Lewis Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 My external winch switch has a fairly miserable existence living on my wing top. It sees regular immersion and often has mud and grit caked around it. All this means that it suffers a short unhappy life. So far I've been using a random assortment of Chinese rubbish out of spare wander leads but I've depleted my stock and wondered whether there was a decent weatherproof or waterproof switch on the market that might last more than a year? Or do I just buy durite and hope for the best? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les Brock Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 IP 67 one http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/toggle-switches/8199287/ Sctrach that its a miniture one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffR Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 You could always fit one of these: http://shop.challenger4x4.com/gmb-mount-fender-locker-rhd-no-dust-cover-for-land-rover-defender-2481-p.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GW8IZR Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 http://uk.rs-online.com/web/c/switches/toggle-switches-accessories/toggle-switch-boots/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 17, 2015 Author Share Posted June 17, 2015 Wow Jeff, you grossly overestimate my budget I should have stated I already have a boot fitted to the existing switch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 I'd redesign that switch plate, looks like the poor thing is forever doomed to sit in a pool of water / mud, and very few switches & boots are designed for permanent submersion. Can you not lift the switch up and put little protection bars either side, as seen on everything from the Apollo moon lander to the Tomb Raider 110? That way the water is not pooling on top of the switch but running off. Or make some gaps in the bottom of the existing one so water can get out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boydie Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 I did think about having an external switch but canned the idea, ( easily damaged, water etc.) my solution was to retain the existing remote hand control and cable and wire it to a weather proof tow cable socket on the side on the car wing, and replace the then existing socket with a 7 pin round trailer plug (I only need to use 3 wires, in and out and common) if the infer-red remote fails all I need to do is plug the cable-remote in and hey-presto I have a winch control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 18, 2015 Author Share Posted June 18, 2015 I don't seem to have a picture, but the plate already has two 1/2" drain holes in the base, one either side of the switch, so it's not immersed when it rains - only when wading I could redesign/remake the plate, but I'd still have to buy a new switch Edit - found a pic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 I'd look at remaking it, but fitting two buttons instead, much easier to get IP rated buttons than toggle switches. http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/sealed-vandal-resistant-ip68-switch-mg75s Vandal resistant, will that mean it survives on a LR.../ Maybe I know you lose the 'what happens if you push both buttons' safety of a toggle, but I've seen buttons used on many a winch-challenge truck so it can't be too bad a thing to do.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 Fair enough, I did think I might be teaching you to suck eggs... Have you tried stuffing the boot with vaseline? It's your best friend in this and many other situations Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddy Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 Perhaps make a linkage to operate another switch inside a box or similar to try and keep it dryer? Will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian_s Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 could you fit some kind of removable cap over the top so it spends most of its time protected from the elements? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 18, 2015 Author Share Posted June 18, 2015 I think I'll try a new durite switch and pack the boot with boot with Vaseline, this seems like the least wallet impact, and most time effective solution. If that fails then I'll go buttons Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwakers Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 i use hgv taillift controls for my winches. got em pretty wet and muddy quite often and not had one break yet.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 Durite are better than Chinese but buy no means the most bestest toggle switch you can buy, RS & Farnell sell some very sturdy IP67 rated switches, although they're not super-friendly to your wallet they're not insanely expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GW8IZR Posted June 19, 2015 Share Posted June 19, 2015 The (RS) ones linked to above aren’t expensive and CPC has a trade counter. Just mounting the switch on the side of the hole rather than the bottom would make a massive difference to the longevity in the rain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 20, 2015 Author Share Posted June 20, 2015 I found another chinese switch in stock so decided to fit that until i decide what to do, I took a few pics to show the state these get into in 12 months I had to replace the terminals as they were rusted on The inside didn't look any better I reckon half the problem must be that the drain holes are encouraging the water to run straight down the switch body, it must be wet most of the time with our weather. To try to reduce this I fitted a plastic disc between the switch and the panel in the hope that it might guide the water away Time will tell. In the mean time I looked for some IP67 mom/off/mom toggles and found plenty for sale around the £30 mark, which is more than I was looking to spend really. I'll keep looking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retroanaconda Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 I thought these days nobody bothered with actual switches and people just use a wireless remote? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qwakers Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 Wireless Remotes in my experience either aren't reliable enough and or have a significant delay when you let go of the switch. Also ive known my remote to activate other peoples winches!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boydie Posted June 21, 2015 Share Posted June 21, 2015 If you are determined to go with the switch as photographed borrow the cooks hair spray and give it several coats of lacquer, then, once this has dried smear it with Vaseline. Remove and fill the rubber boot with Vaseline also, water-proofing should then be as complete as you can make it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve b Posted June 22, 2015 Share Posted June 22, 2015 If you cut the end off a suitable plastic bottle , drill a hole in the end for the switch and mount it between the switch and underside of the wing it will keep most of the water off the switch body cheers Steveb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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