge relay!)
Normal winching wouldn't draw that much, it would pull very little from the vehicle battery, but you at least know it's available.
Obviously constant winching will sooner or later flatten a battery, but if wired correctly, it will soon replenish.

In fact, there is an article here www.discovery2.co.uk / Twin Battery - Split Charge of fitting a "posh" 2 battery set-up, the wiring diagram is nearer the bottom of the page.
Look here for the R200R relay, VWP - relays this is rated at 200 amp, you'll not bugger that one up!

Thanks very much for the info guys! I will get the wiring re-arranged as mentioned!

Thanks again, much appreciated

Scott

Just an update!

The crappy 30amp 'smartcom' split charger had inevitably burnt out.

Just put in a 200amp relay from 'Ex-eng'

Instead of putting the 'switch wire' from the small wire at the back of the Alternator iv put it to a switch on me dash to switch on the relay manually instead......

The small wire at the back of the Alternator was only kicking out around 7.34v anyway which wasnt enough to switch on the relay.....

Il just have to remember to switch it on when driving to keep the Aux batt topped up