Large Scale Central

Aristo's new 2.4 GHz Train Engineer "Revolution"

Electronics Power and Sound
#1

Lewis has a deal for folks wanting to be early adopters or “beta testers” as he puts it. $300 + shipping gets you 1 TX and 3 RX units + free software upgrades through 2009 if you are one of the first 100 to order direct through Aristo’s On-Line store.

This is very tempting - $100/loco + batteries gets you a pretty nice R/C system. With MU cables it might be possible to run two or 3 locos from one RX/battery equipped master loco.

I just hate to be on the bleeding edge with electronics products. Perhaps my $0 budget will help check my temptation to go for this deal. Has anyone seen street pricing for the system and extra receivers yet?

#2

Jon,
I think you will find that you will need a separate receiver in each loco.
Whilst AC claim the receivers are 5 amps with an 8 amp peak, the fact is the pins used on the plugs and sockets cannot handle much more than 3 amps.
The 27 Mhz TE is still the only AC R/C unit that can handle multiple locos.

#3

Good point. I’m actually quite astonished that the battery plugs Aristo uses have performed for me MU’ing 3 RS-3’s to a battery trail car without melting.

Lewis just quoted the “MAP” for the retail package (1 TX + 1 RX) at $210. I wonder how close the street price will, come to the MAP price. $300 would probably but at least 1 TX + 2 RX on the street once released.

#4

Jon,
The pins I was referring to are the pins on the PnP socket. They can only handle about 3 amps.

The pins on the pigtails at either end of the loco will handle 5 amps OK. I use them myself. I have had sets made with heavier duty wire than AC use.

#5

I knew you were referring to the PNP socket pins - I was comparing the light pins on the battery plugs. Good to know they will handle 5A - that’s probably why I haven’t melted any yet.

#6

Jon,
If you want to run more than two locos from one trail car battery R/C set up, it would be advisable to use Tamiya type connectors to connect the trail car to the loco immediately in front.
The stock AC plugs and sockets cannot handle more than 5 amps. 3 x big locos will draw much more with a decent load.

#7

Pretty slick system and a good deal. I’d go for it but right now, $300 is really hard to come by. I guess I’ll have to wait.

#8

Yea, it is an enticing deal.