Want to build a remote 12 Volt DC trigger for a clay target thrower

I’ve been wanting something better than a long string to release my spring loaded clay target thrower. I will have 12 Volts DC at my truck where I shoot. My hillbilly self initially thought about a fast idle solenoid for a carburetor and air conditioning. I believe those automatically retract. I’d still have a length of speaker wire with a momentary trigger switch... Not much improvement over a long string.

What would it take to get into this century? Door lock solenoid and a key fob? Those fobs are probably expensive and overkill for doing one function. I’d like to go wireless! Anybody have some better ideas?

Check out a garage door opener and the receiver that initiates the drive motor sequence.

Maybe a r/c car radio, receiver, battery pack and servo. It would be nice to have it foot actuated though so another idea that comes to mind would be a foot bellow pump, length of hose and some sort of actuator such as a large syringe and a spring return. It comes down to what is easy to source and readily available.

Edit: a couple alligator clips on the truck battery ran through that speaker wire to an old sewing machine pedal an onto that car lock actuator.

Over here we used the solenoid from a car starter.

I bet a starter solenoid definitely has the energy to release the trigger on a clay target thrower!!!

I’m still wanting to not be tethered to the thrower.

Garage door opener is a good thought. I’m not electrically savvy enough to make the receiver work on DC if it’s built to operate on AC. Cheap replacement remotes though!!

I use late '90's" early 2000 GM solenoids they used for doors, hatches and trunks. They are powerful and are spring return.

One on a hog trap.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEQyYYtM9GY

Another one on my SPP culler.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V7vSEAqkZw

They do make foot and remote releases for the different brands of throwers. I saw $50 for a foot release with a 25' cord. Try looking up your brand and see what is released commercially and then check you tube for diy solutions. I keep saying some day myself on doing something like that. Good luck.
Ron

Thanks for the videos. I tried the link in the comments for the hog trap, and it didn’t work. It got me closer on what to search for. I found this for an affordable starting point.

https://www.electronickits.com/produ...iver-hd2combo/

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Barry54

I bet a starter solenoid definitely has the energy to release the trigger on a clay target thrower!!!

I’m still wanting to not be tethered to the thrower.

Garage door opener is a good thought. I’m not electrically savvy enough to make the receiver work on DC if it’s built to operate on AC. Cheap replacement remotes though!!

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But if you use a starter solenoid, any remote controller/receiver capable of closing a circuit (like juniors old RC car) will do.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Barry54

Thanks for the videos. I tried the link in the comments for the hog trap, and it didn’t work. It got me closer on what to search for. I found this for an affordable starting point.

https://www.electronickits.com/produ...iver-hd2combo/

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I use these to control the valves on my air compressor, from the different buildings.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is a larger TX but the one I have will work further than 700 yards away.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is the solenoid I like attached to a latch with 2 screws.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/25608485069...zPyJ4ZzPPzda8A

I used these on my skeet throwers so I could control both of them and the wobbler (up/down and (left/right) with one remote.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/36345750075...d48747c6d56d2c

They work further than the machines can throw the clays but it would be a lot of walking on a manual thrower, for them I usually just use one I have modified for foot operation and have in a 2" receiver while I sit on the tail gate. Much faster cycle time..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMtFrMmw-KY