Winch Safety - Spool Speed  
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All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> RC Gliders, Sailplanes and Slope Soaring >> Winch Safety - Spool Speed
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Winch Safety - Spool Speed - 7/14/2003 2:31:44 PM   
Turtle


 

Posts: 4
Joined: 2/23/2003
From: Sydney Australia
Status: offline 		One part of using an electric winch I don't like is winding the line on to the drum at the end of a days flying. After taking he parachute off, I run the line through a leather glove, guiding the line onto the drum. Could be a quick way to lose a finger or an eye! Has anyone got a better system? Is there an electronic method anyone could suggest to reduce the 12V feeding the winch as a way of slowing down the drum RPM?

Turtle
       Post #: 1

Winch Safety - Spool Speed - 7/14/2003 4:36:52 PM   
rogerflies


 

Posts: 344
Joined: 1/8/2002
From: Thomasville, GA, USA
Status: offline 		Here's something I made just for this problem. I call it a WinchTamer. It's a water-cooled resistor that you put between the battery and the winch motor. I've attached a photo here. I"ll post a wiring diagram and schematic in the replies. I've been using mine for several years and really like it.

As shown in the wiring diagram, you've got to provide full voltage to the solenoids.

You might want to use a GatorAde bottle. It has a wide base and a larger mouth than the water bottle.

You can also use the WinchTamer to launch a light sailplane with less chance of folding the wings. Just be sure to keep an eye on the temperature of the water in the bottle.

Roger

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< Message edited by rogerflies -- Jul 14 2003 11:58AM >

_____________________________

"New ideas in launching equipment."

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       Post #: 2

Winch Safety - Spool Speed - 7/14/2003 4:39:22 PM   
rogerflies


 

Posts: 344
Joined: 1/8/2002
From: Thomasville, GA, USA
Status: offline 		Here's the wiring diagram.

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_____________________________

"New ideas in launching equipment."

(in reply to Turtle)
       Post #: 3

Winch Safety - Spool Speed - 7/14/2003 4:40:21 PM   
rogerflies


 

Posts: 344
Joined: 1/8/2002
From: Thomasville, GA, USA
Status: offline 		The file's too big for one posting, so here's the other half.

The holes in the cap must be larger than the wires to provide a vent in case the water boils.

Be sure to keep the water level in the bottle above all the small wire and the butt splices.

Roger

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< Message edited by rogerflies -- Jul 14 2003 11:54AM >

_____________________________

"New ideas in launching equipment."

(in reply to Turtle)
       Post #: 4

Winch Safety - Spool Speed - 7/14/2003 4:42:39 PM   
rogerflies


 

Posts: 344
Joined: 1/8/2002
From: Thomasville, GA, USA
Status: offline 		And here's the winch wiring diagram.

The wire shown from the footswitch to the battery + terminal is usually connected to the first solenoid. It MUST be disconnected from that terminal and wired directly to the battery + terminal.

If you don't have full voltage to the solenoids, they will just chatter when you try to run the winch

If you just run a jumper to the footswitch without disconnecting the wire as shown, the jumper will burn up.

Hope this helps.

Roger

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< Message edited by rogerflies -- Jul 14 2003 11:50AM >

_____________________________

"New ideas in launching equipment."

(in reply to Turtle)
       Post #: 5

Winch Safety - Spool Speed - 7/14/2003 5:17:03 PM   
Turtle


 

Posts: 4
Joined: 2/23/2003
From: Sydney Australia
Status: offline 		Hi Rogerflies,

Thank you very much for the prompt reply, wiring diagram and photographs. I'll be away from my workshop for about six weeks but will build a copy of your WinchTamer soon as I'm back. Will let you know how I go with it.

Tried pulsing the foot pedal yesterday to slow the drum speed during the final wind-in. Felt the line wrapping around a finger of the glove so let go and took my foot off the pedal. Finished up with a winch looking like Dolly Parton's hair but thankfully have all of my appendages still intact.

Thanks again and regards,

Turtle

(in reply to Turtle)
       Post #: 6

Winch Safety - Spool Speed - 7/15/2003 5:17:20 AM   
probligo



Posts: 354
Joined: 5/13/2002
From: opononi, NEW ZEALAND
Status: offline 		Is there a mechanical method of doing the same job? (This from a man who only uses a winch to raise the anchor)

A small clip with a felt lining and sufficient pressure might be capable of doing the same job as your hand?

If you have the clip mounted on a (short) swing arm with a microswitch to shut off the current if the tension goes outside high (tangle) and low (the line breaks) limits then it should run well.

Probably been tried - oh weell there goes another good idea

(in reply to Turtle)
       Post #: 7

Winch Safety - Spool Speed - 7/15/2003 5:41:09 AM   
rogerflies


 

Posts: 344
Joined: 1/8/2002
From: Thomasville, GA, USA
Status: offline 		Turtle,

The WinchTamer keeps the line from whipping so much with each pulse, but you'll still have to pulse winch to keep the speed down. My largest winch, which uses a Chevy 454 starter motor, works best with a short pulse every three to five seconds.

probligo,

Without using something to reduce the power to the motor, I think the line would whip enough to snatch the clips out of position. Not to mention that the clips would have to move from side to side as the line goes on the spool.

The WinchTamer only costs a few bucks to make, it's easy to hook up, and it works fine with just a little practice. I'd give it a try before I did anything more complicated.

Roger

_____________________________

"New ideas in launching equipment."

(in reply to Turtle)
       Post #: 8

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