Cheapass Wireless Winch Remotes That Work AWESOME!!!

[resqme]

A wheeling buddy of mine turned me on to this from Amazon. Inexpensive (23 bucks!), works out to about 250 feet, handles 15 amps via internal relays so no problem sinking the 800 milliamps that a standard winch relay pack pulls:

http://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Performa...3130375&sr=1-1

[resqme]

Get access to the wiring for your winch, depending on the winch, might be external like this one, or you may have to work a very small amount at it like on a Warn 9500i.

1. 7 pin winch remotes tie the relay ground inside the wired remote. I personally can see absolutely no reason for this, so I just tie the relay grounds to a good ground on the winch. In the case of this 8274, that means figuring out which is the ground (the orange wire here) and running a jumper between there and the case ground located at the bottom of the motor (where the large ground comes from the battery). Attention warnindustries, why do you guys wire it this way?

2. You'll need to wire the wireless remote control box using three wires, a B+ (12 volt positive), a "winch in" wire, and a "winch out" wire. In the case of the 8274, the "winch in" is green, and the "winch out" is white. I used about 10 feet of 6 conductor 20 gauge stranded wire that I already had, so that leaves me options for using the remote for other stuff on the Jeep later. After you connect it to the winch relay, you're done in here...button it up and tie it down and route the wire in some loom back to the inside of the vehicle where the wireless remote control box will be mounted. It's not waterproof, so you'll want it high and dry inside the rig somewhere.

[resqme]

Next you'll need to open up the remote box and remove the jumper pins for the first two remote relays. This makes them momentary. You can see the first two pins pulled in the upper left of the picture.

[resqme]

1. Connect the positive you brought back from the winch to the one each of the gray and brown leads, this will be the "line" side.

2. Connect the "winch in" (green in this case) wire to the remaining gray lead from the wireless remote control box

3. Connect the "winch out" (white in this case) wire to the remaining brown lead from the wireless remote control box

4. Connect the black wire from the wireless remote control box to a good ground

5. Connect the red fused wire from the wireless remote control box to a switched positive. You don't want it connected all the time because it will draw a bit in standby mode and may draw down your battery over time. I have a master switch in my rig that turns on a large relay that runs all of my accessories except the winch, which is where I connected it.

[resqme]

Now that you're done wiring, mount the box (you can use the provided velcro mount, that's what I did) and tie all your wires down properly.

This is the remote. It has four positions, but I've only used two in this case. When you want to use it, turn it on with the slide switch on the front of the remote. At this point pushing the 1 button brings the winch in and pushing the 2 button brings it out. Your wired remote should still work fine too.

The remote uses a single 23A battery, I bought a spare for my rig and keep it with the spares for my welding helmet, flashlight, etc. in case I leave it on by accident.

[resqme]

I showed this as the most simple winch remote wiring (obviously not in my rig, so it could be easily seen for the pictures).

In the actual rig I used the 3rd position to run my LED driving lights so I can turn them on remotely when I am out winching...turn them on when I am working, turn them off when I don't want to be blinded.

In a buddy's rig who has the Warn Endurance 12.0 with the auxilary cooling fan, I used the 4th switch so he can remotely turn the cooling fan on and off. This was done pretty easily using a Bosch 5 pin 30 amp relay inside the remote box. In the case of this winch, the ground on the fan is switched, so I used the remote to drive the relay that completes the ground and runs the fan. It has a 15 amp fuse on it from the factory, so I didn't want to take a chance on overloading the 15 amp capacity of the remote, so I added the 30 amp relay.

Note: Every time you cycle the power to the wireless remote control box, all the relays re-set to open.

[usmcdoc14]

repost
/forum/general-4x4-discussion/434762-cheap-bastard-wireless-winch-controler-under-35-a.html

[resqme]

Holy shit, I shoulda searched back 6 freakin' years. Oh well.

So riddle me this: Why do winch manufacturers tie the ground thru a double pole switch in the wired remote?

Buehler?

[usmcdoc14]

Originally Posted by resqme

Holy shit, I shoulda searched back 6 freakin' years. Oh well.

So riddle me this: Why do winch manufacturers tie the ground thru a double pole switch in the wired remote?

Buehler?

hey, 6 years needs a refresher

cheaper switch? Lights?

[mudtoy67]

This is my understanding about the additional wiring vs. the old 3 pin controllers: To operate the winch two opposite corner solenoids in the pack are energized at the same time, right? With the 3 pin controller the controller supplies power to one solenoid and then the second solenoid is supplied via a jumper from the first. If one solenoid has a meltdown it could keep supplying power to the other solenoid which would leave you with no way to stop the winch. With the 5 pin controller each solenoid is isolated so a meltdown in one will still allow you to kill the corresponding solenoid when you let go of the switch.

I don't know what the extra 2 pins are on the 7 pin.

[resqme]

Interesting, good explanation...

Originally Posted by mudtoy67

I don't know what the extra 2 pins are on the 7 pin.

On a lot of winches they're empty, on Warn "Endurance" series with the cooling fan, there's an extra switch on the handle to manually turn the fan on and the empty pins are used to overide the thermal fan switch and run it constantly.

[steveh]

Lets add another cheep date wireless remote to this thread:
Harbor freight Badlands Wireless controller

I just picked one up for $20 using coupons, and will post the tech details after i install it on my Warn HS9500. My plan is to stealth wire it in with an on/off arm switch, so I can use either the wired remote or the Wireless one. Will be Installed very similar to resqme's, IE, mount the receiver out of harms way. It does not look waterproof enough to mount in the elements.

Full write up with pics, pinouts and wire functions to come.

[05nissanxterra]

So I've heard that the HF wireless winch controller will work with a Warn 5-wire winches. Well mine doesn't work by just plugging in it. Does anyone know what needs to be done to make it work?


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[OFG]

For you guys running wireless remotes, do you have an "off" switch or something for when you're not using it? I'd be worried that somebody else's remote (or keyless entry, or garage door opener, or pacemaker, or something) might cause my winch to suddenly start reeling in or out when I don't want it to.

Do the wireless remotes have some way to prevent this?

[resqme]

Originally Posted by OFG

For you guys running wireless remotes, do you have an "off" switch or something for when you're not using it? I'd be worried that somebody else's remote (or keyless entry, or garage door opener, or pacemaker, or something) might cause my winch to suddenly start reeling in or out when I don't want it to.

Do the wireless remotes have some way to prevent this?

Mine are all wired through a switch on the dash that turn on the receiver. All my rigs have a master switch that turns on "everything" to avoid battery drain when they're parked, that's what I wire it to. Nice to get in and turn on one switch for my ham, stereo, etc. too.

[Ben W]

Originally Posted by steveh

Lets add another cheep date wireless remote to this thread:
Harbor freight Badlands Wireless controller

I just picked one up for $20 using coupons, and will post the tech details after i install it on my Warn HS9500. My plan is to stealth wire it in with an on/off arm switch, so I can use either the wired remote or the Wireless one. Will be Installed very similar to resqme's, IE, mount the receiver out of harms way. It does not look waterproof enough to mount in the elements.

Full write up with pics, pinouts and wire functions to come.

Let us know what the real world range of this one is. I have 200' of rope on my winch, so they controllers that advertise 50' or 65' aren't going to cut it for me. I like the range of the OP's controller, but the actual remote seems too small, hard to use with gloves and easy to lose.

[resqme]

Originally Posted by Ben W

Let us know what the real world range of this one is. I have 200' of rope on my winch, so they controllers that advertise 50' or 65' aren't going to cut it for me. I like the range of the OP's controller, but the actual remote seems too small, hard to use with gloves and easy to lose.

I have my remote on a lanyard that I clip to my bibs in the snow or a belt loop if I'm in summer garb. Convenient to get to and I don't lose it. Range on the Pilot version is at least 200'...I've had 125 feet of winch rope with a 100' extension out on multiple occasions with no problems.

[Ben W]

Originally Posted by resqme

I have my remote on a lanyard that I clip to my bibs in the snow or a belt loop if I'm in summer garb. Convenient to get to and I don't lose it.

Thats a good idea. I may just get one of those and try it out. For the cost its hard to pass up.

[steveh]

What is the "real range" of the HF Wireless Remote?

• Over 200' easy. I tested this by connecting a test light, and walking well over 200' away, and activating the controller, and seeing the light go on and off reliably.

What is the HF Wireless pin out? There are only 4 wires. If you cut the Connector off they are:

• Black = Ground
• Yellow/Green = +12VDC Supply
• Brown = Winch Out +12vdc Output
• Blue = Winch In +12vdc Output

What is the Warn pin out? There are 5 wires, they are:

• White = +12VDC Supply
• Red = Ground (Jumoer to Brown for use with HF Wireless)
• Brown = Floating Ground (connected to ground when switch is activated)
• Black = Winch Out +12vdc Input
• Green = Winch In +12vdc Input

How do I connect the HF Wireless to a Warn 5 pin connector?
(I base this on mounting the controller away from the winch, in a safe spot out of harms way from the elements. For example, under the hood)

• Install a SPST Arm Switch, with a fuse in line from an unswitched 12vdc source, and connect it to the Yellow/Green wire on the HF Wireless controller
• Connect the Black wire on the HF Wires controller to a good ground.
• On the Warn Solenoid pack, tie the grounds together by jumping the Red wire to the Brown Wire. The red wires is the Connected Ground, the Brown Wire is the floating ground. Warn's switch is a DPDT, it switches both the Hot and the ground, to the solenoids at the same time. (Mentioned above already)
• Connect the Brown Wire from the HF Wireless to the Black Wire on the Warn (Winch Out)
• Connect the Blue Wire from the HF Wireless to the Green Wire on the Warn (Winch In)

Note: If all you want to do is plug the HF remote directly in, you will need to jumper the grounds. You may also need to enlarge the inner diameter of the HF plug slightly if it does not make a good connection, it is slight smaller than the Warn plug.


Warn Schematics:

5 Pin Remote





Large Frame 5-Wire


Circuit Diagram

[tripleXJ]

I bought 2 of the Badlands remotes and they don't work on any of my Warn winches. I have a m8000, 9.0rc and HS9000i. I would like to know how to make it work.

[KacksterK5]

Find out which pin triggers the hot lead for in and the hot lead for out. splice wires to match.

[steveh]

Originally Posted by tripleXJ

I bought 2 of the Badlands remotes and they don't work on any of my Warn winches. I have a m8000, 9.0rc and HS9000i. I would like to know how to make it work.

I just wrote up how to do it. You have to jump the Solenoid to ground, so when the HF Wireless sends the 12vdc to the Solenoid it will activate. Otherwise no beuno.

Keep in mind, you have to have power and Ground going to the HF Controller, it runs of of 12vdc, and it switches 12vdc to the Warn Solenoid pack to turn on the solenoids, which switch the big dawg power directly from the battery, and make your winch go in or out. This is why Resqme, the OP, and myself are hard wiring the devices in, and installing a switch to arm it for use. (Resqme has already done this in both his wife's rig, and his with the Pilot product. Both wire in essentially the same)

If your not comfortable with electrical, find a buddy who is to help you.

WARNING!!! The Current available at the winch can KILL or seriously injure you, so don't be stupid and try something like this unless you know WTF you are doing!!! Seek hlep from someone knowledgeable with electrical, in person, and not via the keyboard. Ya either get what is posted in this thread or you don't, got it?