Don1357
Well-known member
is there a high amperage transformer that would let me run a 12v whinch form regular household electrical power? I have a 4-wheeler which that I would like to fabricate into a ceiling hoist with an I-beam.
Powering a 12v whinch from 120v
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duneslider
Well-known member
What amperage does your winch need?
laser3kw
Well-known member
best bet: deep cycle battery and battery tender. (disconnect battery tender before use)
BillK
Well-known member
Keep in mind the winch will not work that great as a hoist because most of them do not have a brake to keep it from running back out when you take the power off. I have been working on a setup in my shop and thought about a winch but it looks like I am going to have to bite the bullet and go with an actual 12v hoist which is a lot more expensive.
I don't know if this would be that huge a deal for me... I have a second floor with a side open bellow and I have been struggling to get heavy stuff up there. As long as I can hoist it up and into the floor I'm happy. Also getting **** off the bed of the truck. I don't see an application where I would need it to be suspended in the air for long.
BillK
Well-known member
I think the first thing you need to do is make sure of the amperage of your winch. I am betting a lot more than 20-30 amps.
lonestardiver
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Sevenhills1952
Well-known member
If you try to build a 120vac to 12vdc power supply that supplies 30, maybe 50 amps of current that's going to be more expensive than if you just buy a 120vac harbor freight winch.
If you really want to use that 12vdc one then my suggestion would be use the proper gauge wires (depends on distance of course), but my guess, 4 or 2 gauge. Put battery jumper cables on ends. When you want to use it (like picking stuff out of truck) then connect to truck battery.
You'll have to have truck being charged by running or on a charger.
There are supplies like this that may do it, but over $100.
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If you really want to use that 12vdc one then my suggestion would be use the proper gauge wires (depends on distance of course), but my guess, 4 or 2 gauge. Put battery jumper cables on ends. When you want to use it (like picking stuff out of truck) then connect to truck battery.
You'll have to have truck being charged by running or on a charger.
There are supplies like this that may do it, but over $100.
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nadogail
Well-known member
Do you have a way to measure the draw of the winch under load? I would use my clamp on meter.
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Bigblockyeti
Banned
150 -200A might be a bit closer.
laser3kw
Well-known member
a search for a winch brought me to a 2500lb (smallest I could find) and the manual states 132 amp @ 2500lb pull.
so a 120v ac to 12v ac transformer will need to be at least 15 amp on the line side. Then you will need a ac to dc converter (rectifier) that will handle 150 amp. Sure, you may never tax the winch at full capacity, but if for some reason you snag something and stall it, you would smoke a lot of parts.
consider the battery option.
Noltz
Well-known member
Quoted for truth. This is by far the easiest solution. A decent size battery, say for an F150, and a small battery tender will make sure it's always ready.
lonestardiver
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Granted, but those little 7AH and 12AH batteries can put out enough amps to start a V8...but a SLA or starting battery (like what you have in your car/truck would be sufficient. When not being used keeping it on a battery tender should work well.
that is mentioned, you really needed to know what is the current draw under load to find out what size of the power supply you needed.... and building an old PC power supply might be the cheapest route... Amazon / Ebay have some used high amp SMPS but stay away from generic brands... I think Meanwell brand is pretty good despite it's COO.
Here is a kicker... by the time you mess with and find the proper power supply... it would have been cheaper just to get a proper electric hoist, unless its your pet project you just like to tinker...and throw safety out the windows....
HF sells the 800# 120V ones for about $100 and the 1400# ones for about $150... there is some safety differences between an electric hoist and Winch... so... converting a winch to haul stuff horizontally might not be the best choice. $$ wise or safety wise..
if you insist getting a transformer base power supply at that high amp... you'll probably going to spend 2x more to get the transformer that can handle that current. Unless you find surplus... which those are getting extinct as well...
Here is a kicker... by the time you mess with and find the proper power supply... it would have been cheaper just to get a proper electric hoist, unless its your pet project you just like to tinker...and throw safety out the windows....
HF sells the 800# 120V ones for about $100 and the 1400# ones for about $150... there is some safety differences between an electric hoist and Winch... so... converting a winch to haul stuff horizontally might not be the best choice. $$ wise or safety wise..
if you insist getting a transformer base power supply at that high amp... you'll probably going to spend 2x more to get the transformer that can handle that current. Unless you find surplus... which those are getting extinct as well...
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wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
you need quite a few parts to make this work.
transformer, converter, etc
easiest is a deep cycle battery and battery charger
https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=hoist
Not going to be your nanny or safety Nazi, but as long as you are aware...
Not going to be your nanny or safety Nazi, but as long as you are aware...
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theoldwizard1
Well-known member
Yep ! That thing can draw a **** load of current and sizing a 12V power supply that could handle it would cost a lot more $$$
Impossible. I'm sorry, but I won't pussyfoot around here. If you're looking for a 120V p/s that'll supply a 12V winch operating with any type of load, you're out of luck. Its just not going to happen. Either run it from a car battery with some decent gauge cable, or buy one of the 120VAC hoists that the Chinese-resellers have for offer.
Kaizen
Well-known member
Used one of these to build my whole garage. For the price it’s the best solution. Batteries and converters are not cheap
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rabidsquirrel
Well-known member
I looked up one on Harbor Freights website, you're damn close.
Line Pull:
0lbs - 101 amps
3000 - 173 amps
6000 - 244 amps
9000 - 311 amps
12000 - 359 amps
This is quickly getting into not worth it territory.
Northern tools, sells a version that is the same copy. for few box more.
Tractor supply also I think...
Amazon/Ebay/walmart also sells a generic copy that work off 120V as well
https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=electric+hoist&_sacat=0
Either case, just evaluate your options before proceeding I guess.
TractorJeff
Well-known member
I have a 3500lb SuperWinch sitting on the workbench that I just rebuilt the Controller. Their Website stated 132amps at 3500lbs. Apparently they don't design these for max pull longevity because the Relays I replaced were rated only for 80 amps. 
RPH
Well-known member
The duty cycle of most car / truck winches are in minutes. 5 on and 10 off is not unusual.
I have a 40 amp bench power supply I could sell and it would power it. But yeah the break is and issue.
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Dustball
Well-known member
Problem solved-
Hand winch for $30-$40
****** block for $20-$30
Mount the hand winch on your mast and hang the ****** block from the end of your boom to redirect the cable from horizontal to vertical.
Total price less than the cost of a DC power supply capable of the amperage needed for a DC winch.
Hand winch for $30-$40
****** block for $20-$30
Mount the hand winch on your mast and hang the ****** block from the end of your boom to redirect the cable from horizontal to vertical.
Total price less than the cost of a DC power supply capable of the amperage needed for a DC winch.