Ramp Rat winch

[Andy4639]

I'm in the buying stage of the process for the battery to install on the Ramp truck. I want a 12 volt 650 CCA battery min. mounted in the compartment under the bed.
I want to tie to the truck's alternator so I can charge it when I need to.
If I hook this battery straight to the alternator do I need a isolation switch to turn it off and on when using the winch?
I have these already.

Would it be better to hook to the + battery terminal to the winch battery + terminal so I could use either battery if need be?
The ON/OFF switch would be installed on both.

[El Dorado Jim]

sub'd

[Andy4639]

This looks like it will work to me. I will install a 12 volt meter to keep a eye on it and when needed flip the switch to charge the extra battery.
It will have to be charged with a charger whenever I can though right and the alternator will just keep it topped off.
How about it Vette?

[El Dorado Jim]

you should just be able to run a #10 wire from your battery to the winch battery to keep it charged when driving I would think...

[VetteVet]

Originally Posted by Andy4639

This looks like it will work to me. I will install a 12 volt meter to keep a eye on it and when needed flip the switch to charge the extra battery.
It will have to be charged with a charger whenever I can though right and the alternator will just keep it topped off.
How about it Vette?

You still working on that winch? I thought you'd have that all working by now.
If you want to use both batteries then you will have to run large cables from the winch battery to the main battery junction. The solenoid would enable you to use both batteries, and you could charge both of them with the alternator. I wouldn't do it all the time though cause you might overcharge one or the other, and if one battery crapped out it would take the other one with it. You know like an internal short or having a drain on the main battery.

It looks like that diagram will do the job and you could charge it with a 10 gauge wire from the main battery junction with an optional switch like it shows in the diagram. Yes you should charge the winch battery with a battery charger if you run it down low.

You have to ask yourself, Do I really need the second battery to support the winch battery, and do I need the winch battery to support the main battery, or can I just use the winch battery and run a charge wire from the alternator junction for the winch battery.
Whatever you decide I know it'll be awesome.

[Andy4639]

VetteVet,
work, weather and grand baby and just life has been in the way! It took me awhile to get the metal bar cut and drilled. I just hadn't had the spare time to get it all done. Hope to have most of it done by Sunday. The winch is all done as of today. Just need a battery!!!!

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

I don't really plan on needing both batteries to run the winch are the truck but figured in a bind it would be nice if one are the other would be available just in case. Buying a battery $$$$$ wise though and just having it sit out on the ramp truck for weeks and weeks just makes no sense at all. It will not last long, so I may just use one out of another vehicle when I need it. That is going to be a pain in the butt though too!

[VetteVet]

How about running the winch positive cable off the starter solenoid, tied in with the main battery cable, and just run the winch off the main battery when you need it. You'd just have to run the truck and the alternator would help with the power load on the main battery? You might half to upgrade the main battery to an 800 AH but your alternator would handle the load. You could try it with the 650 and maybe that would be enough.

Do you have the specs on the winch"s amperage draw?
I'm just thinking out loud here.

[El Dorado Jim]

I think Vette is right, why can't you run the winch from your main battery only, I have an 8000 # warn 8274 winch on my 74 K20, and the one battery handles it fine, just leave the truck running...you would just have to run a heavy welding cable to the winch from your battery or starter solenoid,like Vette said, I would go to the battery....I solder on copper eyelets,and use a top post battery with the adapter to side post cables, then you can add as many cables/wires as you want...I never run the side post cables,if that makes sense..all the cables have eyes...even the one that goes to the starter and ground.....

[Andy4639]

Originally Posted by VetteVet

How about running the winch positive cable off the starter solenoid, tied in with the main battery cable, and just run the winch off the main battery when you need it. You'd just have to run the truck and the alternator would help with the power load on the main battery? You might half to upgrade the main battery to an 800 AH but your alternator would handle the load. You could try it with the 650 and maybe that would be enough.

Do you have the specs on the winch"s amperage draw?
I'm just thinking out loud here.

Harbor frieght 12,000 BadLands winch.
Hard to see but it's 300 amps at 12 volts.
I have the crimping tool and the welding lead to make cables. I was just not wanting to open up the winch housing to change the lead that is already there. Making a longer lead cable is nothing I make them all the time for golf carts. I guess I could use a bolt & nut and tie the cable together and wrap it up good.

Originally Posted by El Dorado Jim

I think Vette is right, why can't you run the winch from your main battery only, I have an 8000 # warn 8274 winch on my 74 K20, and the one battery handles it fine, just leave the truck running...you would just have to run a heavy welding cable to the winch from your battery or starter solenoid,like Vette said, I would go to the battery....I solder on copper eyelets,and use a top post battery with the adapter to side post cables, then you can add as many cables/wires as you want...I never run the side post cables,if that makes sense..all the cables have eyes...even the one that goes to the starter and ground.....

I hate the newer side post batteries. I would buy the bigger marine size battery with both terminal lugs on the top of it. The truck has no e brakes right now. They cut the cables when they extended the frame I guess. So keeping the truck running isn't a option right now.
That's another job I have to research and figure out.
Thanks guys well I just have to decide which way I want to go with it.
I guess these are the things that make us love these old trucks so much!