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what battery to help winching, what is everyone running for battery

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Offline beagle..t

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so question is while winching  tracker rpms drop and winching slows and lights fade  if motor dies then wont start as battery doesn't have enough juice to start up. I'm  running a interstate with 870cc (unknown age) wondering if it just doesn't have enough to run it. winch is newer with 3 pulls and not hard pulls by all means. I also don't think there is a bigger alternator for the v6 I could swap out. that's why I think its battery
new rig aka "the mule" 2002 tracker
V6 swap auto  ,2 dr ,2" BL,2" jeffs kit 512 gears warn hubs and 30/9.5/15 BFG AT

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Online fordem

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Re: what battery to help winching, what is everyone running for battery
« Reply #1 on: February 07, 2017, 05:37:46 AM »
Which V6 are you running, the 2.5 or the 2.7?  If it's the 2.5 get the 2.7 alternator and swap it in.

Your winch manufacturer should list a minimum battery size for use with the winch and also current draw under certain conditions, your alternator will be incapable of supplying the current so the additional demand will be take from the battery, and if it's not up to snuff, you will see the symptoms you describe - my guess is 870 cca would be ample for most winches on a Tracker, so your battery is probably past it's prime.
'98 SQ420 Grand Vitara
'05 JB420 Grand Vitara
'16 APK416 Vitara
'21 A6G415 Jimny

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Offline beagle..t

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Re: what battery to help winching, what is everyone running for battery
« Reply #2 on: February 07, 2017, 03:32:17 PM »
fordem I'm running a 2.7 .. I'm thinking that battery is past due. it will start vehicle but wont take a load of a winch. I'm going to see what I can do for maybe a alternator upgrade. also I was wondering if I do a amp test on the battery and alternator before I throw money at a new battery
new rig aka "the mule" 2002 tracker
V6 swap auto  ,2 dr ,2" BL,2" jeffs kit 512 gears warn hubs and 30/9.5/15 BFG AT

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Online fordem

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Re: what battery to help winching, what is everyone running for battery
« Reply #3 on: February 07, 2017, 04:51:58 PM »
You can have the battery tested with a "carbon pile" load tester (basically a large resistor) and it'll tell you if it's failing - this is the sort of test that the chain auto parts stores do, but they probably don't know what a "carbon pile" is, so don't ask them about that.

Testing the alternator for rated output is considerably more tricky - actual output will be dictated by the load on the alternator at the time of the test and if you can't load the alternator sufficiently you could end up thinking it's defective - if you have access to a DC clamp meter and can clamp it over the alternator output lead, you may be able to measure the current whilst loading the system up with the winch.
'98 SQ420 Grand Vitara
'05 JB420 Grand Vitara
'16 APK416 Vitara
'21 A6G415 Jimny

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Offline beagle..t

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Re: what battery to help winching, what is everyone running for battery
« Reply #4 on: February 07, 2017, 05:36:25 PM »
is there a better alternator upgrade that is available
new rig aka "the mule" 2002 tracker
V6 swap auto  ,2 dr ,2" BL,2" jeffs kit 512 gears warn hubs and 30/9.5/15 BFG AT

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Online fordem

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Re: what battery to help winching, what is everyone running for battery
« Reply #5 on: February 08, 2017, 01:16:45 PM »
I'm not going to say there isn't, but, I'm not aware of an easy or popular swap - a quick lock at what's available shows that the popular GM units top out at the same 105A output as the OE alternator, there are a couple of higher output GM units (CS144) which go up to as much as 145A, but I have no idea how difficult they are to mount or how much space they require.

Have the battery tested, I almost certain it's on the way out, if it is, replace it and see what happens.
'98 SQ420 Grand Vitara
'05 JB420 Grand Vitara
'16 APK416 Vitara
'21 A6G415 Jimny

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Offline beagle..t

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Re: what battery to help winching, what is everyone running for battery
« Reply #6 on: February 08, 2017, 04:50:51 PM »
that's what I'm thinking that the battery is just about at it life expectancy, was thinking of red top optima 
new rig aka "the mule" 2002 tracker
V6 swap auto  ,2 dr ,2" BL,2" jeffs kit 512 gears warn hubs and 30/9.5/15 BFG AT

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Online fordem

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Re: what battery to help winching, what is everyone running for battery
« Reply #7 on: February 09, 2017, 03:31:21 AM »
Optima red top is primarily a starting battery, designed to deliver the brief high current discharges that an engine requires to crank, take a look at the yellow top, which is designed to handle longer discharges, it 's probably better suited to your needs.
'98 SQ420 Grand Vitara
'05 JB420 Grand Vitara
'16 APK416 Vitara
'21 A6G415 Jimny

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Offline beagle..t

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  • Gender: Male
Re: what battery to help winching, what is everyone running for battery
« Reply #8 on: February 11, 2017, 08:23:09 AM »
good to know thx fordem
new rig aka "the mule" 2002 tracker
V6 swap auto  ,2 dr ,2" BL,2" jeffs kit 512 gears warn hubs and 30/9.5/15 BFG AT