new power system problem

[Anonymous]

I'm ready to begin. I just purchased my track, power supply, and a locomotive. It was recommended that I buy a Crest Walk-around Radio Control (CRE-55470) with a 10 amp pwer supply (CRE-55460), which I did. I also bought an Arisot-craft L'il Critter locomotive.

I've been trying to get the system up-and-running for a few hours, with no success. One of the problems is that I'm not exactly sure what I'm asking this system to do. (It's not like my old HO power pack!) Am I sending a signal to the track, or is the signal supposed to go "through" the locomotive -- in which case do I need to purchase some sort of receiving device for the locomotive? The direction book that comes with the controller is sketchy, at best.

[Jim Duda]

This is exactly what I'm thinking of getting. In my mind, the power supply feeds the trackside receiver which would then be connected to the track to vary the voltage and polarity to the track depending on the radio signal it gets from the handheld. The loco would be "dumb" and just respond to the track voltage it was getting. If I'm mistaken, then I am misunderstanding the system.

Jim Duda

[Anonymous]

I am not sure what you have but the LGB MTS works through the rails like Jimbo suggested but i am not so sure the stuff that you have does. You should be able to get your loco to rum around the track manually, ie without the radio control just by conventional methods.

However if you wi***o operate the loco by remote, not only must you have a transmitter but you must also have reciever, which should be located in the loco itslef. If I got it right, both should have an antenna, even though you may not be able to see it too well.. Has anyone installed a reciever in your loco or even a decoding device so that it can work out what you are trying to tell it to do? I think what you are doing is abit like shouting at a deaf mute.

If you are not sure of this, get in touch with the manufacturer and they should be able to point you in the right direction.



Regards


Ian. Kawana Island Tropical Railway.

[Anonymous]

I just looked up this system on the internet.You should have ,1.a transformer,2.a reciever,3.a transmitter.
I would guess that they have to be wired in series.You don't have to modify the locos in any way as this system is only a remote track regulator.
The problem is probably easily remedied.Batteries in transmitter?,correct track connection? and are the transmitter and reciever on the same frequency.
It's about time that the makers of this stuff came up with some proper instructions.
I've been trying to research the LGB MTS system.Lots of pretty pictures but no step by step instructions of what you need and what it can do!

[Anonymous]

I'm ready to try again after reading your responses. I do have all the components and batteries in the hand-held. I suspect that the problem comes from my lack of understanding as to (1) frequency & channel (2) linear vs. P.W.C. mode and (3) the "code signal letter pads A- E On the hand-held transmitter. I'll give it another shot but I really wi***he manufacturer had given better than a cursory explanation to this. If anyone would like to continue to explain any of the above, I'm listening and appreciative.

[Jim Duda]

I'm listening too, piperford!...and I'm sure so are any others who are comtemplating purchasing this system. So, c'mon guys - spell it out, simply and completely for us: How do you set up the 55470 Train Engineer system???

(You might also post this on the AristoCraft forum...)

Jim Duda

[BudSteinhoff]

I will give it a try.
Ist you need 18/22 constant DC volts going into the receiver. +/-
If you have a speed control on the power supply, set it wide open.
From the receiver connect to the track.
The receiver will distribute power to the track.
Stretch out the antennae wire.
Switch to linear mode.
Turn on the switch.

Now select channel #1 on the transmitter.
Hold the code set button on the receiver until the light comes on and then hit the 'C' button on the transmitter until the receiver light blinks.
You are connected.
Put and train on the track and push fast and watch it go.
Bud[8D]

[Jim Duda]

Thanks Bud! I don't have the system yet, but from some of the comments I've read, the instructions in the TE manual are not as clear and concise as yours. Seems like all it would take is a one page "QUICK START" explanation...

I've copied your post and will refer to it when I get mine...

JD

[bman36]

Hey All,
Bud gave a very good description on setting up. Jim: your understanding of the system is correct. Essentially what you are doing is adding radio control to your transformer. Wires inbetween the transformer and the track. Set throttle at full and then tell receiver how much power to give the track. PWC is pulse width control. If you select this mode it will give you slow starts and slow stops. As upposed to coming to a stop quick. You have to be ready and plan your stop in advance. Otherwise you will "coast" past the station or stopping point. Make sense??? Hope this helps. Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

Piperford

What has happened is it working for you yet ?

[Anonymous]

Sorry it took a while to get back to you. It's been a busy work week. At this stage, I'm truly a weekend hobbyist.

I did get the system working, and it works like a charm. It will take alot more experimentation to figure out all the functions. My original problems came up when I was setting the code. I was inputting it incorrectly. As I've said before, the directions are vague. You guys have been a lot of help in describing how the system works. I also went to the website (found it easily with a Google search) and learned more. I only have one loco at this point, so I can't report on using the system with multiple locomotives. But the speed control/start & stop/directional control are all very straightforward and work well. I give it a thumbs-up.

-Ford

[Anonymous]

How is the range of it? piperford

[RhB_HJ]

Hi gang,

It's been a busy work week here, too.

There is a lot of information on the TE at George Schreyer's website. You can start with this link http://www.girr.org/girr/tips/tips1/te_programming.html
and take it from there.
BTW printing out all the info gives you more or less the equivalent of the book that George wrote on the TE.

HTH

[Anonymous]

In answer to your question, I really haven't adequately tested the range of it. I had it set up temporarily in my living room. However, when I saw a demonstration of this system a few weeks ago, the fellow had a backyard layout that was prbably 70 feet across, with tunnels, hills, etc. The system worked fine.

I'll take a look at that website, HTH. By the way, I wish I was heading into the summer up there in British Columbia to work on the garden railway. Here in Arizona, the temperature is already over 100 degrees, midday.

-Ford

[RhB_HJ]

QUOTE: Originally posted by piperford

In answer to your question, I really haven't adequately tested the range of it. I had it set up temporarily in my living room. However, when I saw a demonstration of this system a few weeks ago, the fellow had a backyard layout that was prbably 70 feet across, with tunnels, hills, etc. The system worked fine.

I'll take a look at that website, HTH. By the way, I wish I was heading into the summer up there in British Columbia to work on the garden railway. Here in Arizona, the temperature is already over 100 degrees, midday.

-Ford

Ford,

just a heads-up, "HTH" stands for "Hope That Helps"[;)][;)]
I go by "HJ" on any of the fora I hang out.

Where I'm at - Interior of BC, midway between Vancouver and Calgary, AB - we get hot summers, but not quite AZ style. [:)][:)] Which is OK by me; I like a good dose of heat, but hate to overdo it.[:D]

BTW while I've been in modelrailroading for 52+ years, I've only been doing the LS stuff for four years.
I must say the Internet is a great help, there are hundreds and hundreds of LS sites out there with all kinds of good info. Just a matter of finding them and then bookmarking.