Couple Quick Motorola Wildcard Questions...

[7d9_z28]

Alright guys...

I'm thinking about setting up a WildCard switch panel in my truck (with a relay board of course) and have been doing enough research to be dangerous. I have a couple quick questions because I have read conflicting infromation on BatLabs and RR (and wherever else I have looked).

1.) Any standard DB25 cable will work with the Wildcard, correct? I have found the pinout but I want to be 1000% sure I can just hack one end off a standard computer DB25 cable and use it correctly..

2.) I have seen people say that the switches can handle anywhere from .25 amp all the way up to 1 amp, but everyone has said that they each need to be fused precisely. So does anybody know for sure what the amp ratings are for the switches?

3.) Does the HLN1206B have 6 latching and 2 momentary switches as standard, or is it set up different?

Thanks in advance for any information provided!

Alec R

 

[firebuff17]

1) Yes you can hack one connector off and use the cable. Just have to use a continuity tester on each pin and each wire to figure out what color wire is used for the pin.


2)I am not sure what they are ratings are. I am using a relay set up also. I am using negative switching to control the out puts just to be safe.


3)There are 2 variations of the wildcard box. Forget which is which. I believe the HLN1196 has 7 latching and 1 momentary. The HLN 1206B has 6 latching and 2 momentary.

 

[7d9_z28]

Thank you for the great information! Sounds like you are using a Wildcard too? Any pictures of the relay board or the location of the box?

 

[firebuff17]

I have used one in my old truck with 5 pin relays and a mass of wiring. Works great. But it was a mass and mess of wiring. I did some searching and found these relay boards that were used specifically for the wild card boxes. I am still installing it into my new truck. I have 2 of them. One is a spare and I also have a second wildcard box. I am going to be mounting the box behind my rear seat in my crew cab. Ran all of the wiring. Just have to mount and connect the wires to the relay board still. Hopefully next week if time is on my side. Here are some pics.














The wooden board is getting mounted behind my seat. The tan box on left is the relay board. The 2 screw terminal blocks are for input of the switches and connection point for outputs of switches. Wildcard box mounted in my center console and closes up nicely out of view.


Will be doing an install thread when I get it all done.


Edited: added more specifics to first paragraph and spelling changes.

 

[7d9_z28]

That looks great, where did you find the relay board? I would love one but Im sure they are $$$

 

[firebuff17]

I got it off of flea bay about 4 or so years ago. Along with the second wildcard box. I had already wired the separate relays in my old truck and didn't feel like changing it over. So I held onto them knowing I would be getting a new truck. Will send you a PM.

 

[jmr061]

I have a bunch of used wildcard boxes plus a couple of relay boards.  I had the relay boards post for sale a while back.  These relay boards work great with a wildcard.

Still have them:

 

[7d9_z28]

I have a bunch of used wildcard boxes plus a couple of relay boards.  I had the relay boards post for sale a while back.  These relay boards work great with a wildcard.

Still have them:

I saw your boards while searching, they look great but unfortunately I cant afford to pay that much right now.

I obtained a used wildcard from ebay, a new relay board, and a new DB25 cable for around $40, it should all be here soon. Im, sure I will have more questions when I get into it all!

 

[7d9_z28]

I got my Wildcard and relay board in today, and I think one of the buttons has been replaced. Buttons 1-6 are latching, button 7 is momentary, but button 8 is latching. Works out amazingly in my favor, as I was considering finding two more latching buttons anyways to replace the momentary ones, but with 7 out of the 8 latching, I think I am all set.

The Wildcard box itself is awesome, the size is perfect to fit in several places in my truck without being bulky or tacky, and the buttons have a nice solid click engage. I prefer these over rockers and soft press/membrane buttons (like the Cencom).

Im excited to get the DB25 cable in and start planning out the install of it!

Thank you for the help everyone!

 

[7d9_z28]

Just quoting you for the notification!

Its mounted, not at the angle I would prefer but the way the inside of that hole is, this is the way it is. My DB25 breakout board is en route!

Thank you all for the help!

 

[firebuff17]

Thanks! Looks good.

 

[C17LVFD]

Take a Dremel to the hole and make is a lil bigger. That'll give you the angle you want.


Good luck


Seth

 

[7d9_z28]

No its the way the back of the box hits pieces inside the console. Theres a couple pieces that screws go through to hold it together and cutting them would cause the console to come apart. Width wise the spot is perfect.

 

[C17LVFD]

Is it the whole WILD card box or just the DB25 cable that's hitting? I have seen right angle DB25's to cut down on depth.

Seth

 

[7d9_z28]

Its the box. I already trimmed some excess off the DB25 cable to bend it properly. The box hits the plastic I described above.

 

[C17LVFD]

Gotcha. Well still looks good!


Seth

 

[firebuff17]

Alittle late reply but


I have a 90 degree cable connector on mine and I also had to flip the switch box over just to get the cable connection away from obstacles.

 

[ckgarside]

Looks great!!

Batlabs.com is a great resource for Motorola gear.