Control six compatible 12V DC circuits in vans, RVs, campers, and mobile builds through one focused smart controller.
Configure and operate channels through the Nomadic Helix Controls app while keeping six compatible hardwired momentary-switch inputs for local control.
Founders Edition: Limited early-release availability. App interface and supporting documentation may evolve through approved updates.
Bring six compatible DC circuits into one organized control layer. Helix Shift 6CH combines app-based channel control and configuration with controller-reported status information and support for compatible hardwired controls—built for vans, RVs, campers, and professional mobile electrical systems.
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Usually ready in 2-4 daysHelix Shift 6CH Founders Edition Installation & User Manual - Download PDF-
Helix Shift 6CH Quick Start / Wiring Guide - Download PDF -
Orders are processed and shipped from Nomadic Innovations in Elkhart, Indiana. Shipping times may vary based on inventory availability, destination, carrier scheduling, and Founder’s Edition launch availability.
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Helix Shift 6CH – 12V Smart DC Controller
Switching is only the starting point. Shift 6CH adds structure around compatible 12V DC circuits through five practical capabilities.
Give each output a descriptive name so the dashboard reflects the actual build instead of leaving the owner or technician to remember what “Switch 3” controls.
Clear channel names reduce guesswork during daily use, commissioning, handoff, and future service.
Assign a supported operating mode to each compatible load instead of treating every output exactly the same.
Standard, Dimmable, Triple Burst Flash, Single Flash, and Turn Signal Flash are available in the current interface.
Operate channels through the Nomadic Helix Controls app while retaining six compatible normally-open momentary switch inputs for local control points.
Frequently used circuits can still have a physical control where tactile operation makes more sense.
Use Cloud Schedule, Countdown, and Interlock tools where timed or coordinated operation adds value to the build.
Automation and Interlock are operating conveniences, not electrical isolation or substitutes for independently designed safety controls.
View channel names, operating modes, brightness where applicable, individual controls, and controller-reported Status information through the app.
Individual channel current is displayed in Standard and Dimmable modes, adding useful context during operation, commissioning, and troubleshooting.
See how these capabilities come together in the app.
The Nomadic Helix Controls app brings all six Shift 6CH channels into one organized view, with individual control and direct access to the controller's primary configuration, automation, and Status tools.
Each channel row can show its assigned name, operating mode, individual power control, current in Standard and Dimmable modes, and brightness when applicable.
Replace generic labels such as “Switch 1” with useful names such as “Bedroom” so the finished system is easier to operate, hand off, and service.
Screens shown reflect the app version used for this page. Interface appearance or available functions may change through approved software updates.
Each Shift 6CH output is independently controlled, but the six channels share one controller-wide current limit. Plan both the individual load and the loads that may operate at the same time.
Any individual output may operate up to 8A, but the combined current of all active outputs must remain at or below 18A.
Shift 6CH uses an installed 20A MINI blade fuse and requires a separate 20A DC-rated source-side fuse in the positive supply conductor. Nomadic Controls also recommends appropriately sized DC-rated protection between each output channel and its connected load.
Helix Shift 6CH combines digital control through the Nomadic Helix Controls app with six compatible normally-open momentary switch inputs for local control inside the vehicle.
Use the app for configuration, automation, Status information, and digital channel control. Add a compatible physical switch where immediate tactile operation makes more sense.
One compatible normally-open momentary switch input is available for each Shift 6CH output channel.
Immediate · Familiar · LocalOperate the channel and access its available configuration, automation, and controller-reported information.
Digital · Configurable · VisibleA compatible switch sends a command to Shift 6CH. The connected load remains controlled through its assigned Shift output channel. Hardwired switch inputs do not provide electrical isolation.
An entry light or bedside circuit can have a familiar local switch while the same channel remains available through the Helix interface. During commissioning, confirm that the switch commands the intended channel and that the app shows the expected channel state.
Select the output you want to configure, choose a supported operating mode that matches the connected load, then verify the result on the Helix dashboard.
Open Mode and select the output you intend to configure. Review the current assignment before making a change.
Shift 6CH provides five selectable operating modes for compatible loads.
Confirm that the intended mode appears on the intended channel and test the actual load response before relying on the configuration in normal operation.
Standard, Dimmable, and flashing modes must be used only with compatible loads. A flash-mode name does not establish compliance for turn signals, hazard lights, emergency lighting, or other regulated vehicle-lighting applications.
Shift 6CH provides Cloud Schedule, Countdown, and Interlock tools through the Nomadic Helix Controls app. Use them deliberately around compatible circuits after each connected channel has been configured and functionally verified.
Send an ON or OFF command to a selected channel at a configured time. Saved schedules can use repeat days or an Only Once designation where supported by the interface.
Set a delay for a one-time channel-state change without creating a recurring schedule.
Duration → Channel → Action
Group channels when they should operate within a coordinated relationship. When one grouped channel is ON, the others in that group are intended to remain OFF.
Operational coordinationComplete the initial functional test for every connected channel before creating an automated command. Test each new Schedule, Countdown, or Interlock configuration under controlled conditions before relying on it routinely.
Interlock is an operating convenience, not a safety interlock. Automation does not replace an electrical disconnect, emergency shutoff, mechanical safeguard, or independently designed safety system.
Start with individual channel information on the Helix dashboard, then open Status for controller-reported Fault, CAN Status, and Board Status information when something needs closer attention.
The dashboard keeps identifying and operating information beside each individual channel control so the six outputs remain easier to understand during everyday use.
Channel Name Identify the assigned circuit.
Operating Mode See the mode assigned to that channel.
Current Information Individual current is displayed in Standard and Dimmable modes.
Brightness Visible where applicable to a compatible Dimmable-mode load.
Status separates different controller-reported information so one message is not mistaken for the condition of the entire controller.
Fault Controller-detected electrical or operating conditions.
CAN Status Information associated with the optional CAN communication interface.
Board Status Reported operating state of the I/O Board.
Fault information helps narrow the area to investigate. It does not automatically identify every possible root cause.
A controller-reported system supply-voltage condition.
A controller-reported system supply-voltage condition.
A controller-wide current condition, distinct from a fault assigned to one output channel.
Shift 6CH can report Channel 1 Over Current through Channel 6 Over Current separately, helping distinguish an individual-output condition from a system-level overcurrent condition.
Individual-channel current is displayed in Standard and Dimmable modes and is informational. Other operating modes may display 0.00 A because current monitoring is not provided in those modes.
A displayed current value, OFF command, or Status indication does not electrically isolate the controller or connected wiring. Disconnect and isolate the applicable source power before service.
Tie each physical Shift 6CH channel to a clear load assignment, app identity, configuration, and build record so commissioning, customer handoff, and future service do not depend on memory.
Record the physical channel, connected load, expected current, intended operating mode, and any planned hardwired switch location before the circuit is completed.
Configure and test one connected channel at a time. Compare the app name, physical channel number, connected equipment, and completed wiring record before moving to the next output.
Keep corrected channel names, operating modes, wiring and control assignments, test results, and useful installation records available for customer handoff and future service.
Shift 6CH does not replace good electrical workmanship or documentation. It gives the builder a clear control structure that can remain tied to the physical installation from initial channel planning through future troubleshooting or controller replacement.
Helix Shift 6CH is a six-channel 12V DC controller for compatible circuits in vans, RVs, campers, and mobile electrical systems. The connected equipment also needs to fit the controller's voltage, polarity, startup-current, load-type, and control requirements.
A load may connect directly to a Shift output only when its voltage, running current, startup or inrush current, polarity, and required control method all fall within the published requirements.
8A maximum per channel · 18A maximum combinedA compatible 12V automotive relay coil may be controlled in Standard mode when the relay includes a suppression diode or another approved flyback-suppression device.
The relay-controlled load uses its own properly fused power circuit.Use another control approach when the supply, load behavior, current demand, safety requirements, or equipment type does not match the approved Shift 6CH application.
Staying below an amp number does not automatically establish compatibility.Enter the current each active channel could contribute in the operating case you want to evaluate.
This calculator checks current only. It does not determine load compatibility or evaluate voltage, polarity, startup or inrush current, operating mode, wiring, circuit protection, environmental conditions, or required safety safeguards.
Do not use Shift 6CH with AC mains power or a DC source outside its approved 11.0–16.0V input range.
Do not directly connect a load above 8A on one channel or operate active outputs above 18A combined.
Motors, pumps, solenoids, heaters, compressors, ignition circuits, and other inductive, high-inrush, or heat-producing loads should not be connected directly unless that load type is specifically confirmed compatible.
Shift 6CH should not be the sole control or safety device for braking, steering, propulsion, restraint, fire suppression, medical, life-support, or other safety-critical equipment.
Use it deliberately for the compatible 12V DC circuits that benefit from organized control, configuration, automation, and visibility.
Shift 4CH is built around dry-contact relay switching. Shift 6CH is built around direct controlled 12V DC outputs. Choose the architecture that matches the circuit rather than choosing by channel count alone.
Each channel provides NO, COM, and NC contacts. The relay changes the state of an externally supplied circuit rather than providing the load voltage itself.
Shift 6CH directly controls compatible loads through six matched CH+ and CH− outputs while adding per-channel configuration, Dimmable mode, hardwired momentary-switch inputs, automation, and controller-reported operating information.
Shift 4CH switches an externally supplied circuit through dry relay contacts. Shift 6CH supplies controlled 12V output pairs to compatible loads. Neither architecture is universally better—the right choice depends on the electrical job.
| Decision Point | Shift 4CH Smart Relay Controller | Shift 6CH 12V Smart DC Controller |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Four SPDT dry-contact relay channels | Six matched 12V DC CH+ / CH− output pairs |
| Module Power | 7–32V DC or optional 5V Micro-USB | 11.0–16.0V DC approved input range |
| Load Path | Relay switches an externally supplied circuit | Compatible load connects to the controlled output pair |
| Output Rating | Up to 10A per relay channel for resistive loads | 8A max per channel · 18A max combined |
| NO / NC Logic | Yes · NO / COM / NC contacts | Not a dry-contact NO / NC architecture |
| Automation | Countdown · Schedule · Circulate · Random · Inching · Interlock | Cloud Schedule · Countdown · Interlock |
| Best Fit | Flexible relay-based switching | Integrated six-channel compatible 12V DC control |
Include the device, system voltage, running and startup current where applicable, and how you want the circuit controlled. We'd rather help identify the right architecture before it goes into the build.
Not every van or RV electrical system needs a complete vehicle-control platform. Shift 6CH is designed for the middle ground: a focused group of compatible 12V DC circuits that benefits from organized smart control without becoming an entire distributed-control project.
Conventional switches or relay control can be the right answer when a project only needs straightforward ON / OFF operation and additional configuration, monitoring, or automation would add little value.
Shift 6CH combines six controlled 12V DC outputs with app-based configuration, compatible hardwired momentary-switch inputs, automation, dimming where supported, and controller-reported operating context.
A broader control platform can make sense when the design requires substantially more I/O, distributed modules, multiple subsystem types, deeper integration, or significant future expansion.
Shift 6CH is intentionally more structured than basic switching and intentionally narrower than a complete distributed vehicle-management system. That focused middle ground is the point.
CAN note: Optional CAN capability is available only for approved integrations using separate product-specific integration documentation. The presence of CAN_H and CAN_L terminals does not establish generic network compatibility.
Use these values for product planning and qualification. Final installation, wiring, terminal requirements, and service procedures remain governed by the latest approved Helix Shift 6CH documentation and the labeling on the installed controller.
8A per channel, 18A combined output, the installed 20A MINI fuse, and the required 20A source-side fuse describe different electrical limits and protection requirements.
Current display is informational and does not replace appropriately rated electrical test equipment. Leave CAN_H and CAN_L disconnected unless an approved integration is being installed.
The Helix family extends beyond six-channel DC control into system hubs, awning control, climate, tank monitoring, leak detection, and vehicle visibility for modern vans, RVs, campers, and mobile electrical systems.
Add only the products that solve a real function in the vehicle. Being part of the same Helix family does not mean every product is required for every build.
01
Smart touchscreen hub for broader control and monitoring across supported Helix devices and compatible system interfaces.
02
Dedicated 12V controller for Nomadic A1 and A2 electric awnings with app control and supported lighting functions.
03
DC rooftop air conditioning with Helix app functionality for battery-based van and RV cooling systems.
04
Ultrasonic tank-level monitoring designed to provide useful fluid-level visibility in compatible mobile tanks.
05
Pulse Required
Compact wireless leak sensor for vulnerable areas of the build, using Helix Pulse as its required hub.
06
Smart camera visibility for monitoring interior vehicle spaces, gear, pets, and other areas of the mobile build.
Shift 6CH is a purpose-built 12V DC controller, not a universal switch for every electrical load. These answers cover the questions that matter most when choosing and planning the controller for a van, RV, camper, or mobile electrical system.
No. Being a 12V device does not automatically make a load compatible. The connected equipment must meet the controller's published voltage, polarity, continuous-current, startup or inrush-current, control-method, and output-mode requirements.
A load drawing less than 8A is not automatically approved simply because it falls below the per-channel current limit.
Not directly from 24V or 48V. Shift 6CH is a 12V DC controller with an approved input range of 11.0–16.0V DC.
A vehicle can use another primary system voltage, but Shift 6CH itself must still receive power within its approved input range. Do not connect the controller directly to a source outside that range.
Shift 6CH supports a maximum of 8A on any individual output channel and 18A combined across all active outputs.
Six 8A channels do not create 48A of simultaneous controller capacity. The installed and source-side 20A fuse requirements are also separate from the 18A combined-output limit.
No. Shift 6CH is added directly through the Nomadic Helix Controls app. Initial pairing uses a Bluetooth-enabled phone or tablet and a compatible 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network.
Helix Pulse is a separate product for builds that need its broader hub and system-management functions.
No. Shift 6CH provides six inputs for compatible normally open momentary switches, one corresponding to each output channel.
The app is still used for pairing and configuration and provides access to channel naming, operating modes, brightness where applicable, automation, and Status information. A hardwired switch sends a command to the controller; it is not an electrical disconnect or isolation device.
Yes, when the connected load is compatible with Dimmable mode. Brightness can be adjusted through the app for a channel configured in Dimmable mode.
Do not assume every product marketed as a 12V or dimmable light is compatible. Verify stable operation with the actual connected lighting during commissioning.
Yes, within the approved relay architecture. A compatible 12V automotive relay coil may be controlled in Standard mode when the relay includes a suppression diode or another approved flyback-suppression device.
The equipment switched by that relay must use its own separate, properly fused power circuit. Using a relay does not automatically make every otherwise incompatible load suitable for the installation.
The controller includes an installed 20A MINI blade fuse. The specified replacement is Littelfuse 0297020-WXNV or an exact equivalent approved by Nomadic Controls.
Installation also requires a separate 20A DC-rated source-side fuse in the positive supply conductor as close to the power source as practical. Nomadic Controls recommends properly sized DC-rated protection between each output and its connected load.
The 20A fuse requirements do not change the controller's 18A maximum combined-output rating.
No. Shift 6CH is not sealed and must be installed in a dry, protected interior location.
Keep the controller away from water intrusion, leaks, condensation, direct spray, wash-down, direct weather, heavy dust, corrosive material, and areas where the controller or wiring may be physically damaged.
Shift 6CH includes CAN_H and CAN_L terminals for an optional approved CAN-based integration. Use those terminals only with approved, product-specific integration documentation.
The presence of CAN terminals does not establish blanket compatibility with every CAN network or generic RV-C compatibility. Leave CAN_H and CAN_L disconnected when an approved CAN integration is not being used.
Send us the device or load type, system voltage, running current, startup or inrush current where applicable, and what you want the circuit to do. That gives our support team enough context to help evaluate the application.
A focused six-channel 12V DC controller for compatible circuits in vans, RVs, campers, and professional mobile builds.
Configure through the Helix app, keep compatible physical controls where they make sense, and add useful automation without turning a focused group of circuits into a whole-vehicle control project.
