It is now easy to lift tons of loads with technology in hydraulics now are advanced. In sectors like construction, automotive and logistics, where a heavy load is a frequent point in question, hydraulic winches make the problem that would take days and weeks go away in minutes. Electric Winches, Hydraulic winches… Should I buy an electric winch or a hydraulic winch? What are the advantages of electric and hydraulic winches? We try to find an answer in this article.
Electric Winches and Hydraulic Winches
It is now easy to lift tons of loads with technology in hydraulics now are advanced. In sectors like construction, automotive and logistics, where a heavy load is a frequent point in question, hydraulic winches make the problem that would take days and weeks go away in minutes.
- Electric winch
- Hydraulic winch
- Should I buy an electric winch or a hydraulic winch?
- What are the advantages of electric winches and hydraulic winches?
Electric Winches
Winches are complex machines that turn the power it gets into towing and lifting power. Winches that are powered through electric motors are classified as electric winches or electric hoisting drums.
Despite being a 50-year-old technology, electric winches are recently gaining popularity in the automotive sector. Electric winches are especially preferred in off-road vehicles. That is why electric winches are known as off-road winches or off-road hoisting drums.
The off-road vehicles do not have PTO (Power Take Off) outings; therefore, electric winches are preferred. Professionals do not prefer electric winches that have 24V and 12V options because of their high price and high maintenance cost.
The durability of the electric winches, which have a price range of between $1,000 and $20,000 depending on their towing capacity, is shorter when compared to hydraulic winches.
Electric winches are machines that run with an electromotor that gets its power from electricity, turns electromotor power into lifting power with the help of gearwheel and steel ropes.
The direct current motors – DC motors – that are the power source of electric winches are used frequently in daily life and in industrial equipment types. DC motors consist of the stator, rotor (armature assembly) and two-way switch circles. The rotor is connected to a battery or power source, a direct current source, via a couple of two-way switches. When the current goes through the bobbin, an electro-magnetic field happens and the bobbin starts to spin.
Hydraulic Winches
Hydraulic Winches are complex machines that turn the power it gets into towing and lifting power. Winches that are powered through electric motors are classified as electric winches or electric hoisting drums.
Hydraulic winches are complex machines that get their power from the engine of the vehicle, turns the hydraulic press – gained by the PTO, the hydraulic power transfer box -- into towing and lifting power with the help of gears and rope.
Hydraulic winches can lift way too heavier loads when compared to electric hoisting drums or electric winches. The towing capacity for a sole winch can get up to 50 tons. In military vehicles, the capacity can be increased by increasing the number of winches.
Hydraulic winches are durable when maintenance is done correctly and timely. Because it is a mechanical system, it can live up to tough weather conditions.
Hydraulic winches can be used in all vehicles that have a hydraulic pump or PTO outings, such as 18-wheelers, trucks and mini trucks.
If the vehicle has no PTO outing, a “baby gearbox” can be installed to the vehicle so that the vehicle’s hydraulic press can be transferred into hydraulic winches’ hydro motor. The hydraulic winch turns the hydraulic press coming from the PTO into mechanical energy with the help of a hydro motor. Therefore, hydraulic winches can easily do the towing and lifting works with transfer components. The hydro motor turns the oil pressure to a backward power so that motional energy is achieved.
Hydraulic hoisting drum is the number one helper and is preferred by professionals in the transportation, automotive, logistics and construction sectors.
Should I buy an electric winch or a hydraulic winch?
Hydraulic winches are more advantageous in various ways compared to electric winches. The price and maintenance costs of hydraulic winches are low when compared to electric winches. Electric winches can easily be affected by environmental factors like water and dust and these factors cause low performance in towing and lifting. Moreover, you may say goodbye to your electric winch, which you paid thousands of dollars. Electric winches can overcharge your car’s electrical equipment when it works overcapacity due to getting power from your car’s electrical system. It may break down your car. Electric winches have less capacity compared to hydraulic winches.
We can hear you asking why electric winches are used if the hydraulic winches are that advantageous. The answer is simple. Electric winches are used in vehicles that have to PTO -- the hydraulic pump -- outing.
If the vehicle has no PTO outing, a “baby gearbox” can be installed on the vehicle, or you can choose electric winches.
If your vehicle has a PTO system and you want to do professional business, you should definitely prefer hydraulic winches. If you prefer brands like Hammer Winch, which has manufactured in this sector for years, gained customer respect with its standards, you will not have any problems using hydraulic winches for many years.
What are the advantages of electric winches and hydraulic winches?
Hydraulic winches are more advantageous in cost, performance and durability wise when compared to electric winches. We compared electric winches and hydraulic winches on this board.
| Electric winches | Hydraulic winches |
| High cost | Affordable cost |
| High maintenance cost | Affordable maintenance cost |
| Needs frequent maintenance | Last long after a maintenance |
| Towing power up to 10 tons | Towing power up to 70 tons |
| High costs for spare parts | Affordable cost of spare parts |
| Limited spare parts | Easy access to spare parts |
| No domestic product conforming to standards | CE – EN 14492-1 and SAE J706 standard domestic product |
| Weak Waterproof | Waterproof |
| Short-term | Durable |
| Corrosion enduring weak | Endures corrosion up to 1000 hours |
| Weak against environment and weather conditions | Functions in high-level of dust and in temperature between -32 and +50 degrees |
| Does not need PTO outing | Needs PTO outing |
| Fit for industrial using | Fit for industrial using |
In this article, we analyzed and compared hydraulic winches and electric winches. If your preference is a hydraulic winch, choose one that with a certificate and is up to standards. If not, please bear in mind that you are risking your safety and property.
There are lots of domestic and foreign hydraulic winch producing firms. The easy access to auxiliary equipment, technical department and price range, you can find domestic products. In our country, it is profitable in the long run to prefer a worldwide brand like Hammer Winch that exports all around the world.
You can direct your questions to us here. Our hydraulic expert team will answer your questions on short notice.
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