Moving winch solenoid

[ozy013]

Hey everyone, I need some advice in regards to relocating my Tigerz11 winch solenoid on my 2010 Puma.
I recently noticed one of the 4 pins on the plug for the hand controller, on the top of solenoid box, had corroded and broken away. So I decided to wire in cab switch's, one for winch in/out and the other to isolate the in/out switch. I've already wired a cut out switch from the battery to the winch, 400A continuous.
On pulling the control box apart, water had gotten in through corroded hand control plug, and all the terminals are rusted. I've soaked the area with lanolin and will try and undo in the next few days. It gives me time to think about moving the solenoid into the engine bay, to keep it dry and away from unwanted attention.
Finally my question is, where do I locate it, any ideas? The Puma engine bay is a tad tight to say the least. I don't want to extend the cables too much, trying to save a little money as battery cable is not cheap, plus I may have to replace the cheap Chinese solenoid soon. So I was toying with the idea of mounting it behind the drivers side headlight, has any one here done this on their Defenders? or do you have a better location. I'm totally open to any ideas and suggestions you may have, and thanks for reading my waffle. It seems I can never keep it short and sweet. Thanks.

[Sirocco]

I have mounted mine up under the RHS wing. Im using an Albright solenoid pack with the hand controller socket bolted to the wing blanking plate and an in-cab switch. Its the best place for it IMO as behind the headlight will obstruct it when you need to change a bulb. Under the blanking plate it is out of the way. You will need longer cable though, that is the only downside.

Good luck cleaning it all up.

G

[steane]

I have mounted mine up under the RHS wing. Im using an Albright solenoid pack with the hand controller socket bolted to the wing blanking plate and an in-cab switch. Its the best place for it IMO as behind the headlight will obstruct it when you need to change a bulb. Under the blanking plate it is out of the way. You will need longer cable though, that is the only downside.

Good luck cleaning it all up.

G

Same location for me and same solenoid type. Mine is in-cab control though, which is simple to do with the albright style contactor.

[redrovertdi]

my solinoid is mounted under the drivers guard wing top vent for easy access and to stop it being submerged[in most cases], i use the $12 ebay cordless remote which has been brilliant

[Yorkshire_Jon]

Whilst your at it, I'd be dumping the standard solenoid and replace it with a much smaller, more reliable Albright solenoid. I always used to install them in the battery box.

[chopper]

+1 behind RH headlight in front of guard vent out of the way of dripping water and UV's

[Tikka7mm08]

I put an isolator on one wing and the control box on the other as below. My winch is wireless which is super convenient. I made up 2 brackets from some chequer plate.

http://i761.photobucket.com/albums/xx251/Tikka7mm08/20130630_161227_zps014c41d4.jpg (http://s761.photobucket.com/user/Tikka7mm08/media/20130630_161227_zps014c41d4.jpg.html)

http://i761.photobucket.com/albums/xx251/Tikka7mm08/20130623_125353_zpse40e8638.jpg (http://s761.photobucket.com/user/Tikka7mm08/media/20130623_125353_zpse40e8638.jpg.html)

[redrovertdi]

Not as neat as the install above....also with ithe solinoid in this location should it fail it is accessible to cross the terminals for the winch [warne]to work

[ozy013]

Thanks for all the great advice, looks like the guard blank may be the way to go. I did look at locating it in the battery box, but the extra cable could be costly, will welding cable do the same job as battery cable?
Also looks like the solenoid may be stuffed, cleaned it up tonight, finally got the terminals undone after some pretty choice swear words, and tested. It will wind in but not out. That's exactly what it was doing last weekend when I was winching some fallen trees off the track. I was hoping that it was the broken pin on the hand controller plug that was the culprit.....ah well Albright solenoid it is then.
In regards to the ebay wireless remotes that you wire to the solenoid pack, has anyone used them? I have heard of other remotes or signals from other devices operating the winch, is this correct?. Maybe I'd be better off with the in cab switches i was planning to wire up. I've got a new 4pin plug to replace the broken one, but don't fancy my average soldering skills will be up to the job.
I was also advised by one of the mechanics at work, that he saw on one of the UK Landy websites a lockable box that replaces the blank on top of the drivers side guard. Now that would be an ideal place for the solenoid, dry and secure. Does anyone know if there is such a box and where do I find it?

[kogvos]

I was also advised by one of the mechanics at work, that he saw on one of the UK Landy websites a lockable box that replaces the blank on top of the drivers side guard. Now that would be an ideal place for the solenoid, dry and secure. Does anyone know if there is such a box and where do I find it?

This might be what you're looking for: http://www.mudstuff.co.uk/gmb-fender-locker.html

[ozy013]

This might be what you're looking for: GMB Fender Locker (http://www.mudstuff.co.uk/gmb-fender-locker.html)

That's one nice bit of kit, trust the Germans to do it so well. However, a little out of this builds el cheapo price range,unless the tax man comes to the party this year.


cheers.