There are many tools and equipment manufactured every day for construction companies or for home use. But most of these tools and equipment can only perform one task.
So what piece of equipment can you use that allows you to perform heavy duty and lightweight tasks? What you need is an electric winch. These popular devices are easy to use and they’re extremely versatile.
So what is a winch and how can this resourceful application be of use to you? Let’s find out.
What is a Winch?
A winch is a mechanical device used to pull, extend or adjust the tension of a rope or chain. The rope or chain is wound around a horizontal rotating barrel and it’s turned by a lever or a motor. A winch is typically mounted onto the back of a towing vehicle.
Winches come in different sizes and you can pick one depending on what the application will be used for. Different strength lines—chains—and steel ropes of a range of widths will be used for towing or lifting objects of various capacities.
What can You do With a Winch?
Towing
Smaller winches can be used for recreational purposes which include moving terrain vehicles, off-road vehicles and heavy-duty trucks. A smaller winch is easier to mount and it’s user-friendly so you can install it to the back of your vehicle easily.
Installing a winch onto the back of your vehicle will be an excellent piece of equipment to have especially in emergency situations. For instance, if you see a car stuck on a muddy road you can safely pull out the trapped vehicle using the winch.
Rescue Missions
Firemen use a winch to lift people out of burning buildings. The winch can either be attached to a helicopter or to a crane. The winch is sometimes used to remove heavy debris out of the way to get to a certain part of a building to perform a rescue mission.
A winch can also be used to save animals. For sea life, the winch is attached to a harness to lift heavy aquatic animals out of the water in order to treat injuries. Heavy land animals can be lifted and placed into a truck to be transported to a rescue facility.
Construction Work
Manual winches are used to lift lightweight items but electric winches are typically used to lift heavier objects. The electric winch is much easier to use than a manual application as you don’t have to turn a crank in order for the object to be lifted.
The electric winch is used in construction to make short work of lifting pre-built walls, roofs and fences. What’s more is the application can be used to lift and move logs, boulders & heavy building materials.
How to Select the Right Winch for You
The most popular use for winches is for home purposes. But how do you pick the right one for you? Let’s go through the specs you should look for when selecting a winch for personal use.
Size
The size of the winch you pick will determine the load capacity it can lift, tow or hold. Selecting a winch with a larger capacity is always the better choice because it’s more versatile. You’ll be able to use it for any lifting or towing task.
People typically use a winch to lift vehicles so select a winch that can lift 1.5 metric tons more than the weight of your car. Calculate the capacity of the winch by taking the gross weight of your vehicle and multiplying it by 1.5 metric tons. This will give you an indication of what winch you should purchase.
Winch Type
There are two types of winches that can be used for personal use: the hydraulic winch and the electric winch. The hydraulic winch is powered by your vehicle’s steering pump and the electric winch is powered by your car’s battery.
The electric winch is the most popular as they’re durable and cost-effective. Because of the popularity of the electric winch, they’re easy to find.
Electric Winch Motor Options
There are two types of DC motors for the electric winch: the permanent magnetic (PM) and the series wound (SW). Cheaper electric winch brands have a PM motor. Selecting an electric winch with an SW motor is the better option as they’re used for heavy-duty operations.
Winch Mounting Options
You can install a winch mounting plate anywhere on your vehicle or machine. The mounting plate is quite popular as it’s inconspicuous and it makes it easy for you to install your winch onto any application.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be a professional to operate a winch. All you need is the proper application and you can achieve myriads of tasks from lifting heavy objects around the house to performing DIY mechanic work on your vehicle.
So do you have a project that requires the use of a winch? Find a reputable winch retailer to buy from so you can start working on your heavy-duty jobs quickly and hassle-free.