Tip: Build a "cheap" remote DC throttle with good "sound control".

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hello DC “sound runner”.
A throttle tip from sweden.
Model Railroader, had in January 1986 page 118 an article by Kirk Wishowski name “Build an inexpensive walkaround throttle”.
Its a standard walkaround throttle with a handheld controller you move around and plug in at sockets where you stand at the layout. We have built and have 5 of them in use at our model railroad club [url]http://www.jmjk.se/default_eng.asp[/url]. They have function very well over the years. The throttle is perfect to control sound locomotives since the forward and reverse function is in control by a relay and it is easy the have the sound "going on" all time because its no “middle shut off point” in the power when you change direction. Bell and horn is easy activated by handheld controller button (QSI locomotives function with moving reverse and forward).

Everything is okey exept when we all “walk around” and have visitors then it can be little difficult to reach the controller sockets around becase of the “crowd”.

The solution for this is to make the trottle remote and we now testing this by very good result by built a " Auto Roll 4 Channel RF Remote Control" to replace the cable handheld controller.
It`s very easy to build and install. One relay on the remote control is a “button” on the old cable controller.

Other possibility with this throttle is that you can turn the “Minimum speed” setting up so you never can “breake you out of sound” (go down to low on voltage).

If you want to change the small (we like them), remote controller to a bigger one you kan put it in a bigger box with bigger buttons and solder wires to the sender pc board.

“True walkaround” running is great.

JMJK /Tommy Andersson

Links to supplyer:
Swed supply http://www.electrokit.se/item_show.php?code_no=10100180

Other: [url]http://www.electro

2

Neat stuff! Thanks for the tip. I was just at Home Depot, here in the US and they had universal remote controls packaged with ceiling fan controller. Wonder if there’s a use there?

3

Sure you can use any remote with enough channel for the throttlefunctions you have. Only think about that if you have two or more throttles you have to have “different sender code” so you don´t mix the throttles. This one have a “rolling code” that unique for every remote (throttle). Also think about that you have good connection all the time or you maybe cant shut off, for examplel the horn when you want or even worse cant brake…

4

ANY remote throttle with sound is going to be EXPEN$IVE and state-of-the-art.

SOUNDTRAXX’s original DC / Sound throttles were nearly $400 each - one for steam / one for diesel. Adding RF was an $80 (X2) bump. + Seakers were extra, both in engines and a sub-woofer. What you want for ‘cheap’ doesn’t exist.

Alternative: MRC ‘stand alone’ , non moving, non throttle, sound box $100.
Otherwise buy engines with Dual DC/DCC modules installed.