Trigger Six Shooter (rant)

[Johnnyb]

During my build I installed a Trigger Six Shooter to control accessories like lights, compressor, lockers. It's a nice tight little package and it fits well with my build.

Problem is, every time I go to use it, the app on my phone wants me to log in. Recently I was out in the boonies and I discovered that the batteries on my wireless switches had gone dead so I went to use my phone and of course there was no service so I could not log in! At this point the only option to turn the compressor or locker on was to open the hood and push the button corresponding to the circuit.
Unacceptable to require login for a device that is built essentially to control accessories on off-road vehicles which are likely to frequently not have cell service!

-JB

 

[Yeller]

Yup that’s a problem.

 

[Soylent]

Any reason you chose that over the Switch Pros? I had one on my heap and never had issues. Not cheap but neither is that shooter.

 

[TAC71]

What's wrong with a good old toggle switch and relay?

I do a lot of custom car wiring and these fancy gimmicks are usually more of problem than they are worth.

 

[Johnnyb]

Any reason you chose that over the Switch Pros? I had one on my heap and never had issues. Not cheap but neither is that shooter.

It was what wild horses was selling at the time.

 

[Johnnyb]

What's wrong with a good old toggle switch and relay?

I do a lot of custom car wiring and these fancy gimmicks are usually more of problem than they are worth.

It cleans up the in-cab wiring quite a bit. Also under hood it's a fairly clean package and can handle some of the larger loads without additional relays. Another thing is it's native 6 rocker wireless switch is both magnetic and contoured to attach to a roll bar freeing up dashboard space.
It just happens to have a really crappy app on the phone which is my biggest objection.

-JB

 

[1969]

I don’t buy anything that requires the use of an app.

 

[ntsqd]

FWIW on the advice of @lars I buy Honeywell TL toggle switches, mostly off amazon.
Look up the needed configuration here to get a part number: Honeywell TL Configurations pdf
Search the p/n on amazon. One example: 1TL1-3 on Amazon If you can't find it there then search on digikey, Mouser, etc.

I normally switch the relay ground, not the hot. So only one wire per relay and a ganged local ground works fine. And since it is a relay ground the wire size need not be huge. With a gang of switches I use multiplex cables instead of individual wires. Something like this cable: 18/5 multiplex

 

[TAC71]

Funny story on app- vehicle operated components.
I built a full custom fastback 68 Cougar for a customer.
He also has a 37 Ford all custom car all loaded up with app driven accessories. From his phone he could pop the doors, operate the power windows, sound system, start the engine and even operate the air bag system. Car had no exterior door handles, nor an override in the event of a failure. Well, he locked his phone inside the car with the engine running. No way to open the doors, hood or trunk. Had to break a window. Now if he just had good old door locks and a spare key or some sort of override, because NOBODY has a "hide a phone" on their vehicle. LOL

 

[ntsqd]

MISF put a GM Keyless entry on his '69 Gran Prix. Then by accident he discovered that cycling the exposed at the rear of the car battery kill switch would unlock the doors..... oops......

We're very good at out-smarting ourselves.

 

[Shimmy]

how long did the batteries last?

 

[gnpenning]

I'm always amazed at why some take something as classic and simple as an older vehicle and try to make it modern? Don't get me wrong I get some of the modern conveniences. I struggle with EFI and the carb debate, overdrive trans, pw/pdl, better radio etc. I even have some items sitting on the sidelines. The line is waaaayyyy different for everyone. For me, anything I need my phone to use on a vehicle is a non starter. Yes, I'm old fashioned and happy. Classic simplicity for me.

 

[ntsqd]

I once threatened to delete the "infotainment center" in the DD on a Taco forum. It was funny because literally every "advantage" those trying to convince me to not do it listed were exactly the reasons why I was considering it! Turns out the Toyota has it so integrated into the truck that deleting it was going be a LOT of work. Too bad too, I could really use the dash space where it lives for the 2M radio.

 

[DirtDonk]

Was driving home from wild horses one night when one of Toyota‘s GPS satellites went on the fritz. That was a very long drive…
With no GPS signal, there was no radio, no HVAC, and very little else but the call of the road.
Brought me back because it was just like driving an old Bronco!