[TowerTalk] Capstan

[Wilson Lamb]

Great idea, used for centuries.
Only looked at the first one.
They don't mention duty cycle.  1.5HP at 12V likely about 100A.
You can't do that for long in that little housing!  Better at lower load, of course.
I have worked with crews using one for jobs at 800 ft, with Kevlar rope, amazing.  Their winch was MUCH more robust and expensive.
Remember, if the rope jumps off, for whatever reason, YOU are holding the load.
No prob if everything is securely mounted, but I might mount a pulley in front of the capstan, to serve as a fairlead and keep the rope coming straight in.
You should have a cleat or such, to secure the tail in case you need to do something else while a load is hanging.
You  may be able to buy a stopper to do this automatically, like the sheet stopper on a sailboat.
WL