Can a FA-1/FB-1/FA-1 unit be set up for R/C and battery powered?

Garden Railroading
1

I know individual engines can be converted, but can triple engine units be done too to run off the same remote control? Sorry if thats a dumb question, Barry

2

I run an FA-1, FB-1 combo from an Aristo TE and battery mounted inside the FB. All it would take to run the second FA-1 would be to run an extra jumper from the TE output to the rear… connecting to the rear engine.

Here is a picture of the FB-1 modifications.

All of the locos can still be run from either track or battery power. The original Aristo wiring is still present and connected. The FA uses a Sierra Sountraxx sound board.

Jim C.

3

Thanks Jim, thats great, Barry

4

Barry.

Yes you can for sure.
A B unit is ideal in size to carry everything on board. That way the maximum load on either end of the B unit is only one loco.

No matter which brand of R/C you choose another way to do it use a trail car.
If you do, my advice would be to beef up the plug and socket connectors between the trail car and the nearest loco. That cable will be taking the load of all three locos and the plugs and sockets fitted to the locos will be at the limit of what they can handle.

I use Tamiya type connectors. Big and ugly, but will not fail.

5

Tony is also absolutely right about the trail car as an option for running all three cars. A variation of a trick that I learned from Marty Cozad is to run thru jumpers on the #2 and #3 locos, with three output plugs running from the throttle to the connecters for the trailcar/locos. In addition to working with the TE, I set up a trail car using Tony’s RCS 9A throttle/receiver and batteries in an LGB boxcar. It worked great, was smoothe, and range was good with a set of SD45s.

6

Thanks again guys. Thats why I posted on here because I knew I would get good, fast answers. Barry