FoxPro + Mojo Critter on AUX Channel * * IT WORKS! * *

Old No7

Old No7

Member
I asked this as the last message on a post over on the "Other Calling Equipment..." forum, but it didn't get an answer there, so I'm thinking maybe I'll have much better luck over here.

Does anyone know if the Mojo Critter on/off switch can be modified to work with the AUX channel of a FoxPro???

If so, how is it done?

Sure, I could just turn the critter on and let it run, like I used to do with my JS PreyMaster/Azden wireless unit... But now that I hunt with a FoxPro unit, I'm thinking I'd like to connect the Mojo to the FoxPro. Any ideas?

Thanks!

Old No7
 
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I read the manual and it says that you can use it for switching stuff up to 2 amps at up to 15 volts so that should allow turning on most decoys as there is no way they draw 2 amps. For wiring, tip is positive, sleeve is negative. I just got off the phone with FoxPro and got the specifics.

In order to use the FoxPro AUX port for a decoy, you have to wire the power from the decoy through one of those mini jacks that plug into the FoxPro AUX port. It is a 3.5 mm jack. Break the wire that comes from the positive battery connection on your decoy. Extend the wire from the battery to the tip of the 3.5mm jack. Then take a wire from the sleeve of the jack back to the other end of the wire you broke from the battery. That wire should go to the switch or the motor of your decoy. Make those wires long enough to get the decoy as far away from the FoxPro as you want. Telephone wire or light speaker wire would work perfect. The AUX port just acts as another switch.

Plug the jack into the AUX port of the Foxpro. Turn on the decoy switch. The AUX button on the remote should now operate your decoy.

I will try to get a diagram up as soon as I can to make it easier to understand.



Fast Ed
 
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THANKS to Fast Ed!

It works! I just ran down to the cellar, cut the red+ wire between the switch and battery pack (of Mojo Critter, aka MJ-C), wired a plug in as Fast Ed said to do -- nothing soldered yet, that will have to come later. But whoopee -- it is working!

Since the MJ-C has a ~4 second delay between "spins", you do have to hold the AUX button for that long -- to get one spin. And don't forget to have the MJ-C switch on too! That helps! (Been there -- just done that...)

Before, I didn't like that the MJ-C ran all the time. Now, it will only run when the Aux is pressed -- which might get to be a pain on a 20 or 30 minute stand???

Hmmmm...

Think... think... thunk...

OK. So now I'm thinking about disabling the switch AND timer circuit of the MJ-C, and running straight "power" to the motor via the FoxPro -- that way, the MJ-C will spin whenever the Aux remote button is pressed.

OK, that might still mean pressing the Aux from 1 or 3 to 10 times every minute of a 20 minute stand...

So here are our options:

(a) Letting it run all the time without the FoxPro control, just by the MJ-C on/off switch

(b) Letting it run on a timed cycle per the FoxPro remote control (with switch & timer intact), but this means holding the AUX button for long periods

(c) Letting it run only when the Aux button of the FoxPro remote is depressed, for whatever duration and frequency you want

So, I'm thinking (again, that CAN be dangerous) that option (c) gives us the most control. And with a little wind, maybe the MJ-C will have some movement anyway.

Gosh, now I feel Fast Ed has answered the "easy part" (no it wasn't easy really, that WAS where we were all stumped) -- and now we need to answer the "hard part" of how to run them together.

OK gang -- What do you think of the options above?

Or are there any other options?

Thanks again to Fast Ed!

Old No7
 
I'm not familiar with other foxpro's but my Fury has a setting in the menu in regards to the AUX jack. Either momentary or latched.

I have no idea what this means, but I thought I would bring it up.

And can someone tell me what the difference is?
 
Quote: "I'm not familiar with other foxpro's but my Fury has a setting in the menu in regards to the AUX jack. Either momentary or latched. I have no idea what this means..."
Craig, my guess is "momentary" is just as it implies, a short pulse. And "latched" would be "on" (full time) or "off" (full time) -- just like a light switch.

That's what I was hoping the Aux channel I have was (my ForPro is the entry-level Spitfire), so I think the Aux button is "pulse" only, powered only when the remote button is pressed.

Maybe someone else can confirm or correct this.

Old No7
 
Originally Posted By: Old No7Quote: "I'm not familiar with other foxpro's but my Fury has a setting in the menu in regards to the AUX jack. Either momentary or latched. I have no idea what this means..."
Craig, my guess is "momentary" is just as it implies, a short pulse. And "latched" would be "on" (full time) or "off" (full time) -- just like a light switch.

That's what I was hoping the Aux channel I have was (my ForPro is the entry-level Spitfire), so I think the Aux button is "pulse" only, powered only when the remote button is pressed.

Maybe someone else can confirm or correct this.

Old No7


Found it Here

I thought the same. Though I also assumed they could spell it out in plain english. Something like "always on" would be much better then "latched" at least for the non electronic educated like me.

I'm guessing that, at least with the fury, I can simply change the setting for the AUX button and be good to go from there. Press to turn on, press to turn off, much better then holding the button.

I know I', getting a critter for xmas so I'm trying really hard to not buy one right now and see.
 
I have both the Spitfire and Critter too. That's a very good idea.
Sounds like "C" would be a good option to me but the Critter's delay would have to be disabled like you said. If you figure it out be sure to post the modifications.
 
Here's another idea;

Rather than cutting the wire and installing the plug in line, put it in parallel to the existing switch, that is connect it to both sides of the existing switch and you will bypass the existing switch. That would eliminate the opportunity to forget to turn the switch on and not having your critter or walking back out to the caller. You could still use the on/off switch as well.

I've got the XR6 and I'm going to try this. I hope it has the on/off aux rather than momentary!

According to the Foxpro link above, all the aux functions are Momentary...they only work when the button is depressed. The "Latch" mentioned above is a function of the Jack in the Box. That latch simply holds the switch open or closed at each press of the Aux button. For what it's worth.
 
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To get around the momentary operation of the AUX button on some models of the FOXPRO you could use what is called a latching relay. Wiring in a latching relay would basically emulate what the JIB decoy from FOXPRO does. Pushing the momentary AUX button once would latch the relay in the "on" position. Pushing it again would unlatch the relay putting it in the "off" pusition.
TwoDogs idea of putting the plug in parallel with the existing switch is a good idea. Wiring the relay in parallel with the existing switch would allow you to switch the decoy on/off with either the switch or the AUX output of the FOXPRO. I have been thinking about doing this modification on the Mojo Critter decoy for a while. This thread may have given me the motivation I need to do it.
 
Originally Posted By: gonzagaWhat do I need to get and where do I need to send my woodpecker decoy to so you can do this for me?

Ditto. Bought a 3.5mm jack and wired as indicated in the the other thread. I am lost.

Not working. I have FP FX3. PM me - name a reasonable price...
smile.gif
 
Heretic,
The FX3 can't maintain the contact closed/open ,only the Fury can (with the remote set for "latched"). That's why I "had to" upgrade to the Fury when I discovered that it could do this. I'm not familiar with the Mojo Critter circuit to know what Old No.7 did. You may want to go that route if someone verifies it will work with the momentary as on the FX3,& FX5.

Gonzaga,
I had a time gettin' my Whirling Woodpecker apart and back together to add the jack. I'm not going to chance trashing someone elses. I'll be glad to tell how.

GAJoe
 
Wiring the plug in parallel with the switch instead of series is a great idea. That would allow stand alone or remote operation as you choose.

The latching relay would be a little more difficult. It would require a special relay circuit with an electrically or mechanically held latch relay that has an electric release where the pick-up coil and the unlatch coil are isolated from each other with auxiliary contacts. This would have to be a low voltage, ie 6 volt, relay as that is the voltage supplied by the batteries in the Mojo. This relay would suck power from the batteries and cut the life down somewhat. You would also have to find a place for it inside or outside the Mojo. Maybe one could be found that fits between the battery pack and the motor.

I think if I ran Mojo, I would incorporate the electronics on the existing circuit board and sell it as an upgrade to my existing customer base. But that's just me.

Fast Ed
 
I couldn't get anything simple working on the FX5's momentary "pulse signal" that was designed to start/stop the JIB. (The FX3 and Spitfire do the same pulse signal.) It would take some engineering that Fast Ed is describing above.
When I heard that the Fury would be capable of a "latched" circuit then I knew I had to have one.
Using a power jack like FOXPRO Steve recomended allows the circuit to be uninterupted when no cable is pluged in so the normal start/stop button works as always when the cable's not plugged in. Here's a cut-sheet that FOXPRO Steve sent me for Mouser part number 161-3101 :
http://www.mouser.com/catalog/specsheets/KC-300412.pdf

Here's how I wired it:
decoyjackwiring.jpg


Here's the results:
P9280016.jpg


P9280015.jpg


As I said above "It works great!"
 
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Originally Posted By: GeorgiaJoeHeretic,
The FX3 can't maintain the contact closed/open ,only the Fury can (with the remote set for "latched"). That's why I "had to" upgrade to the Fury when I discovered that it could do this. I'm not familiar with the Mojo Critter circuit to know what Old No.7 did. You may want to go that route if someone verifies it will work with the momentary as on the FX3,& FX5.

GAJoe - I got it to work finally. Pulse only but it's not as bad as I figured. Taping a little rubber disc to the AUX button makes it easier to hold down.

But...when the economy turns around and funds permit, I believe I see a Fury in my future.
smile.gif
 
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