I am in need of several handheld walkaround type ( either wireless or plug in) DC controlers. after looking around for awhile I have not been able to locate any and am now thinking about building them myself. does anybody on here have any wireing diagrams or instuctions on how to do this or has anybody made some that can hlp me out? I have never tried this before but am getting ready to start construction of my (our) new layout and this is needed now! HELP PLEASE!
I figured I could add a little more information to my request.
This will be a large (30x40 ft) layout. NO DCC. I can have plug-ins anywhere along the line. Walk around design with lots of local switching. My self and the other builders have no interest in DCC so DC is a must. Controlers will need to fuction speed and direction only.
I truely hope somebody on here can help me out!
Andy,
The MRC CM20 is a great walk-around unit with lots of DC power. It is not 'wireless', but you can unplug and the train will still keep running while you walk over to anotehr location to plug in. It can use standard RJ12 phone jacks for the plug in locations.
For 'wireless' throttles, Aristocraft was several variations of radio controlled throttles.
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
asch I figured I could add a little more information to my request. This will be a large (30x40 ft) layout. NO DCC. I can have plug-ins anywhere along the line. Walk around design with lots of local switching. My self and the other builders have no interest in DCC so DC is a must. Controlers will need to fuction speed and direction only. I truely hope somebody on here can help me out!
You talk about switching. Do your locomotives run at sufficiently slow speeds on straight, unfiltered (no pulses) DC? Or do you need pulses to run them slow enough to satisfy your switching needs? If the 1st case is true, very simple voltage follower throttles like this will work
I built this for about $20 worth of parts at today's Radio Shark prices. For more complex throttles with pulses and momentum, there are several good circuits on the web at http://www.awrr.com/throttle.html and http://home.cogeco.ca/~rpaisley4/Throttles.html and http://users.rcn.com/weyand/tractronics/articles/ccartcl/ccartcl.htm and http://www3.sympatico.ca/kstapleton3/851.HTM.
With the large layout size, you may want to ensure your chosen throttle has memory - that is the train keeps running while you unplug and plug in at the next jack. On my small layout, I want just the opposite - I do not want the train to continue running while I unplug.
There are wireless system designs based on radio control car, based on infrared remote, and based on other wireless technologies. Aristo sells a ready-built proprietary wireless DC throttle that works in all scales.
Hope this helps you point in the right direction.
Fred W
asch I am in need of several handheld walkaround type ( either wireless or plug in) DC controlers. after looking around for awhile I have not been able to locate any and am now thinking about building them myself. does anybody on here have any wireing diagrams or instuctions on how to do this or has anybody made some that can hlp me out? I have never tried this before but am getting ready to start construction of my (our) new layout and this is needed now! HELP PLEASE!
I use the Aristo Craft Train Engineer wireless radio throttles on my HO layout, and I know several other modelers who do as well. They have great slow speed performance, easy to use, great range.
They use full voltage pulse width modulation so smooth starts and slow speeds are great. No plugging in, transmitters have on/off so batteries last a long time.
They also have several unique/interesting features. If you change direction while the loco is moving, the throttle ramps down to zero first, changes the direction, then ramps up to the previous setting. This is very useful in switching work. They also have momentum which is ajustable in serveral increments.
Sheldon
Just a word about the MRC control master 20...
Be aware that there are two different and incompatible versions- A and B.
If you plug the hand held of one into the main unit of another, the train will rapidly accelerate and unplugging the handheld won't stop it (memory). It appears that the throttle operates backwards between the two.
Also, the "phone" wire needs to be six conductor, not the more common 4 conductor IIRC.
When I got rid of my last pair on ebay around 1999, they were fetching about $75 each, used.
I built my own walk around throttles that have a small handheld unit, and they have a memory to boot. "Memory" means you can unplug the controller while the train is running and move the plug to another jack on the layout without interrupting the train. It was based on an article in Model Railroader, Jan 1986 IIRC. The controller:
The main electronics board under the layout:
a couple years back I got a walk around from GML enterprises. they have lots of options , walkaround with memory etc, the website they have is
http://www.thegmlenterprises.com/index.html
i have the teathered one without memory , use it on my n-scale.. runs nice