A motorized winch is a device used for hauling or lifting using a cable wrapped around a pulley. This pulley is in turn mounted to a motor that will rotate the pulley in one direction or the other, thereby feeding out cable or retracting it as necessary. In many cases, the motorized winch is powered by electricity, though gasoline or diesel motors are also available for larger, industrial applications. The size and function of the unit can vary significantly depending on its intended purpose, though the method by which items are hauled or lifted remains fairly similar.
Off-road vehicles often feature a motorized winch mounted to the front of the frame or to the front bumper. These winches are used to help haul the vehicle out of mud or snow should the vehicle get bogged down or stuck. The cable can be fed out and looped around a solid object such as a tree or boulder, and when the cable is retracted, it pulls on the vehicle, effectively moving it forward. The device will be rated for use in such ways, and the manufacturer will outline a specific weight capacity for the motorized winch. Exceeding this weight capacity can lead to damage to the unit or the vehicle, as well as potential injury.
In industrial settings, the motorized winch can be used for lifting and/or moving heavy objects. The cable of the winch is likely to be thicker on an industrial unit than it is on an off-road vehicle winch, since the industrial model is likely to haul much heavier items. The motor and pulley wheel are both likely to be larger as well, and the hook at the end of the cable is also likely to be heavier-duty.
Sometimes a motorized winch can be exceptionally small and task-oriented. Some winches, for example, are used in athletic gymnasiums to raise or lower basketball hoops from the ceiling. The winch will be mounted on a ceiling rafter or other stable object, and the hook at the end of the cable will be secured to the backboard of the basketball hoop. When not in use, the hoop can be raised to the ceiling by retracting the cable, and when the hoop is needed for a game, the cable can be fed out, lowering the hoop to operational height. A wall switch can be mounted and hooked up electronically to the winch to control the unit.