Winch Battery
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: MN
Winch Battery
Hi guys,
Pretty soon I'll have a Mile Marker E12000 winch on my 93 F150. I don't plan on using it too often- hopefully less than half a dozen times per year. Mile Marker recommends at least a 650CCA and I currently have a 900CCA battery. For this infrequent use, do you think this will suffice with a factory alternator?
I can deal with waiting a while for the battery to charge up again and let the winch cool off, but the battery always has to get me out and back on the road safe.
Thanks guys
Pretty soon I'll have a Mile Marker E12000 winch on my 93 F150. I don't plan on using it too often- hopefully less than half a dozen times per year. Mile Marker recommends at least a 650CCA and I currently have a 900CCA battery. For this infrequent use, do you think this will suffice with a factory alternator?
I can deal with waiting a while for the battery to charge up again and let the winch cool off, but the battery always has to get me out and back on the road safe.
Thanks guys
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,236
Likes: 12
From: Senoia, GA
yea that battery will be plenty! now most guys are gonna tell you optima this and optima that but your battery aint crap without a good alternator. regradless if you use if once a day or once a decade you will want that big alternator!
-cutts-
-cutts-
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Joined: Oct 2004
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What good is the big alternator? do most people winch while the truck is running? sorry I'm new to stuff still.
When your done and just drivin around, how fast does the alternator recharge a battery, and how much quicker can an aftermarket alternator charge it?
When your done and just drivin around, how fast does the alternator recharge a battery, and how much quicker can an aftermarket alternator charge it?
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,236
Likes: 12
From: Senoia, GA
Originally Posted by Caleb1
What good is the big alternator? do most people winch while the truck is running? sorry I'm new to stuff still.
When your done and just drivin around, how fast does the alternator recharge a battery, and how much quicker can an aftermarket alternator charge it?
When your done and just drivin around, how fast does the alternator recharge a battery, and how much quicker can an aftermarket alternator charge it?
yes, you winch while your engine is running otherwise you would drain your battery. i didn't get an aftermarket alt i ordered a rebuilt one from Napa that came out of an ambulance. it's 130 amp rated and will just about keep up with my winch on light pulls. at idle my truck can recharge my 1100CA agricultural battery in about 10-15 minutes from completely dead to full charge!
-cutts-
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Thanks! feel free with the wisecracks! i been lurkin' awhile, so I know how it is. Besides I can keep up pretty well myself
....
Anyway, I hope I dont ask too many questions! I dont even have a four wheel drive yet. (used to go with my dad but he moved and then had to sell the truck.) But i wanna learn all I can so I can build stuff. Mechanics I am learnin' pretty well, but I dont know anything about welding, and tube bending and sheetmetal fabrication and such sot hat's where I'll have problems doin stuff like TTB to SAS 'cause I cant fabricate custom mounts and such.
Oh well, I'm only 18 so I guess I have plenty of time.....
....Anyway, I hope I dont ask too many questions! I dont even have a four wheel drive yet. (used to go with my dad but he moved and then had to sell the truck.) But i wanna learn all I can so I can build stuff. Mechanics I am learnin' pretty well, but I dont know anything about welding, and tube bending and sheetmetal fabrication and such sot hat's where I'll have problems doin stuff like TTB to SAS 'cause I cant fabricate custom mounts and such.
Oh well, I'm only 18 so I guess I have plenty of time.....
Last edited by Caleb1; May 2, 2005 at 09:58 PM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: House Springs, MO
I've got one from a diesel engine. Those are 100 amp, as opposed to the regular 60 amp jobs. I was actually considering running two alts, 1 for each battery, but hadn't decided or made up my mind on that yet. I'm trying to compartmentalize my electrical components, but what I have now shouldn't be draining the battery.
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Lead Driver
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,236
Likes: 12
From: Senoia, GA
Originally Posted by Caleb1
Thanks! feel free with the wisecracks! i been lurkin' awhile, so I know how it is. Besides I can keep up pretty well myself ....
Anyway, I hope I dont ask too many questions! I dont even have a four wheel drive yet. (used to go with my dad but he moved and then had to sell the truck.) But i wanna learn all I can so I can build stuff. Mechanics I am learnin' pretty well, but I dont know anything about welding, and tube bending and sheetmetal fabrication and such sot hat's where I'll have problems doin stuff like TTB to SAS 'cause I cant fabricate custom mounts and such.
Oh well, I'm only 18 so I guess I have plenty of time.....
....Anyway, I hope I dont ask too many questions! I dont even have a four wheel drive yet. (used to go with my dad but he moved and then had to sell the truck.) But i wanna learn all I can so I can build stuff. Mechanics I am learnin' pretty well, but I dont know anything about welding, and tube bending and sheetmetal fabrication and such sot hat's where I'll have problems doin stuff like TTB to SAS 'cause I cant fabricate custom mounts and such.
Oh well, I'm only 18 so I guess I have plenty of time.....
i would suggest taking a community college course in welding, it is very beneficial in the off road realm and can prove to bring in some serious cash!
you can never ask to omany questions but sometimes around here, unfortuneatley they can get redundant!
happy wrenching!
-cutts-
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Brett Foote
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Thanks! I really apreciate the support. My dad was a pretty fair shadetree mechanic, he even rebuilt some engines and stuff, so If I run into trouble there, I can drag his butt up here to help me. My grandad was a good welder (boilemaker) but unfortunately he passed a few years back, and my dad was never into the welding stuff as much. he learned in the navy, but he dosent have equipment. I'd like to take a welding course but my mom (who has agreed to pay for all my school as long as she can while I am living at home) wants me to get my associate degree first.
But lately she seems more receptive to letting me take welding.
I was originally gonna take atuo mechanics, but then realized I can learn that stuff pretty good on my own.
Well, anyway, as soon as I pay my mom back for my truck, I'll probably sell it and get a 4x4 V6 ranger (or another 4.9 F-150, man I love that engine) for a daily driver, and then I will be gettin' another truck to play with and build up for mud bogs. I live in north florida so that's real popular. Not too many trails here...
Thanks again!
But lately she seems more receptive to letting me take welding.
I was originally gonna take atuo mechanics, but then realized I can learn that stuff pretty good on my own.
Well, anyway, as soon as I pay my mom back for my truck, I'll probably sell it and get a 4x4 V6 ranger (or another 4.9 F-150, man I love that engine) for a daily driver, and then I will be gettin' another truck to play with and build up for mud bogs. I live in north florida so that's real popular. Not too many trails here...
Thanks again!
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,236
Likes: 12
From: Senoia, GA
[QUOTE=Caleb1] I live in north florida so that's real popular. QUOTE]
what part of N Florida? we own a lake house down in Panama City (it's on a fresh water lake not the ocean)
boilermakers are some pretty serious welders!!! they HAVE to know their shiat.
-cutts-
what part of N Florida? we own a lake house down in Panama City (it's on a fresh water lake not the ocean)
boilermakers are some pretty serious welders!!! they HAVE to know their shiat.
-cutts-
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2005
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If you get a newer f150 with the 4.9, dual alternators will be a pain to set up with the serpentine system, but it can be done. Additionally, your engine compartment will be crowded, and belt driven components cost horsepower. I have no idea how much hp a 4.9 has, but I'm sure it could stand to conserve as much as possible. Like the others said, a good high amp single alternator is probably a better choice.
Good Luck,
Ernie
Good Luck,
Ernie
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,437
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[QUOTE=fishmanndotcom]
I live around Apalach now, but we plan to be movin to bristol area real soon.
Yeah, I have My Grandad's boilermaker association belt buckle and one of his old welding caps.
My dad was a submarine tender in the Navy for 4 years, so he learned Firefighting and stuff, and I think welding and all that too (Iwould assume).......
Originally Posted by Caleb1
I live in north florida so that's real popular. QUOTE]
what part of N Florida? we own a lake house down in Panama City (it's on a fresh water lake not the ocean)
boilermakers are some pretty serious welders!!! they HAVE to know their shiat.
-cutts-
what part of N Florida? we own a lake house down in Panama City (it's on a fresh water lake not the ocean)
boilermakers are some pretty serious welders!!! they HAVE to know their shiat.
-cutts-
Yeah, I have My Grandad's boilermaker association belt buckle and one of his old welding caps.
My dad was a submarine tender in the Navy for 4 years, so he learned Firefighting and stuff, and I think welding and all that too (Iwould assume).......
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 194
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From: White Lake
Winching takes a tremendous amount of current!!, Depending on the load and the size of the winch. If you try a hard pull without running the engine, even with dual batteries the voltage will drop, causing the current to rise, causing the motor to heat more rapidly. also reduces the pull capacity. I have a 12k winch on my '96 F350 CC,
10K winch on my 92 F250, and both have the factory batteries. But will not give me full pull for more than a few seconds without the engine running. The 16K is a power HOG!!!! - even with dual alternators, I can drain the batteries!
So, i guess i'm of the opinion to keep a good set of batteries, run the engine during, and then for a while after the pull is over.
10K winch on my 92 F250, and both have the factory batteries. But will not give me full pull for more than a few seconds without the engine running. The 16K is a power HOG!!!! - even with dual alternators, I can drain the batteries!
So, i guess i'm of the opinion to keep a good set of batteries, run the engine during, and then for a while after the pull is over.