How to Choose an Electric Winch?
The electric winch is a tool that we use frequently, and its use has brought us great convenience, especially when the vehicle is in trouble, and if you plan to go off-road on a regular basis, then you should definitely consider a winch. Choosing the right winch can be a daunting task, especially if you're on a budget. Therefore, you must make an informed decision on which winch you should buy.
Beyond that, you have to consider the cost of accessories and mounting options that come with the winch. You might even have to think about an upgrade to your vehicle, better batteries and alternators for example are trivial, like a fire extinguisher, you hope you never need it, but when you do need to get out of trouble, it does to a very large effect. Therefore, it is necessary to learn the basic knowledge about winches so that you can buy the most suitable winch for your purpose. We can briefly understand the factors that should be considered when purchasing an electric winch through the following content.
1. Pull force
The Arabic numerals in the winch model indicate the maximum pulling force, such as 9000 lbs, which means that its maximum pulling force is 9000lb (lbs are not legal units of measurement, 1lb = O. 45359237kg). The principle of purchasing a winch is generally 1.5 times the pulling force of the vehicle's own weight. If the dead weight of the Cherokee is 1600kg, the pulling force of the winch should be no less than (2000/0.45) x 1. 5 (lb) = 5333lb, and it is recommended to use a winch of 8000lb and above.
Because the nominal maximum pulling force on the winch model is the limit in actual use. If the vehicle is used under the limit of the engine for a long time, it will inevitably affect the life. Also in the limit state, the winch will break the cable and the motor will burn out, which will seriously damage bystanders and cause the vehicle to lose control. The pulling force that the winch may endure at work is random and unpredictable, so it is an endless pursuit of off-road enthusiasts to install a winch with a high pulling force as much as possible.
2. Motor
It is also an electric winch, and its power part (ie motor) also has two types, namely permanent magnet motor and series excitation motor. The former has the characteristics of fast action, high power, suitable for long-term rolling and high cost, while the latter is a traditional form with small current, classical, simple structure and low cost. Early winches used permanent magnet motors. Nowadays, the power storage capacity of the vehicle is large, so the high-power electric motor of the current mainstream off-road vehicle winch mostly uses the series excitation motor. To judge whether a winch uses a permanent magnet motor or a series excitation motor, just look at the number of lines output from the control box to the motor part to understand that the two lines are permanent magnet motors and the three lines are series excitation motors.
3. How many winches do you need?
The recommended winch capacity exceeds the vehicle weight. Usually, manufacturers and dealers will recommend that you calculate the winch rating by multiplying the gross vehicle weight by 1.5, which is your minimum winch size. However, certain factors can quickly cause the winch capacity to be exceeded, so you need to consider the intended use. In certain terrains and situations, electric ATV winch requirements may exceed the typical 1.5x rule of thumb. For example, a common cause of winches is mud. However, mud has incredible suction on a stuck vehicle, and the 1.5 rule of thumb is not enough in many cases. Steep hills and frequent winches also place high demands on electric winches.
4. Are there any weight or size restrictions or requirements?
The weight of the winch may vary. If you're primarily concerned with reducing weight, you may want to pay attention to these specs. What might be more important is the size of the winch. The winch has a number of aftermarket bumpers installed inside. So size may matter. Among the many different types of winches on the market, sizes and dimensions can vary widely.
Solenoid installation may be a major consideration. The winch can have an integrated or remote solenoid valve block. A remote solenoid is mounted on the outside of the winch. The integrated solenoid is part of the winch, in a "bridge" above the cable, and can also be mounted elsewhere on the winch, such as above the motor. Both types of solenoid mounting options have their advantages. Remote solenoids reduce the space required to mount the winch itself due to space constraints, while solenoids can be mounted remotely and integrated solenoids provide protection in a compact package.
