Electricians? Winch question...

BillR · Nov 18, 2005

Is it safe to ASSUME that a higher rated winch pulls less amps for a given pull weight?
Example: Winch A is rated for 9000# and draws 435A during an 8000# pull.
If Winch B is rated for 12000#, should it not pull less amps for an 8000# pull, since it's not pulling close to it's capacity?
If this is the case, why would you not go for "overkill" when selecting an electric winch for a vehicle, other than physical weight?

Lou · Nov 18, 2005

No.

The mechanical engs. may kill me on this one....
That rating is an indication of pulling capacity not power consumption.

A certain amount of work(pulling) will require a certain amount of energy -- efficiency of the motor is a factor.

The larger motor and gears will result in a higher current draw.

Be aware that when you are comparing current draws, you need to take into account the rates are which they are pulling as well.

Lou · Nov 18, 2005

I think this is correct.

Code:

WARN 9.0Rc Rock Crawling Winch

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS 
Line Pull    Lbs.(Kgs.) Line Speed  FT./min(M/min.) Motor Current Pull by layer layer/Lbs(Kgs.) 
0 42 (12.8) 80 amps 1/900 (4082) 
2000 16 (4.88) 200 amps 2/7280 (3302) 
4000 11.9 (3.63) 285 amps 3/6670 (3026) 
6000 9.79 (2.98) 350 amps 4/6230 (2826) 
8000 8.01 (2.44) 435 amps  
9000 6.4 (1.94) 465 amps 



WARN Heavy-Weight Series: M12000
12V DC PERFORMANCE SPECS 
Line Pull Lbs.(Kgs.) Line Speed FT./min(M/min.) Motor Current Pull by layer
layer/Lbs(Kgs.) 
0 30(9.14) 67 amps 1/1200(5443) 
2000(910) 14(4.27) 140 amps 2/11120(5044) 
4000(1810) 8.62(2.63) 210 amps 3/10340(4690) 
6000(2720) 6.92(2.11) 250 amps 4/9770(4432) 
8000(3630) 5.80(1.77) 320 amps 5/9250(4196) 
10000(4540) 4.39(1.34) 370 amps  
12000(5440) 3.86(1.18) 440 amps

langer1 · Nov 18, 2005

That’s really a question that can't be answered with the information given.
If both winches were identical accept for the motor size then they would both draw the same with a 8000# load @ xxx fpm
There you go the 9000# is much faster at 8000# load that the 12000#

BRIANHO13 · Nov 18, 2005

The bigger winchs are ussually bigger in every way size and cable, so you are also putting all that extra weight on there.

BillR · Nov 18, 2005

Lou said:

I think this is correct.

Code:

WARN 9.0Rc Rock Crawling Winch

PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS 
Line Pull    Lbs.(Kgs.) Line Speed  FT./min(M/min.) Motor Current Pull by layer layer/Lbs(Kgs.) 
0 42 (12.8) 80 amps 1/900 (4082) 
2000 16 (4.88) 200 amps 2/7280 (3302) 
4000 11.9 (3.63) 285 amps 3/6670 (3026) 
6000 9.79 (2.98) 350 amps 4/6230 (2826) 
8000 8.01 (2.44) 435 amps  
9000 6.4 (1.94) 465 amps 



WARN Heavy-Weight Series: M12000
12V DC PERFORMANCE SPECS 
Line Pull Lbs.(Kgs.) Line Speed FT./min(M/min.) Motor Current Pull by layer
layer/Lbs(Kgs.) 
0 30(9.14) 67 amps 1/1200(5443) 
2000(910) 14(4.27) 140 amps 2/11120(5044) 
4000(1810) 8.62(2.63) 210 amps 3/10340(4690) 
6000(2720) 6.92(2.11) 250 amps 4/9770(4432) 
8000(3630) 5.80(1.77) 320 amps 5/9250(4196) 
10000(4540) 4.39(1.34) 370 amps  
12000(5440) 3.86(1.18) 440 amps

So the 12K winch DOES use less power for the 8K# pull, (320A vs 435A) but only because it's slower? Motor size or power has no effect?

Lou · Nov 18, 2005

BillR said:
So the 12K winch DOES use less power for the 8K# pull, (320A vs 435A) but only because it's slower? Motor size or power has no effect?

No, the 12K would use more power.

For the 9K to pull 8' @ 8lbs, it would use roughly 5220 Watts(1 minute), where as the 12K would use 5304 Watts(the 12K is consuming 320Amps for 1.38 minutes).

Power being the key word. The 12K uses less current, but it also takes longer(40%) to pull the same amount of weight the same distance--so in the end it consumes more power.

(the chart should show ft/m not ft/s)

aardvark4x4 · Nov 18, 2005

Some manufacturers make different winches (9000,12000 etc) with the same motors but lower gearing, so the higher rated winch will be drawing less current for the same load, but at the expense of line speed. A larger capacity winch with a larger motor but the same gearing as the smaller winch will draw roughly the same current for the same load and line speed.

Electricians? Winch question...

BillR

Toy Jeep driver!

Lou

NAXJA Forum User

Lou

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langer1

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BRIANHO13

<- Yum Chocolate

BillR

Toy Jeep driver!

Lou

NAXJA Forum User

aardvark4x4

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