Is there any difference in which battery selection when wiring a removable plug for Warn winch. I have 2017 250 6.2 4x4 snow plow package alternator with the two batteries. I'm thinking doesn't matter but others on here know better than me.

 

I was hoping this very subject would come up.

 

Not sure if this is good for a truck but when I was younger and had a lot of audio equipment in my car the Optmia Yellow top was the best battery.

https://www.optimabatteries.com/en-u...-cycle-battery

 

I wasn't clear in my post. I am asking which of my existing batteries to hook up my winch plug to. Thanks all!!

 

Aren't they hooked together? The batteries?

In which case, it wouldn't matter.

Don't know if that's the case or not. Do you have battery switch selector on your rig? Are you supposed to have one?

If not, then the two batteries probably operate as one, no?

 

If you buy a high amp winch motor I would recommend connecting to both batteries. The amperage requirement will dictate whether you should connect to one or both batteries.

 

Warn's biggest Winch the 16.5 requires a 650 CCA battery. The Diesel or 6.2 comes with 750CCA batteries (I think on the 6.2), anyway, I believe the two batteries are used on the diesel to get the High Compression engine going. Now in reference to a Winch.... I would say only one needs to be connected to the winch. Which one? Not sure it really matters as long as you have a good 650CCA battery connected. There is a lot of opinions out there.... Electronics, Keeping the Motor running.... Don't think there is an isolator between the two batteries. I was going to contract WARN or a local 4x4 shop that sells and installs Winches before I installed one. (Your results may vary)

 

Assuming you have a diesel Super Duty, connect to whichever battery is most accessible, and in terms of wiring distance, whichever is closest to the load (winch). The two batteries are already connected together (in parallel), and with no isolator, to handle the starting amperage of the diesel, and both are fed from the alternator. If you look at the Ford upfitters guide it only states to connect high amperage loads dirrectly to the battery, but it does not suggest which battery because it really doesnt matter in terms of the electrical aspects of the truck. Do keep the motor running when using a high amp draw load to allow the alternator(s) to keep up with the draw on the batteries.

 

....(that was my third source to research)......(The Owners Manual).... Good Catch!

 

I would *strongly* suggest replacing one of the batteries with a deep cycle battery and connect your winch to that. I've spent a long time driving off-road and have done extensive winching. Stock-style sealed lead-acid batteries do not hold up to winching very well. I started my winching career using a Wal-Mart MAXX yellow battery rated at 900CCA. My winch was a Warn XD9000 and the vehicle was a Range Rover with a 120A alternator. Repeated winching killed the battery and stalled the motor. The battery was junk. I purchased an Odyssey AGM / Deep Cycle battery and never had a problem again, even with long-duration winching through mud or snow.

Granted, dual batteries and the higher output of a modern alternator will help. Keep in mind whatever the rated output of your alternator is, that output is only available during the most ideal conditions of cool underhood temps and higher RPMs. So, if you are running your winch at night with your headlights on and some interior accessories like heat or A/C, radio, etc...and are at idle...your 200A alternator is likely only producing less than 100A.

If your winch is only for looks and the very occasional pull to get you or someone else unstuck...you might be totally fine. I have no idea which battery I'd use...they are both rated the same and both are connected to the alternator. It likely does not matter.

 

If you're going to do it right then a third battery is required. Like troverman said above, get an Odyssey battery. That's what I used in my previous truck (that had two winches) and it's what I use to power the very over-sized winch in my ATV. Put an isolator between the third battery and the main batteries. That way the winch will never drain everything and leave you stranded. Should the main batteries get drained you can use the third battery to start the vehicle. I have an isolator in my ATV and it came in handy last year when the main battery had insufficient charge to start the engine.

If you're going cheap then connect the Warn cables to either OEM battery, whichever one is convenient.

 

BTW... This section is sponsored by Optima so I guess/hope we get special pricing on their batteries.

 

One would hope. My last Odyssey battery was more than $300. It never left me stranded. You get what you pay for.

 

Sorry to disagree but I had a LOT of experience with Deep Cycle batteries and I've come to the conclusion that they basically SUCK in motor vehicle applications...... Boats, cars, trucks, buggies... You name it.

Apparently, they don't like the quick power demand of a starter. It's a pretty big hit and their thicker, heavier plates don't like it. Deep Cycles are intended for long, slow draws like from a trolling motor.

The plus side to them is you can draw them all the way down and recharge them. You draw a starter battery all the way down and odds are good it's garbage after that

The down side is -- They suck. Canal water.

Now -- I readily admit that my experience with them is dated by a few years. Couple decades, actually. But unless they've improved them drastically, you couldn't give me a DC Battery for a motor vehicle that has a starter on it.

YMMV and I could be out of date. But I don't like being left stranded 40 miles offshore because my $150 Deep Cycle is having a bad hair day. Both of them, actually.

Ever tried to pull-start a 200HP Yamaha??

Went and bought starting batteries and never had another problem.

Those Hi-Tech, big thick, sooper-duper batteries?? You can have them. I just use good quality, every-day batteries on everything. No AGM, no Optima.... Just good quality batteries...... And not the most expensive. Don't know why but they seem to have more problems than the middle of the road batteries.

I could be prejudiced....

And I could be dated

 

You're welcome to your opinion - I'm glad you posted it.

In this case, the OP is asking a question about hooking his winch up to one of the two stock (conventional) batteries, and my suggestion was simply to replace one of the two batteries with a deep-cycle AGM like an Optima or Odyssey.

On the Range Rover I was winching from, I only had one battery. The Odyssey was used for starting and winching. I never had a problem in 5 years of use, and sold it with that same battery. Granted, a low-compression Rover V8 is not a high-compression Ford diesel, but in this case the OP has a 6.2L gas V8 with the dual battery option. CCA are CCA, in my opinion.