Thread: winch battery setup

What vehicle are we talking about ?, unless you plan on a lot of winching a good single battery will do fine.

The basic rules I use in setting up and use...
The winch is powered from the main battery.
Always run the motor when using the winch.
(I've never upgraded the alt for this.)
If fitting a 2nd battery setup fitt an isolator that will cut out when the crank batt gets low on voltage.
(This allows the 2nd battery to jump start the rig if needed.)
When using the winch follow the 5 minute guide line , winch for 5-rest for 5. (This allows the winch to cool down and the battery to get a bit of charge as the motor is left running.)

Reading your post this sounds like your first winch, is this right?
if so a lit bit more...
Winching can be a dangerous exercise, make sure you take all required precautions.
(Solid anchor points[not dead trees], dampers, people stand at least 2.5 times the cable length being used).
Check all your straps and shackles before you leave and after each use.
YouTube has a few good recoveries to watch, and a lot more of not how too.


The best bit of advise is to remeber the winch cable only goes foward.
Don't head into a track/situation unless you feel it can be driven.
A lot of folk have thought the winch allows them to go further, usually it's further into trouble.

All good advice. If the winch flattens the battery you have been using it for too long.
On a slightly seperate note, I like to have an isolator for the winch power under the bonnet. I've never seen it, but I have heard of people pulling out the cable, passing it over the car and hooking it up to the towbar and firing it up...... Well, I guess you can imagine. Plenty of winch remotes out there.

Originally Posted by alien

The best bit of advise is to remeber the winch cable only goes foward.
Don't head into a track/situation unless you feel it can be driven.
A lot of folk have thought the winch allows them to go further, usually it's further into trouble.

I believe this is why most rear mounted winches I've seen seem to be on Toyotas.

Originally Posted by johntins

All good advice. If the winch flattens the battery you have been using it for too long.
On a slightly seperate note, I like to have an isolator for the winch power under the bonnet. I've never seen it, but I have heard of people pulling out the cable, passing it over the car and hooking it up to the towbar and firing it up...... Well, I guess you can imagine. Plenty of winch remotes out there.

Yes, i have a marine type isolator under the bonnet right near the main battery and its only switched on when i think i may need the winch or leave the blackout heading out.

Kyles points are all valid.