Anybody got any experience using hand held throttles with PWM technology with DC?
Any opinions from modelers who use these?
don't dcc decoders use PWM? wouldn't performance be similar?
I built a variety of throttles, including both a TAT-IV and a PWM throttle and preferred the PWM throttle. I think higher switching freq, such as those used by dcc decoders, avoids some of the earlier problems of overheating.
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
Our club made their own DC throttles with PWM. I made my own throttles and used the 555 IC. Worked very well for a number of years. The IC is very versatile if you understand electronics.
The below link is what I used for a base to build my throttle. I modified the circuit to vary the pulse width and frequency.
Adding a switch and a couple resistors allowed throttle to have a range for normal running and another range for switching.
http://www.awrr.com/throttle_Thorne.html
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
west willow and laurel Anybody got any experience using hand held throttles with PWM technology with DC? Any opinions from modelers who use these?
Myself, and several other modelers I know, use Aristo Craft Train Engineer wireless radio DC throttles which use PWM.
They provide very good speed control, equal to DCC based on my experiances. The Aristo throttle uses push buttons - FASTER, SLOWER, EAST, WEST, EMERGENCY STOP. Radio range and reliablity is very good - I have never "lost" control of a train.
Aristo does not currently have these throttles in stock, but they have indicated they may be doing another production run soon. And they also have new product with more features - the Revolution, which is also a radio throttle that can be used as an onboard throttle in larger scales or as a base station wireless throttle in HO or N.
Sheldon
ATLANTIC CENTRAL west willow and laurel Anybody got any experience using hand held throttles with PWM technology with DC? Any opinions from modelers who use these? Myself, and several other modelers I know, use Aristo Craft Train Engineer wireless radio DC throttles which use PWM. They provide very good speed control, equal to DCC based on my experiances. The Aristo throttle uses push buttons - FASTER, SLOWER, EAST, WEST, EMERGENCY STOP. Radio range and reliablity is very good - I have never "lost" control of a train. Aristo does not currently have these throttles in stock, but they have indicated they may be doing another production run soon. And they also have new product with more features - the Revolution, which is also a radio throttle that can be used as an onboard throttle in larger scales or as a base station wireless throttle in HO or N. Sheldon
UPDATE about Aristo Craft throttles.
Aristo has decided not to produce any more of the original Train Engineer Throttles, but they do expect to have more of the new Revolution throttles back in stock soon.
The Revolution will do everything the Train Engineer did and much more.
They apparently have not decided if they will develop smaller onboard recievers for the Revolution. But again, it can be used oboard in larger scales or trackside just like the Train Engineer.
I have a Revolution throttle but have yet to really use it for anything - busy, busy.
I use one of these HAND HELD THROTTLES and am very pleased with its performance. Low speed control is excellent and it will handle multiple locomotives, even on heavy trains and/or steep grades, something of which my otherwise satisfactory SCR throttles were incapable.
Wayne