rc4wd winch

[robert3719]

i bought the Bulldog 9300XT Scale Winch (Gun Metal) and i am having trouble right out the box. First I could not find a neutral. Second i could not get it to stop glitching when i did find neutral and it would spool out very slowly. Third i am concernd about how it gets its power. it comes strait from my reciever. (I thought it had a plug for a battery or a plug to get power from curent battery.) any help would be appreciated and i have sent a email to rc4wd but i have seen some other people with the same problems and they were left with a $35 hood onament. i realy hope this does not happen to me.

[squatch71]

can you post a pic of your set up...you should have a battery input. Do yourself a favor and unplug the positive wire that goes to your receiver. I didn't and had to purchase another winch controler....smoked it...


anyway, if you could post a pic, could get a better idea of what you have.

[heyok]

If you controller is giving you trouble, one of mine should fix you up, but don't give up on the factory one yet.

Along with the picture, let us know what radio system you have.

[robert3719]

[robert3719]

hope that helps out. its realy fustrating to buy somthing that is suposed to be plug and play but it is actualy plug, fry, and buy new again.

[AreCee]

I have that winch and had very similar issues, it would buzz getting warm and slowly let out line when in neutral.

My solution cost about $1.00, I simply put a SPST swtich in line to shut off the power to the winch when not needed. Then when I want to use the winch I just flip the switch and use the radio to let out and retrieve the line.

[robert3719]

@AreCee...did the winch take power strait from the reciver or did it have another plug for power?

[AreCee]

Same as the OP's. plug the controller into channel 3.

[AreCee]

I believe that the 3 Racing winch comes with a battery option but the winch isn't as good as the Bulldog.

I feel that you will rarely if ever engage the winch while running then a switch isn't an inconvenience. You still need to stop the vehicle to use the winch and while it is working you can then move the truck as needed. Finish the pull and shut off the power and you have no problem.

[robert3719]

i might try the switch, just fustrated it does not work right.

[heyok]

It looks like you have done everything right. If the winch drifts out or in slowly when it should be in neutral, the controller is faulty. They should replace it if that is the case.
Maybe you can get it to behave using a toggle switch to interrupt power to the factory winch controller, but that doesn't sound like a proper fix.

If the supplier can't give you satisfaction, one of my winch controllers would fix you up. Your winch line won't drift in and out on you, the controller is much smaller, and I stand behind what I sell.
No Drift Winch Controller! (using 3 position transmitter channel)

[AreCee]

I thought about your controller but for $1.00 I decided the switch is more than adequate for basically an appearence accessory that gets used maybe once per outing.

[heyok]

Originally Posted by AreCee

I thought about your controller but for $1.00 I decided the switch is more than adequate for basically an appearence accessory that gets used maybe once per outing.

Sounds good. Have to do what makes sense for the way you use your stuff!

[robert3719]

but one ? i have seems to not be answerd. did they screw up and leave somthing off for the power source? i realy dont want to burn up a brand new reciver... and heyok, do i eleminate the circuit board they sent me and put yours in place? does the power still come from my reciever?

[heyok]

Originally Posted by robert3719

but one ? i have seems to not be answerd. did they screw up and leave somthing off for the power source? i realy dont want to burn up a brand new reciver...

I believe that controller uses receiver power to run the winch - so I don't think they left things off.

and heyok, do i eleminate the circuit board they sent me and put yours in place? does the power still come from my reciever?

Yes, their circuit board gets removed and my controllers solders onto the red and black wires that go into the winch. Power comes from the receiver.

What receiver do you have?

[robert3719]

spectrum sr300 that came with the controler

[squatch71]

wow...never seen a winch controler that doesn't need a external battery.

[heyok]

Originally Posted by squatch71

wow...never seen a winch controler that doesn't need a external battery.

Originally Posted by robert3719

spectrum sr300 that came with the controler

That receiver will handle a little over 9 volts.
See: SR300 3-Channel DSM Sport Surface Receiver (SPMSR300): Spektrum - The Leader in Spread Spectrum Technology

If you were to use my HV Winch controller, you could run it up to that voltage too and your winch would really move compared to using its stock controller.

* Your steering servo would have to be capable of using the higher voltage too.

[AreCee]

Originally Posted by squatch71

wow...never seen a winch controler that doesn't need a external battery.

A winch controller is essentially like the circuit board of a servo and those are powered off the receiver.

The 3 Racing winches use an extenal battery and controller to the receiver. RC4WD Bulldogs do not. I was to lazy to play with the controller pot or swap out for an old servo board so I just soldered in a switch. Cheap fast solution.

[robert3719]

when i get paid i am going to give heyok a pm. the switch is a good idea but i really want it done right.