Large Scale Central

A inexpensive battery RC setup?

Electronics Power and Sound
#61

David Bodnar said:

Todd - the most inexpensive radio control you are likely to find may be this one:

http://www.tmart.com/8A-Wireless-Single-way-Dimmer-Black-12-24V_p124102.html

It uses a simple LED lighting control unit and a small hand-held RC transmitter - as you receive it you don’t have a reverse option but adding that is described on my web page here: http://www.trainelectronics.com/Articles/RadioControl-LED-8Amp/index.htm

I had a great time working with these little gems and have used them very successfully on my outdoor railroad when I just want to run a small train around the yard. The ones I built up had no trouble with a Shay pulling a number of cars.

If you are OK with no reverse the hole thing can be done for less than $10.00 plus batteries.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

dave

I have used this on an old MDC Big Hustler and it works well I added the picaxe reverser as well.

Most of my other locos I have used this; http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/satr/2point4GHz.htm. For sound I used the Talking Electronics sound card with the picaxe delay and the effect is very realistic; http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/satr/sound.htm

Simple effective and low cost.

My batteries and R/C gear I get from Hobbyking

#62

Joe Zullo said:

Daktah John said:

If you order the $1.76 one be sure to order a battery too - it doesn’t come with one. I didn’t see the battery spec, but from the pictures I found of the same remote on a different unit it looks like a CR2034 - a very common Quarter size lithium battery. You can get them real cheap in 5 packs on Amazon, or pay over $5 each in a retail store.

P.S. I’m glad you got a kick out of the video. I’m pretty sure it was fake, but still funny. The same guy has a tutorial on how to make an electric guitar. A 110V lamp cord wired direct to the strings. I didn’t hear any sound from the guitar, but the guitarist made some interesting sounds.

The Amazon ad says it comes with a CR2025 (in the questions and answers). Boy Jon, you are missing a lot! (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)

I didn’t read the Q/A - otherwise I’d blame it on my failing eyesight.

#63

For Pete -

Daktah John said:

And speaking of electrical experiments, check this out if you want a laugh: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10156173747740702

#64

Hi Jon and Pete, the guy in the video gives a whole new meaning to “I smoked the board”!

Very funny.

Merry Christmas to all you railroaders.

Don

#65

Dave, I have an old turnout motor/latching relay from my HO days, that has at least 4 sets of contacts. Not being an elecronics expert, I could see the R and G channels being used to drive the relay coils (to flip the turnout and thus flip the contacts to the other side.) Using a pair as a DPDT switch, that would reverse the power output of the B channel driving the motor. I could see using the other contacts to turn off the relay coil when it flips/latches the other way. Only be a problem if you forget and power up both R and G - the relay will start flip-flopping!