Installing 12V winch into a 24V vehicle : possible ?

[Kusuma]

Hi Guys !

I just need a confirmation on this question that keep bogging my mind :

I just got a 1980 Patrol short with 4.2Td engine (swapped engine), it uses 24V system and I am planning to install a winch ..

I think I can not put a 12V winch into a 24 V winch ... Can anyone confirm on this ? As I have very minimum knowledge on electricity.

I use 2x12V series battery.

Thanks.

Kusuma.

[AB]

Hi Kusuma, just hook the winch up to 1 x 12v battery only and that will be fine.

[Kusuma]

Hi Kusuma, just hook the winch up to 1 x 12v battery only and that will be fine.

Thanks AB for you reply. One of my friend also said so.

If I do that, would it cause unbalance current bank between the two batteries as the winch will only draw current from one battery ? Any bad impact during recharging both batteries by the 24V alternator ? I am worry one battery will be overcharged and blown up before the other one fully charged ..

[YNOT]

Thanks AB for you reply. One of my friend also said so.

If I do that, would it cause unbalance current bank between the two batteries as the winch will only draw current from one battery ? Any bad impact during recharging both batteries by the 24V alternator ? I am worry one battery will be overcharged and blown up before the other one fully charged ..

Where's an auto sparky when you need one?
The other alternative is to fit a 24v winch motor and solenoid pack. Easy if it's a Warn winch.

Tony

[Finly Owner]

Thanks AB for you reply. One of my friend also said so.

If I do that, would it cause unbalance current bank between the two batteries as the winch will only draw current from one battery ? Any bad impact during recharging both batteries by the 24V alternator ? I am worry one battery will be overcharged and blown up before the other one fully charged ..

Usually you will be running your vehicle whilst winching therefore discharge would not be a huge factor, as alternator would be supplying power out and which ever battery needs the charge will draw on it.

[the evil twin]

Hiya Kusuma,

12 Volt winch on your truck is not ideal. If you have one or the 24 Volt ones are too expensive then Yes it is doable and Yes what your friend and others heer said is the simplest. Hook it to one battery only and make sure that battery is the one that has the Chassis Earth on it (not the battery that has the 24 Volt pos terminal if that makes more sense to you).

You have valid concerns over using this method tho. The winch will use a LOT more power than the Alternator will supply and because the batteries are in series not parallel they will not "load share" and the current from the Alternator to the winch and to 'charge the lo battery' has to flow thru the 'high battery' to get to it which will not give you optimum charging or be all that good for the Batteries.

Many 24 volt vehicles will fit a third battery dedicated to the winch to get around this issue but again that is a more expensive way. Depends how much winching you will be doing. Again 24 Volt winch motor conversion as prev suggested or a 24 Volt Winch is much preferred

[Kusuma]

Thanks Tim and the evil twin ... I can see both points make sense .. but I tend to agree with evil twin's view for the moment .. anybody else has better view / explanation ?

[Finly Owner]

No problem here, as now I have read it, it makes more sense than I have been lead to believe previously. Some things don't sound wright sometimes, but , when I see it done receive info that says it's OK then I convince myself it must be OK. Then people like Tony and Evil Twin come along and throw new thoughts at me, so I have to reformatt my brain!

Tim

[the evil twin]

... so I have to reformatt my brain!

ROFLMAO, ... the paint is worn off my 'are you sure you wish to reformat your brain' button.

Oh for a dollar the number of times I have pondered the smoking blackened ruins of one of my 'Good Idea's at the time' with an empty fire extinguisher in one hand and spilt beer all over... hehehe.

[MudRunnerTD]

You will find also that allot of the comp guys are "upgrading" their GQs to 24v just to run a 24v winch as it runs and pulls much faster than a 12volt winch will.

Chasing a 24v conversion for your winch is a winner here for sure.