Charging while Winching

[blazinid]

So I bought a used Ramsey 8000lb winch that I built a receiver type mount for the front of my 1996 Grand Cherokee. I've had to use it a couple times now to help stuck friends out, but under load my amp gauge drops till it reaches zero and my Check Gauges light comes on my dash. So obvious my charging system isn't up to snuff of running this winch. My question is, do you think I need a larger Alternator or should I try just a new battery first?

[Mr. Leary]

Investing in a stronger alternator would certainly help alleviate the problem. Before you do that, read up on the alternator you have. There is a range of RPM where the alternator will be producing the most power. When you are winching, make sure you give it enough gas to stay in that range.

Deep cycle batteries winch better.

IME, larger alternators still don't make any power at an idle, so you will have to gas on it either way.

Still others have added a second battery to connect only when they need the extra power. There are lots of kits for this, but all the key components can be had at your local electrical supply house.

[blazinid]

Yeah I have been giving it gas but under full load it doesn't seem to matter. Charging system can't keep up. Looks like its time to upgrade the system

[Black Dog]

Would a second battery help that? Two batteries in parallel is going to double your current.

[sargeek]

Installing dual batteries will allow you to winch longer, since they will provide additional storage capacity for electricity. A higher output alternator will also allow you winch longer since it can provide more electricity, and causing the batteries to draw down at a slower rate.

Remember the water analogy. Batteries are just buckets that collect and store energy. The alternator is a pump that provides the water. An the winch consumes the water. At full load, the winch is consuming water faster then the alternator can produce it, so to make up the difference, the stored energy in the batteries is used.

For most people, the OEM set-up can provide enough power for occassional winch usage. Most stuck vehicle only need to be moved inches before they gain enough traction to drive out on their own. If you need to make multiple, full load winch pulls, the work on upgrading the system.

[ntsqd]

Do the cables to the winch get hot?
They may not be big enough for the job if they do.
This is on top of the suggestions above.

[blazinid]

honestly I haven't felt the wires, but I can tell you the winch time has been at min. I've had a few other vehicles with winches and never had any problems with the occasional pull. I think the jeep is about due for a battery anyhow, so may start with that route.

[Mr. Leary]

honestly I haven't felt the wires, but I can tell you the winch time has been at min. I've had a few other vehicles with winches and never had any problems with the occasional pull. I think the jeep is about due for a battery anyhow, so may start with that route.

Diehard Platinum. Pulls like a champ. Good warranty.

[sargeek]

Check the obvious, inpect the cables for soft spots and locations where they might have been pinched breaking some of the conductors. On portable winches the disconnect connections are prone to cororsion and need to be cleaned on a regular basis. Also check the factory installed terminations, they could also be bad.

Also have your battery load tested!

Good luck!

[Black Dog]

And it could be the winch too. It might have a short in it, not a dead short otherwise you'd know it for sure. I fixed an electric motor once where the enamel had worn off the wire on part of the coil on the armature, so it was shorting out but it wasn't a dead short which would blow the fuse. I fixed it by putting some varnish over the worn spot and it worked fine after that.