REMOTE CONTROL FOR AN ELECTRIC MOTOR

I HAVE AN AIRPLANE WINCH WHICH I WANT TO USE TO PULL MY SON IN HIS WHEELCHAIR UP OUR DRIVEWAY. I HAVE A 100 FT LEAD WITH A SWITCH TO OPERATE THE WINCH NOW AND IT IS CUMBERSOME AND AWKWARD. THE MOTOR IS A TYPE SCS, PH1, 3/4 HP, HZ 60,VOLT 115/230, RPM 1725. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY IDEAS OR SUGGESTIONS AS TO INSTALLING A REMOTE ON/OFF SWITCH. THANK YOU - PETER

 

[SteveKW]

Automatic gate/door installers have access to those types of controls. You may want to call several in your area.
Also a search of gate and security controls may yield something.

 

[busbar]

Possibly something like

http://www.smarthome.com/x10wireless.html

 

[jbartos]

Suggestion: Although there may be many products for remote controls, your concern would be about safety, reliability, and possibly redundancy (what if...).
The remote control switching hardware is there. Visit, e.g.

http://www.attr.com/x10/a4006.htm

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml96/96103.html

(notice the recall of remote control switches)

http://www.dcbnet.com/datasheet/aps1ds.html

(look for fail-safe)
etc.

 

[jraef]

Are you looking for remotely mounted push buttons that are hard wired to your winch, or are you looking for a radio frequency or other type of wireless control?

If you are planning to use this as a way of assisting your son in rolling his chair up hill, be sure to give him control while he using it so that it doesn't drag him if he falls. This would suggest wireless control in order to avoid entanglements with control cables etc. Look into wireless crane controls as they are much more reliable than X10 or garage door openers. They're not cheap, but your son's safety is involved. Try companies like Cattron (

http://www.cattron-theimeg.com/),

Telemotive (

http://telemotive.com/index.html)

or Control Chief (

http://controlchief.com/).

If you live in a small town environment, consider service and repair accessibility. Check your phone book for crane/hoist repair companies and use what they support.

Most radio frequency hoist controllers can easilly handle your winch motor directly, although I would use a power relay to switch the motor on and off to avoid wear and tear on the radio controller switches. Subvert the dominant paradigm... Think first, then act!