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Winch electrics amperage load

Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 10:43 am
by m15256
I have a stock 24volt Military tgb 111 or C303. I have been researching installing an electric winch. Using the WARN Severe Duty 12 as an example I am concerned about the amperage requirements to operate the winch. If you were to strictly adhere to the rated duty cycle with a line load of 8000# you can operate the winch 10% (1 minute in 10). The amperage draw though is 189 AMPS. It seems hard to believe that the stock alternator could keep up with that kind of load even if you had brand new efficient batteries. Have those vehicles with electric winches been modified with high output alternators and/or bigger multiple batteries?
I'm curious to know what other peoples real world experiences have been.
Thanks, Rick

Re: Winch electrics amperage load

Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 1:13 pm
by VinceAtReal4x4s
Been running electric winches on stock alternators since I was a teen. Never had an issue for recovery but always had a good battery and I never assumed I could do something like logging operations with it, where you'd need a PTO or hyd. winch instead.

The alternator is mostly replenishing your power, the battery is mainly doing the work when it's actually on. The bigger the better technically, but a larger alternator certainly isn't required for winches, and this is even more true with 24v systems where winches operate far more efficiently compared to 12v versions.

Re: Winch electrics amperage load

Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 3:46 pm
by m15256
Thanks very much. I guess I should have been more specific. I was talking about self recovery. I have a 54 M56 Dodge with a PTO winch for doing heavy dragging. Never had a vehicle with an electric winch. The Volvo batteries are in pretty good shape so that should be good to go.

Re: Winch electrics amperage load

Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 5:55 pm
by VinceAtReal4x4s
It will work great and even better in many (or most) situations. You just have to keep overheating in mind more so than probably power issues. With a 303, you may find that you don't need a winch very often unless you're one of those mud-pit people.

A whole new world was opened for me when I first used a wireless controller. I'd highly recommend that addition. I installed a simple Mile Marker model and love it: viewtopic.php?f=18&t=9859&p=73179&hilit ... ote#p73179