Winch and low battery?

[jserr68594]

I was using my 12,000 LB winch connected to my truck battery and ran it dead. How hard is it on a winch to run it on a low battery? The cables and the winch motor were cool to the touch. Thanks in advance!

 

[csp]

I doubt if it is hard on the winch at all. It just loses its pulling capacity.

 

[kbeefy]

I'd imagine it could accelerate wear on the brushes/commutator. If it happens often I'd recommend adding a second battery.

 

[RTM]

Or keep the truck running while using the winch. Found out the hard way running a lift with the truck off.

 

[jserr68594]

I'd imagine it could accelerate wear on the brushes/commutator. If it happens often I'd recommend adding a second battery.

It only happened one time, the first time I used it. Hopefully having it happen once is not a big deal. Now I know to leave the truck on! Thanks.

 

[csp]

Even wth the truck running it's possible to drain the battery faster than the alternator can replenish it. Watch the length of the pull if you're in a tough winching situation.

 

[RTM]

Last guy I worked a winch with had a high idle knob on his truck for jobs like that. Yes, long enough ago that his 4x4 quad cab duallie pickup, in a tan hue, still had the gas pedal directly connected to a carburetor, and a second cable to the knob, and I was a dumb HS kid in cheap boots trying to push a truck out of the mud. He was so far in the mud that the duallie was at 100% cable extended, and was hooked up to a real tow truck, with about 3/4 of his winch line out.

Maybe 45 years ago?

 

[Luciferi]

Newer Ford Superduty and Chevy HD trucks have a selectable high idle modes.