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imsmooth Senior Member Joined: 07/02/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 214
Posted: 11:52pm 12 Apr 2010
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Does anyone use an electric winch for raising/lowering their tower?
Do you use a 12v battery? Will a battery alone have enough current to drive a 2000 or 3000lb load?
VK4AYQ Guru Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539
Posted: 12:38am 13 Apr 2010
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Hi Smoothie
Should be a good call with a split mast and short gin pole, I use a ebay cheepo electric winch to move machines around in my workshop some are weighing 4 tonnes and it hasn't died yet, just a 12 volt 40 ah battery is all that's needed to do a couple of hours work.
The only thing is the brake system is useless so you would need to have safety rope if you plan to stop half way up.
All the best
BobFoolin Around
bobshau Newbie Joined: 22/11/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 27
Posted: 01:30am 13 Apr 2010
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I use a Harbor Freight 8000 pound (3/8" diameter cable) 12 Volt electric winch to raise my 20 foot diameter windmill using a single automobile battery. The winch cable uses a snatch block hook that attaches to the gin pole cable; the end hook connects to a ground anchor. That means the estimated 2000 pound gin pole cable load is halved between the winch and the end hook ground anchor. The winch sees 1000 pounds. The battery is more than capable to raise the windmill. I usually recharge the battery between lowering and raising.
Blessings and peace.
Bob
BobS
KarlJ Guru Joined: 19/05/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1178
Posted: 07:03am 13 Apr 2010
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Phillm uses one too, seemed to have no trouble raising /lowering his F&P, whole process took about 2 minutes including letting the guy rope on one side go.
very painless and safe, particularly with the split tower design pivoting ~1/2 way thus forces not getting crazy.Luck favours the well prepared
imsmooth Senior Member Joined: 07/02/2008 Location: United StatesPosts: 214
Posted: 02:19pm 14 Apr 2010
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What about brakes on the electric winches? What happens if the electric winch dies mid-way?
Do they have reliable brakes, or do I need a safety cable attached to the gin pole?
GWatPE Senior Member Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127
Posted: 02:36pm 14 Apr 2010
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I would not use cable as a safety device. There are plenty of aramid type ropes far more suitable, and even dynamic types to absorb shock. I use 3000kg rated rope, with a hand block and tackle, with a 4 stage pull, on my centre pivot tower, of approx 7m height. Takes only about 30 secs to lower, once the bottom fixing and top guy is removed. Had to do this in a lull between gusts in a storm once with the F&P mill during brake runaway. Takes a bit over a minute to get it back up. I have never been a fan of electric, or boat trailer type winches. A more universal tool, like a Tirfor type cable winch would be my choice for a bigger tower. I have seen the gears on a trailer winch deform during a lift, so I am wary of these.
Gordon.
become more energy aware
birdhouse Regular Member Joined: 27/01/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 63
Posted: 12:26am 15 Apr 2010
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hello-
random thought- you ever thought about using climbing gear to lower a tower? it wouldn't use any electricity, be super easy, and will handle the load. an 11mm static line is rated for 6k lbs. that with a belay device and you'd be good to go.
just a thought
birdhousei pee more than once before flushing, and don't have to flush at all up at the ranch!
GWatPE Senior Member Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127
Posted: 06:39am 15 Apr 2010
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Hi birdhouse,
sounds like the rope I use.
A block and tackle gives ultimate control with minimal effort.
I can easily hold the weight of the tower at maximum load and tie OFF if needed.
I ask the question, What happens in a year, or 5, when you want the winch to work, and the thing has seized up?
Gordon.
become more energy aware
Sonny Regular Member Joined: 17/01/2010 Location: United StatesPosts: 66
Posted: 10:51pm 15 Apr 2010
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that's why you preform maintenance on your equipment Gordon a complete novice
birdhouse Regular Member Joined: 27/01/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 63
Posted: 12:44am 16 Apr 2010
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or keep the winch indoors and bolt it to your footing when needed? they are awful heavy though...
or it could be the reason to buy the four wheeler you've always wanted with a winch on the front?
gordon, if you can hold your rope with the block and tackle set up you describe, can you also pull up the tower with just your self? or i missing the system.
birdhouse
i pee more than once before flushing, and don't have to flush at all up at the ranch!
Downwind Guru Joined: 09/09/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2333
Posted: 04:35am 16 Apr 2010
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We use to raise the water windmill towers with just a rope block and tackle without any problems.
You have an enormass power with block and tackle, it is just a matter of how many shives your block has because each shive doubles the previous factor of power.
Ie. 1 shive = double the power of lift.
2 shives is 4 times the power of lift.
Pete.
Sometimes it just works
GWatPE Senior Member Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127
Posted: 05:14am 16 Apr 2010
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Hi birdhouse,
Of course I pull the rope myself to raise and lower my towers. I would only use a winch [stored away until needed] if my tower was much bigger, and I could not manage with just a block and tackle.
Gordon.
become more energy aware
niall1 Senior Member Joined: 20/11/2008 Location: IrelandPosts: 331
Posted: 01:15pm 16 Apr 2010
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just a little bit to add on electric winches...well as least mine anyway...i can only comment on this model...
i used to use it on the mill and it worked fine ...but one day i noticed the characteristic clicking sound it made had stopped ......this turned out to a failed spring on the ratchet lock ...this allowed the mast to creep (back feed) if the motor was off...a bit unnerving to watch
i did reform the broken spring end....but only used it once after that.....
if the winch was used on a flat pull nothing unnecessary bad might happen ....hoisting something would be a different situation ..i think Edited by niall1 2010-04-18niall
birdhouse Regular Member Joined: 27/01/2009 Location: United StatesPosts: 63
Posted: 02:53pm 16 Apr 2010
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nial- i'll bet that didn't feel very good watching your tower move down instead of up. atleast your winch has the audible click to let you know the brake is working.
my truck winch is the planetary gear type. it absolutely lock up under any load, unless you switch a lever to free spool, but this lever is pretty hard to turn, so i doubt you could ever accidentally switch it. initially i figured i'd use this winch to raise/lower my tower, but it's kinda a pain to use and really beats up the battery in my truck.
glen- your block and tackle method intrigues me. i'm sure you've posted it a million times, but how tall is your tower?
i understand the mechanical advantage of pulleys, but after you get so many turns, isn't there some decent friction loss? i guess what i'm getting at is i'm wondering if with enough pulleys and a long enough rope, if a 60' tower with a ten foot mill on top could be raised and lowered by one human? i know this is kinda a how long is the piece of string type of question.
thanks!
birdhousei pee more than once before flushing, and don't have to flush at all up at the ranch!
Notice. New forum software under development. It's going to miss a few functions and look a bit ugly for a while, but I'm working on it full time now as the old forum was too unstable. Couple days, all good. If you notice any issues, please contact me.
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