Help wiring a handheld controller

[Tim_Seawel]

I have found a Tracker by Troller handheld throttle in my old box of mrr stuff. I am begining a return to modelling after a 23yr absence and need a refresher in wiring this throttle. It has 4 wires coming out of it, 1ea. black ,white,red and green. I am assuming 2 wires go to the track and 2 wires go to a dc power pack but I don't know which 2 go where. This handheld is about a 1981 vintage unit but is in perfect condition. Here's what it looks like [image]http://thumb4.webshots.com/t/32/33/6/94/44/256869444yuJOEo_th.jpg[/image] any of you older guys-I am 52 btw- might still have one of these in operation and I would appreciate any help in wiring this up.

Thanks in advance
Tim

[mcouvillion]

Tim,

Troller has been out of business for quite a while. I have several Troller power packs and really like them. I had two Troller handheld throttles, not quite the same as the picture that you show. If I remember correctly, they had four wires, but two of the wires were the same color and were for connecting to the 16V AC output on the Troller power pack. The other two wires went to the track/cab you were controlling. Can you take the back off the Tracker? I think Troller riveted their stuff together, so I had to cut the rivets and replace them with screws. My thought is that if you could look at the circuit board in the Tracker and determine which wire pair goes through a diode bridge / rectifier (the input pair) or which pair comes off the direction switch / potentiometer (the output pair), you have figured it out. You may have to switch the paired wires to get the correct direction / polarity, but you should not damage the Tracker.

Since you have been out of the hobby for 23 years, why don't you look into the new DCC stuff and invest your money and time there. You will be extremely glad you did. The hobby has changed in ways you cannot imagine in 23 years. I use my Trollers for testing mostly. I'm putting decoders in everything that I intend to run on a regular basis. Check out DCC at your favorite hobby shop.

Mark C.

[Tim_Seawel]

Thanks Mark for the response. You know you might just be right on the hook up to AC power rather thank DC. I do remember having this throttle hooked up thru a 2 cab system . Looks like it's time to go cut some rivets.

[:)]Tim