Dual Winch with in Cab Controls and Wireless Remote

[Darasick]

I asked about this in my local forum, but want to run this by you all. I need someone to look over my wiring schematic. I will eventually have winches installed in both my front and rear bumpers. I will be using the Albright style solenoids to control each winch. In doing so there will be no 5-Pin plugs to control them (I don't have them and don't want them). I want to be able to control the winches in the cab and also wirelessly using the Badlands remote from Harbor Freight. Below is a diagram of what I have planned. Keep in mind that these are only small gauge control wires. The heavy gauge stuff will be between the battery, solenoids, and winches. This is just to actuate the solenoids. Let me know if you see any issues with my idea. It almost seems too simple and that has me concerned.

 

[98 SNAKE EATER]

Hmm, the way you have it wired looks like the single controller will be actuating both winches at the same time


I personally don't care for ANY wireless controllers.....especially the HF ones

They work on a delay which is NOT what you want want while doing sumthin as critical as winching

The wireless HF winch I have on my golf cart worked the same way and after the first day, I pulled the wireless system and hardwired it

Ended up using the wireless to control a set of train horns instead



If you look closely, I quickly hit the button and release, but the horn sounds off for a full 3 seconds.

That type of delay when shutting down a winch can be downright dangerous

I have both front and rear winches on my rig, along with in-cab controls, exterior bumper mounted control plugs for hand controllers, dual key safety switches and an interior switch that controls a large solenoid that supplies power to both winches

 

[Darasick]

You have a nice setup Snake and thanks for bringing up the HF issue that I was not aware of! That delay would suck in the wrong situation. I wonder if you could remove it from the circuit.

As far as the the winches being actuated at the same time, I don't think it possible. The spdt on top grounds the solenoid that you want to actuate. Without the ground, the solenoid won't actuate correct?

 

[cruiserpilot]

I've got dual winches on my quad. I looked at single controller on the bars. I eventually wired them as two separate winches. I've also been in a situation with both winches being used to pull a guy out in the snow.
But the most critical use is with the rear winch. I also put a hard wire switch plug right over the rear bumper. For me, 80% of my winching is rearward, with the front end buried. IMO it's really dangerous to be utilizing a rear winch without being back there to see what the hell is going on. The vehicle doesnt' steer well in reverse situations. Looking over your shoulder, steering and attempting an extraction is very complex. Sorry if this is unsolicited advice, but I'd suggest rethinking what you are doing.

Good luck with the wiring,

 

[Darasick]

Good point Pilot

 

[shelfboy1]

my wireless winch on my wheeler went on by itself one day never again.my pickup has front and rear winches and the controls will reach the cab if needed to much can go wrong if your alone .besides if you have a wireless controller why do you need in cab wiring?

 

[Douglas S]

If you use a high quality wireless controller (I really like the Lokar system, but it's prohibitively expensive) then the delay is imperceptible.