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cheap bastard wireless winch controler: under $35

18K views 44 replies 32 participants last post by  2slo4u  
#1 · (Edited)
Go to PepBoys. Don't be distracted by the off-road go carts and think "I can build that better" as this will keep you from your quest. Go down the bling-ricer lighting isle, you know the isle with the LED under car kits that you are trying to justify as "just trail lights" but you also want the one with the multiple patterns that chase and blink and shit.
Well stop for a moment
And look for this product:
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It is a 4 channel wireless remote. The neat thing about it is
1) its fawking cheap ($29)
2) the channels are changeable to be either on/off or momentary
Follow the directions to change 2 of the channels to momentary. I chose "3" and "4" because they are at the bottom of the controller and are easily marked.
each channel has 2 color coded wires that come out. This is retardedly simple to hook up as all it does is complete a circuit. so just wire it like you would a switch.
The controller has a built in 15a fuse and each circuit is a 15a relay. If your winch needs more just run the controller to trip a relay. I dont think you will but who knows.
There is a positive and a ground wire, its only job is to open and close whatever circuit (channel)
now open your winch and find the following wires/connections:
power
in
out

real difficult so far, huh?
run ONE of each channel wires to your power and also the red to the power, the black to a ground. run the other channel wire to the corresponding in/out wire/connection.
ummm...thats it. :laughing:
The remote is all pimp and shit
Image

it has a on/off and an extending antenna. I used the dremel to mark the right buttons.

WARNING !!! the controller box is NOT sealed. unless you are placing the box inside you "might" want to do something about keeping it dry.
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The whole thing measures 3x5x.5 at the most.

Oh and you also have 2 more channels to control your disco LED rock lights :flipoff2: (or rear winch) I was operating the winch from 200+ feet away. Mind you there is a slight delay in start/stop so PRACTICE with the thing before hitting the trails.

Thought your all could enjoy a cheaper winch remote.
 

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#10 ·
cubes472 said:
did the same thing with a similar control box, but didn't like the delay, and also a lot of times it didn't want to switch off right away which is not a good thing with a fast spooling 8274.
luckily my winch is slow :laughing: :flipoff2:

With this one there is a slight delay and also when you "tap" the button it lasts a little longer than if you "tap" the button on the regular controller.
Now by slight delay i mean maybe a second, its noticeable but nothing that should give me issues.

As long as you know the way it works with YOUR winch should never be a problem. :D
 
#11 ·
Redmist said:
For those that have an alarm in your trail rig, Most of the good ones have outputs for this shit...

Well for popping doors and stuff.

Great idea man!
Most of those i have noticed dont have the ability for momentary on. Door poppers use on/off. If it says you can use it for power windows then it WILL work for a winch :D
 
#13 ·
Scott F said:
This belongs in Tech. Oh yeah, it is. Good writeup Doc, nice humorous style. Is that remote marketed for a particular purpose?
ya, its marketed toward the "import" car scene for use in lights/power windows,door poppers. I dont think they had cheap bastard red-neck off-roaders adapting it to recovery systems in mind :laughing:

There are a few sellers on ebay selling wireless remotes for ATV winches for a similar price Buy it now link but add shipping. That guy also includes the shit that can be adapted for an "in cab" controller. But its only 2 channel (one winch) and the "in cab" controls are kinda cheap.It also may be a pain to adapt to some winches.

This remote I used is just WAY to simple to adapt to our needs.:grinpimp:

I would rather use SeaBass44's in cab controller HERE as its much nicer and has a "kill switch" also.
 
#16 · (Edited)
USMCDoc,
I was just looking at one of those the other day... and thinkin' the same thing! But I wasn't sure if it was worth a crap or not. It's good to know it works well. Cool!
 
#25 ·
monkeyevil said:
Only problem I have with this is.... what if the cheap electronics melt down in the "ON" position?
Well this is applicable to ANY wireless controller as "what if the button sticks/catches on fire/rapes my dog/declares Jihad/shorts out/whatever"

you could wire a weather proof toggle or button switch in-line on the power and stick it in the grill so that when you grab the winch line you "turn on the remote" in the grill first.


I personally am not worrying about it as that is what the fuse is for and I don't keep my winch engaged anyway, so the worse i would have is a dead battery.
 
#26 ·
usmcdoc14 said:
I personally am not worrying about it as that is what the fuse is for and I don't keep my winch engaged anyway, so the worse i would have is a dead battery.
I mean when you are pulling, not just radomly while the truck sits.