120/240V Winch solution for Cybertruck

[Feathermerchant]

My Cybertruck reservation is far from getting filled but I have a 2011 F150 that I made a winch installation and I have used it a lot for pulling stumps. I haven't gotten the truck stuck yet.

Finding no DC systems on the Cybertruck that can handle a winch and no winches that operate on 120/240VAC, I have come up with a solution. Not a great solution but one that should work. It is a work in progress.

There are server power supplies that output 12VDC and up to 75A on 120VAC and are also capable of 12VDC and 100A on 240VAC. They are designed to operate in parallel for redundancy and share the load (current) equally. They are also are designed to run continuously at full output. In a cold server room. Not wet.

So I put 3 in parallel as a test and connected my 12,000lb winch to them with them plugged into 120V from my garage. That's 3 X 75 Amps = 225 Amps. I mounted the winch to the truck and around a wheel on my wife's Model Y (don't tell her). The power supplies drew 13.4A at 120V when the winch started to drag the Model Y on smooth pavement. That's probably around 134 Amps through the winch. The winch instructions say it can draw 360A so I'll need to make up a harness for 240V to get more Amps if I want to really pull.

Using the truck's 12V system, I have been able to drag all 4 wheels of the truck on rough concrete without stalling it and also not on the first layer. Even with chocks. I have not measured the Amps.

At this point the winch will have to mount to the Cybertruck's rear receiver. For my F150 I made a front receiver mount. This allows me to winch from the front or back.

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[Feathermerchant]

I had a power supply failure with the setup above operating on 120V so I have built a new one using more modern power supplies with the same specs but apparently more robust innards. I have them set up as 4 in parallel and operating at 240V input so I have a theoretical 400A available. I have successfully pulled one stump and stalled the winch trying to pull another with no power supply failures. I'll post pictures soon.

 

[cybercricket]

I run a 12k winch from two (in series) Nissan Leaf modules. Something like this :
https://www.ebay.com/itm/286103834440

There are some caveats with properly protecting and charging those (plenty of info on DIY solar and EV forums), but power-wise they can deliver 330A continuously and 660A for a few seconds.

 

[Feathermerchant]

OK here are some pics of the power supply setup. The first is of the Adapter that lets me make use of the 240V outlet as these power supplies can output 12V @ 100A each when running on 240VAC input.
The second shows the adaptor connected to the extension cord/splitter so I can power all 4 power supplies.
The 3rd picture shows the business end of the supplies connected in parallel and the #4 wire and Anderson connector to plug into the winch. The small red wire connecting the power supplies allows them to share the load.

The winch is 10,500lb and mounted on a 2" receiver mount just like a ball mount for towing a trailer. The winch motor can supposedly draw something like 330A when stalled. I can't stall it as it will just drag the truck with all 4 wheels locked.

 

[Feathermerchant]

When winching the 4 power supplies sit on the bumper between the winch and the license plate.
The only real downside is that the power supplies must be kept dry. There is no way to seal them because they require air flow. I store them in the underbed compartment.

 

[everman]

OK here are some pics of the power supply setup. The first is of the Adapter that lets me make use of the 240V outlet as these power supplies can output 12V @ 100A each when running on 240VAC input.
The second shows the adaptor connected to the extension cord/splitter so I can power all 4 power supplies.
The 3rd picture shows the business end of the supplies connected in parallel and the #4 wire and Anderson connector to plug into the winch. The small red wire connecting the power supplies allows them to share the load.

The winch is 10,500lb and mounted on a 2" receiver mount just like a ball mount for towing a trailer. The winch motor can supposedly draw something like 330A when stalled. I can't stall it as it will just drag the truck with all 4 wheels locked.

This is fantastic! I created an account here just to reply to this thread. I am going to build this. Can you let me know which power supplies you used? Thanks so much for sharing your work!

 

[Feathermerchant]

This is what I bought but they are out of stock.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/405304765216
This will work but much more expensive..
https://www.ebay.com/itm/2560870686...lp:2332490&itmmeta=01JPR1PV8RS3TVENW46S00808P

This one may work but is only 240V so OK for the CT> I have not worked with this particular model so I can't be sure. But probable. It's also 125A so you may only need 3. Depends on your winch.

 

[everman]

This is what I bought but they are out of stock.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/405304765216
This will work but much more expensive..
https://www.ebay.com/itm/256087068628?_trkparms=amclksrc=ITM&aid=1110006&algo=HOMESPLICE.SIM&ao=1&asc=282208,282301,282590,282607,282600,282202&meid=cf18db3999fc40eb8e325cccb7190c09&pid=101875&rk=4&rkt=4&sd=405304765216&itm=256087068628&pmt=1&noa=0&pg=2332490&algv=SimVIDwebV3WithCPCExpansionEmbeddingSearchQuerySemanticBroadMatchSingularityRecall&brand=HPE&_trksid=p2332490.c101875.m1851&itmprp=cksum:256087068628cf18db3999fc40eb8e325cccb7190c09|enc:AQAKAAABQOqalcCsb07ituDYLOrUrH2eG1DBUcAU1siB%2B881ennut1KqikNJ--C2JmJJYbnGBSq9s1cAaLR3u1P2GFHP6cOkMtiQrPwhnArZTi0NFnCkYNs9wPMPnRY0lLYAH0ZUZCCZcugIMbED%2BpyreCDz8yxBtpJOiH4VuwPAMQmovcsxPkpjIWYbmq490%2FW9jkdo9lx91RGJ725mNyHqDJCvld3jHt%2FCs1hNc45m5ABu1nWGffZz4HZWzOHgZDVQReobK2BGlTsb8HcLgCaHOBAOM%2F89NSBJqImkhO2NEgDI1QePBHIWrRgikZX7BpE4KpEu3uUoNbRQ4UciyRtmE%2BOyIKVTAbFR%2FNFYLS2GZ59oFnqmJpuopEqsjITg%2Bt9A5Rtj4LOngw4ltplj9FN%2BVriacYTjJd2aRVdQN23%2Blr0Q3SWj|ampidL_CLK|clp:2332490&itmmeta=01JPR1PV8RS3TVENW46S00808P

This one may work but is only 240V so OK for the CT> I have not worked with this particular model so I can't be sure. But probable. It's also 125A so you may only need 3. Depends on your winch.

I just ordered these, 1500W 125A. Hoping they are similar. Should only need three as you said, with one spare.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/187027894637

I’ve got tons of copper busbar. Just need the plugs. What did you use to convert NEMA 14-50 to the eventual splitter?

 

[Feathermerchant]

I wired the two hot wires from the NEMA 15-50 to the hot and neutral of the 5-20 socket and also wired the ground. I did this because the power supplies will output 100A each on 240V Input. I wrote in Sharpie "240V" all over the 5-20 so I would not forget. I have no way to feed power to the power supplies except standard PC cords. THE Amazon extension with 4 outputs is rated at 30A and 300V. It has a power indicator in the splitter but I think that still works on 240. I don't much care about that.

Two other things you need to know is that as they come the power supplies (mine anyway) won't come on if just plugged in. They must be made to think they are in a server. I use a jumper between two of the edge connector traces -one per supply- to make them come on. The second thing is that they are made to share the load (AMPs) when in parallel. A jumper from power supply to power supply connecting them all together does that.

 

[Feathermerchant]

Jumper locations:
With the label up and the output end of the supply facing you, the power on jumper is connected from the left most contact to the 4th contact. On my supplies they are numbered 33 and 36.
The load sharing jumper connects the second contact from the left #34 on each power supply.

I'm hoping that the ones you bought are the same. If not, you may be able to find a pinout on the web.

 

[everman]

Jumper locations:
With the label up and the output end of the supply facing you, the power on jumper is connected from the left most contact to the 4th contact. On my supplies they are numbered 33 and 36.
The load sharing jumper connects the second contact from the left #34 on each power supply.

I'm hoping that the ones you bought are the same. If not, you may be able to find a pinout on the web.

Thanks so much. I look forward to trying this out with one supply, then scaling up. I'll keep you updated. Right now I don't have any shipping information yet.

 

[Feathermerchant]

Since the initial build, I have swapped for a 6,000lb winch only because the 10,500lb winch weighs about 75lb and I am too lazy. the 6,000lb winch is about 37lb. With two pulleys I can probably outpull the 10,500lb winch. It only takes about 3-4,000 pounds to drag all 4 tires in grass anyway.

 

[everman]

My build is almost complete. Couple routing and securing things and I'll post an update, hopefully this weekend. Thanks again for the inspiration!

 

[Cyberskunk]

I'll probably just run a couple 2c rate batteries and a charger.

 

[Feathermerchant]

Update - I have pulled several stumps with the 6,000 lb winch above and pulleys. I first excavate and cut as many roots as I can find with my Milwaukee sawzall. I can charge its batteries with the truck while winching, etc. Once you can get the stump to rock a little, the winch will probably pull it out. The bigger stumps I have pulled were too heavy for 2 to lift onto the tailgate. So I drug them to the dumpster with the truck and cut them up there. Better to use a sawzall for stumps as chainsaws really hate dirt.

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