Winch question

[Snuffy1757]

I have a Jakes winch bumper on my 99 DCS. I'm going to install a 3500 lb winch on my cart. I don't want to run an extra 12 volt battery for the winch. How do you convert the 48 volt battery pack down to 12 volts???

[yurtle]

Do you have 6 volt or 8 volt batteries? For infrequent use, Two 6 volt batteries will be OK. If you have 8 volt batteries, you'll need a 48 volt to 12 volt reducer that's capable of the winch amperage.

[Snuffy1757]

I have an 8 volt pack of Trojan T875

[NCPW]

You're probably not going to find a reducer capable of handling the wattage needed for the winch.

You'll be better served adding an aux 12V battery.

[DaveTM]

FWIW.....and I know you said you don't want to do this.....but I run a separate 12-V marine battery for my lights and front and rear winches. I winch my cart on and off my truck every time I go anywhere and I charge the 12-V about once a week. It's easy with a good battery charger. Maybe a little re-wiring with your lights, but it doesn't take away any power from your 48-V main batteries.

FWIW

[yurtle]

Concur. A reducer is unlikely to offer enough amperage.

[Seaquell]

You could try and run the winch on 1 8volt batt. Or maybe run it on 2 at 16v if you're feeling lucky. I would try 8v for a cart on mostly flat stuff 8v will probably pull ok.
Or run it at 16v and get some real power

[yurtle]

I concur with the above. Though I have no experience with winches, most motor are rated at amps (temperature) and will work well at 16 volts rather than 12.

[Snuffy1757]

Should I go with a 12 volt marine battery or will a 12 volt lawnmower battery be enough?

[yurtle]

How often do you use your wench? If only a few times a year, I would use pack batteries, then do several back to back charges after use.