5
Winch basics
Motor
- the motor can be 12 or 24 Volt powered by the vehicle battery or a
secondary slave battery via a split charge relay. The motor via gear train delivers
the power to rotate the winch gearbox and rotate the winch in both directions.
Winch drum
– the winch drum is a cylindrical housing that the winch rope is
wound onto.
Wire rope (winch rope)
– the wire ropes diameter and length are
governed by the designed load capacity of the winch. Penny Hydraulics winches
have a hook with safety catch at one end and a special thimble end at the winch
drum to prevent the wire rope from being pulled from the drum.
Warning:- when handling wire ropes always use heavy duty rigger gloves. Often
small sprags of wire can protrude which easily puncture bare skin.
Roller Fairlead
– the fairlead acts a rope guide, feeding the wire rope onto
the drum evenly when pulling at an angle and helping to prevent rope damage.
Winch gearbox or gear train
– the gearbox is a reduction gear type
box which converts the motor power into a large pulling force. This design makes
the winch lighter and more compact.
