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Exxonsailor · 11-01-2013, 03:22 PM

Aging problems with battery. Have electric winch and of course the LP and CO2 alarm that ther are no wY to shut down. My battery has a bayonette switch to disconnect. It seems that using winch runs down battery with one use. Had inverter checked and battery also, no problems. Could the winch be underpowered and using too much juice?

BFlinn181 · 11-01-2013, 03:42 PM

When you said you had battery checked, was it load tested or just voltage measured? If you take it to Autozone or the like they will hook up a load tester that tells the real condition of the battery capacity, not just voltage. The winch isn't underpowered, it might be drawing too much power for the capacity of the battery. How is the battery charged? Perhaps the charging system isn't fully charging battery.

tuffr2 · 11-01-2013, 05:27 PM

The battery is probably a small group 24 battery. I would replsce it with a much larger group 29. Or at the very least group 27. There is a big difference between 24, 27 and 29. A group 29 only cost about $40 more than group 24. To me, that would be $40 well spent.

You probably will need a larger battery box but I think it would be well worth it.

Cliffy · 11-01-2013, 06:57 PM

How old is the battery?
Has it ever been run down totally dead?
What is used to charge it and how often?
Good advice to take it to an auto parts store to have it capacity checked. Rhen you'll know for sure.

Exxonsailor · 11-02-2013, 07:25 AM

The battery was load tested. The battery is about a month old. The winch was used to raise and then lower the trailer when it ran out of juice. I had it plug in the truck the whole time. This discharge is the second time this has happened like this.

BFlinn181 · 11-02-2013, 08:18 AM

Was the truck running at the time? Have you checked the charging line from the truck to the trailer? It sounds like you need a larger or second battery. It's no fun using all your 12 v power just to set up the camper!

EDIT: I just saw your response that inverter was checked. I assume this is an inverter/charger? If you are draining the battery with the winch while it is being charged by the truck and/or powered by an inverter/charger, then I repeat you need a larger or more batteries. Check that all connections are clean.

Is this a winch that has to run to extend cable and retrieve with a load or a power jack? Usually jacks don't require that much power that you'd drain a battery. Perhaps it is faulty.