Winches have witnessed a surge in popularity over the past couple of decades, driven by the growing fondness for off-roading activities and sports. Enthusiasts often equip themselves with winches to navigate through challenging terrains, relying on these versatile devices to extricate themselves from sticky situations, whether it be mud or snow.
Adventurers commonly opt for electric winches due to their user-friendly nature and high efficiency. However, a notable limitation arises – these winches rely on a power supply from a vehicle’s battery or a dedicated auxiliary battery. In scenarios where a 12 Volt DC battery is unavailable, the question arises: How to run a 12 Volt winch on AC power from the mains?
In response to this predicament, our experts have crafted a comprehensive guide to assist you in seamlessly powering your portable 12V winch using the AC supply from the mains. Be sure to peruse the entire article for invaluable insights and step-by-step instructions.
Running a 12V Winch on AC Power
All of the countries in the world are powered via AC supplies from the mains, but the frequency ranges can vary from country to country. For instance, in UK the frequency is 50 Hz and in USA it is 60 Hz. The voltage ranges are also different as there is a voltage of 250V in the UK and 120 Volts in the US.
However, the solution to power a 12V on AC is simple regardless of the voltage and frequency ranges. All you need is a power converter to get the problem solved. The converter should be capable enough to bear twice to three times the wattage that is required to power the winch, so that you can operate it on the safer side. Nobody would want to repeatedly replace their converter due to power surges.
Power converters are readily available in hardware shops as well as on online stores. You might have to pay some extra bucks for superior quality converters, but it is worth the investment, as saving money from your converter may cost you a whole winch replacement eventually.
Types of Power Converters
Power converters come in several types which you can choose from. Talking about Step down Converters first, they operate by converting a higher voltage to convert to a lower voltage reading. The level of voltage which is brought down depends upon how the converter is designed and is based upon what its application is.
Step down converters are widely used all around the world. Their job is to basically help people use their day to day appliances on the rated voltage of the appliance, by withdrawing AC power from the mains supply. They can be used for several days in continuation, and if they are manufactured with good quality, they wouldn’t malfunction even under heavy loads. You can use them with your winch conveniently because they aren’t as heavy also.
The other type which performs its function opposite to step down converters are the Step up Converters. These converters increase the provided voltage to a higher value, as required by the electrical appliance they are calibrated with. Applications of such converters are also very vast as they enable the users to operate their imported appliances with different voltage rating, in a country where the voltage in mains supply is lesser.
The range of voltage conversion again depends upon the manufacturing of the converter, and the converters are specific to the degree of voltage step ups. These converters weigh almost as much as the step down converters do and they can also continue to operate continuously for several dozens of hours without any problem.
Benefits of Voltage Conversion to Power your Winch
One major advantage of converting high voltage AC supply to a lower voltage is the reduction in power losses. This is due to the fact that when your winch is actually operating on a high voltage AC, it will be withdrawing a much smaller amount of current to achieve the same level of power which means that energy losses in form of heat dissipation due to current and resistance will be brought down.
Therefore, using voltage converters will also reduce your operating costs for the winch to some extent, and you wouldn’t have to worry about keeping charged batteries with you all the times. Running a 12V winch on AC power is as easy as mentioned above, but its only about getting yourself the power converter with right voltage reading and taking all the safety measure before doing any actions.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Are winches AC or DC?
Winches can be both AC and DC as they are commonly available with either a 12V DC motor or an 110V AC motor.
- How many amps does a 12V winch draw?
An average winch withdraws 400 amps at 12V. Adding some extra amps can be disastrous and cause the motor to melt.
3. Should I fuse my winch?
The insulation over the cables can melt due to voltage surges, hence it is highly recommended to get your winch installed with a fuse or an isolation switch in the main power circuit.