A friend let me borrow his basic Aristo Craft Train Engineer (model 5480). It is the orange model and it provides radio control of just one locomotive. My layout is small enough that I only use one locomotive at a time and it works very well running DC locomotives. Eventually I would like to convert to a Rail Pro system and I'm thinking that I could use the TE as a bridge system between DC and Rail Pro.
The orange TE has a PWM signal and based on my reading online, it sounds like some DCC equipped locomotives have issues running with a PWM DC signal. In my case, I would have BB Athearns wired with a 9 pin harness + DCC dummy plug for a period of time. Will a PWM DC signal cause issues with a DCC dummy plug?
IIRC, the Train Enginer is wireless from the handheld throttle to the reciever unit that attaches to the track. It provides about 2.5 amps to the track, and the throttle has a range of up to around 100'.
The output to the track may be a PWM output, but it has nothing to do with Rail Pro or DCC. I don't think it is made anymore as eBay units appear to 'used'. From what I have seen, they appear to be solid DC throttles.
As far as a DC engine with a dummy plug: the engine should run fine. Some the expensive 'coreless' motors may have issues, but a standard RTR engine like an Athearn has a wound armature.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Jim,
Yes, you are correct, the TE is no longer produced. The one I borrowed does work well with my Athearn and P2K locomotives, one at a time on the layout.
A locomotive with a dual mode DCC decoder will operate on a track with standard DC power. Apparently the dual mode decoders do not operate correctly when operated on a layout with PWM-DC from the basic TE. I found several mentions of this fact on-line. Apparently the advanced TE allowed the user to switch from PWM to standard DC and was not a problem when used with dual mode decoders.
My question concerns the DCC dummy plug, will operation of a loco with dummy Dcc plug be influenced by PWM from the basic TE? If so, I cannot use it as a bridge between systems. I may need to convert one of my locos to nine pin + dummy plug to find out.
jrbernier As far as a DC engine with a dummy plug: the engine should run fine. Some the expensive 'coreless' motors may have issues, but a standard RTR engine like an Athearn has a wound armature.
My apologies Jim. You did answer my question but I apparently missed it the first time through... Thanks, take care. Rick
I also own the orange basic Train Engineer. I run my Atlas/China locos with the 8 pin pc board and dummy plug and the Engineer works great.
It also works great with the factory Atlas/Lenz 2 function and 4 function DCC decoders set to DC operation. You have to physically move the dummy plug to the correct spot on the board to set DC (or DCC).
The Engineer does NOT work well at all with newer dual mode DC/DCC decoders with sound.
- Douglas
Doughless I also own the orange basic Train Engineer. I run my Atlas/China locos with the 8 pin pc board and dummy plug and the Engineer works great. It also works great with the factory Atlas/Lenz 2 function and 4 function DCC decoders set to DC operation. You have to physically move the dummy plug to the correct spot on the board to set DC (or DCC). The Engineer does NOT work well at all with newer dual mode DC/DCC decoders with sound.
Sorry to be late to this party, been real busy.
I am a Train Engineer user owning 10 of the 10 channel throttles. I have no plans to switch to anything else as long as my Train Engineer throttles keep working.
I'm about to start on a new layout, and like the last layout, it will be powered and controlled with my own Advanced Cab Control system and the Aristo TE throttles. Years ago when I selected the Train Engineer to use with my Advanced Cab Control, I did extensive testing with a large number of different locos. The TE is largely equal to most DCC decoders in terms of motor control.
In 99% of cases, the Train Engineer PWM output will not work with dual mode DCC decoders.
I have removed all decoders from the locos that came with them - I have no interested in onboard sound.
Any loco with a jumper plug installed is effectively a straight DC loco, and will work fine with the Train Engineer.
Sheldon
Thanks for the confirmation Sheldon! Most appreciated!