Winch controller with Soft Start. Should I develop one?

[heyok]

Looking for your opinion...

Like the title says, I have an idea for making a winch controller with a soft start feature.
Is this something you guys might want?

The idea is that instead of full power being switched to the winch motor when winding in or out, it instead ramps up the power over about 1/2 a second. This should make for less stress to the winch's drive train and cable.

I'm not saying this is a good idea, but maybe you have a scale winch and you really want to run it on 3S but know that you might be risking gear damage every time you load it up. A controller like this could make the winch last longer.

Thanks for your time!

Al

[rockhugger]

I think it's a great idea, and makes a lot of sense. In my opinion all motors that are put under load should should have a stoft start, vs a lightning bolt of voltage. It would also offer more control when the hook gets close to the fairlead when bringing the line in.

I'd buy one.

[Jeff@TireBalls]

Count me in

[McTwist]

Sounds great

[heyok]

Appreciate the feedback!
There will be a video coming up here as soon as Youtube is ready.

[TEDROCKZ]

Soft start would be cool. Especially for the 3s users. I bet it would save a good deal on winch motor life.

[Calderwood]

Sounds like a great idea as long as you can keep it well under the micro sidewinder price point. I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

[heyok]

Originally Posted by Calderwood

Sounds like a great idea as long as you can keep it well under the micro sidewinder price point. I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

I hear what you are saying. Running your winch from an ESC sounds great.
What does it take to do that? Probably a linear control, right? I have a transmitter that has a knob for CH3. If you are careful, you could use that to run an ESC. Just make sure you have it centered and don't bump it or your winch will start turning one way or the other. It would be nice if that control was rigged up with a spring like on a steering wheel so it would always return to center.

My thinking is that most transmitters will have a (hopefully) three position channel that can be used to run a winch. You could connect that to an instant reverse ESC and work the winch. I'm not sure how you could do the soft start thing with it though.

[Harley]

Here is why I don't see it super useful. When you start your winch, that first half second is usually just taking up slack in the line.

You will really only get a benefit if you run it like this:

1. turn it on
2. take the slack up
3. turn it back off
4. then finally restart it

[heyok]

Here's an early demo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMmp...ature=youtu.be

[heyok]

Originally Posted by Harley

Here is why I don't see it super useful. When you start your winch, that first half second is usually just taking up slack in the line.

You will really only get a benefit if you run it like this:
turn it on
take the slack up
turn it back off
then finally restart it

That makes a lot of sense.

[Harley]

Originally Posted by heyok

That makes a lot of sense.

I totally see the thought process, but unfortunately I don't see it being a bonus due to needing to be so much more work to get the real benefit during use.

[heyok]

Something is falling on my parade

[Harley]

Originally Posted by heyok

Something is falling on my parade

Not my intention! Just a thought

[TEDROCKZ]

The authority has spoken

[Calderwood]

Originally Posted by heyok

I hear what you are saying. Running your winch from an ESC sounds great.
What does it take to do that? Probably a linear control, right? I have a transmitter that has a knob for CH3. If you are careful, you could use that to run an ESC. Just make sure you have it centered and don't bump it or your winch will start turning one way or the other. It would be nice if that control was rigged up with a spring like on a steering wheel so it would always return to center.

My thinking is that most transmitters will have a (hopefully) three position channel that can be used to run a winch. You could connect that to an instant reverse ESC and work the winch. I'm not sure how you could do the soft start thing with it though.

You can run an ESC on either the rotary pot or on a three position switch. You can even do multiple speeds for either setup. If you calibrate the ESC to 3 clicks you end up with 3 speed settings. You could also look at carrying a cheap heli ESC that you rebrand for winch use since they have soft start built in. You may get a soft start with the sidewinder micro if you turn the punch control all the way up. I haven't tried that. Cool project regardless of how you accomplish it.

[Jeff@TireBalls]

I keep my winch line snug so no worries there.

[rockhugger]

idea thread killer




I back the winch rig up to snug up as I like tension on my line before I start the pull.

[Harley]

Originally Posted by Jeff@TireBalls

I keep my winch line snug so no worries there.

I mean when you are hooking it up to start pulling. That is when it is under the real load. So unless you get the soft start when that slack is taken up then there isn't a benefit.

[rockhugger]

so if you winch like Harley it's not a good idea,

all others it should work and be a hit...


I'm just bein a goodfball, but realistically, how much extra work is it for you Mr. Hey?