Train Engineer

Garden Railroading
1

Hi Guys,

Does anyone have any experience with the Aristocraft Train Engineer
ON-BOARD system? I’d like to use the 2 amp on-board module in an engine that draws about 1 amp at 24 volts with the wheels slipping. Aristocraft’s webpage leaves a lot to be desired in terms of product description and specs.

Thanks

Walt

2

Walt,
I have such an animal but it’s still in the box so I don’t have a clue regarding how well it operates.
The track powered version of Train Engineer works great so the on-board critter should work just as well…I hope!!

OLD DAD

OLD DAD

3

I see that I’m repeating myself…must have been one of those pesky senior moments.
OLD DAD

4

OLD DAD,

Pesky senior moments? I can’t imagine what you mean. Have I mentioned that I don’t know exactly what you’re referring to?

By the looks of the responses I’m getting on this thread, I"d say not too many of our fellow members are using the on-board version of Train Engineer.

Walt

5

Walt,
Still relying on the good old fashioned transformer. Primitive I know. Hand held one day! Later eh…Brian.

6

Walt I am a retired electrical engineer if you can through some numbers at me maybe I can work something out. Although I am retired I never practiced as a profesional engineer, Iused my qualifications more for sales purposes, so they are old and not well used.

Another quote about age that I have never understood until I was old enough. “It is a pity that youth is wasted on the young”

Rgs ian

7

Hi Ian,

I’m retired as well and it sounds as though we took a similar turn way back when. I studied EE 40 years ago and started out in design but quickly wound up in sales, marketing, and management.

I’m trying to get some idea of what the Train Engineer on-board receiver module has to offer. Among other things, I’d like to know if it uses a conventional antenna or one of the rails. Is it compatible with batteries as well as track power. Is the 2 amp rating peak or continuous. What is the range of reception.

The drives of my locos are scratch built and use a 24 volt DC gearmotor. The stall current at 24VDC is about 1.3 amps and .80 amps at full slip. But I have one odd loco using a 12VDC motor that draws about 1.75 amps stalled and 1.2 amps slipping at full voltage. I’m trying to find out if the on-board rx can be configured to drive this particular motor. BTW, all the locos are battery powered.

How about the sad but true cliche’ “If only I’d known then what I know now”.

Walt

8

Walt,
Give Marty Cozad an email with your questions. He runs all batteries with Aristo. Should be able to help with that. Later eh…Brian.

9

Hi Walt,
Just got my Train Engineer delivered thru the week, latest model used on track control, and it’s fantastic. I was going down the on board control route until my dealer told me the price of the module, £76-00!!. He did tell me that some of the RR’s in his circle use the on board via battery power and that it is very good. I am a bit confused in that the Engineer transmits on 27 mhz but there are 2 different receivers, 1 at 27 and the other (latest one) at, I think, 74 mhz. Puzzled!! I probably will follow you down the route of on boards but I think I’ll have to save a bit first.
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

10

Kim,

Thanks for the input. As I understand it, when you purchase the Train Engineer set you get a transmitter and on-board receiver. Both are designed to operate on either 27 or 75 mhz, your choice. 75 mhz is the frequency assigned to R/C cars. boats,etc while 72 mhz is assigned to R/C aircraft. I believe that the frequency assignments are international, but I’m not absolutely certain.

As I recall, 27 mhz is a little too close to the C/B radio band and can receive unwanted signals from “dirty” C/B radios. So you’re probably better off with the 75mhz model.

Cheers to you

Walt

11

Brian,

Thanks for the feedback. I’ll e-mail Marty off-forum.

Walt

12

Hi Walt,
Just done some more digging around on this, how we differ on both sides of the pond. We are quite restricted on the frequencies we can use over here and the 70’s are definately out! 26.96 - 27.28 for general use. 34.95 - 35.3 for model aircraft. 40.665 - 40.995 for surface vehicles. 458.5 - 459.5 for general use & telemetry. I think that CB’s aren’t as popular as they used to be over here and I certainly havn’t seen cars with the aeriels they used to have. I had radio control on a RR in the 80’s and that accelerated to full speed every time a taxi went past with the driver on the radio! I’ll let the forum know when I install an onboard unit and I will certainly be an interested reader of any post from someone who has.
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

13

The trackside receiver that controls the track voltage is 27mhz with its transmitter.
The on-board receivers are 75mhz which control each loco with its transmitter.
The ‘old’ style on-boards were 27mhz and are not made anymore.
I have on-boards in all my loco’s and have no problem with power including SD45’S, Dash 9, Mike,LGB,S, Bachman Shay,s,2-8-0,Climax,Heisler,etc.
Reception is over 100 ft. in a congested layout, but loco aerial length and location is critical.
Other than plug in Aristo loco’s ypu must install chokes to the motor leads to insure good reception.
Great system and very simple , I have a combination of the ‘old’ 27mhz and the new 75mhz on-boards with a handheld for each.
Bud[8D]

14

Bud,

Thanks for the info. That’s what I was looking for.

Walt

15

Bud,

Isn’t there a transmitter available that can control more than one on-board loco receiver?

walt

16

Hi guys,
I thought the idea of the latest Engineer was the control of up to 100 loco’s, accessories etc. From what I’ve read the hand held can be programmed accros 10 frequencies with 10 channels per frequency. Frequency 1/channel 1 = loco 1, frequency 1/channel 2 = loco 2 etc. When one on board has received its instructions it will carry on doing what its told until new instructions are received. ie: set one loco up and then move onto the next one. Because you have constant full power to the track at all time all lights are on and with 2 or 3 consists moving and utilising accessories through other frequencies you would soon rack up to the 10 amp max.
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

17

Walt,
What Kim said above is correct.
The Aristo transmitter will control 10 loco’s at one time and if you change frequency you get 10 more,etc.
I have had 10 running at one time controlled individually on the same track from 1 transmitter pulling over 15 amps.
I also control 32 switches from the same transmitter.

18

Bud,
That will keep you on your toes! Love what we can do with modern technology! Later eh…Brian.

19

Gentlemen,

Thank you all for sharing your knowledge about the TE on-board system. Based on what I’ve read so far, this seems the only way to go. And the price is very reasonable for what it can do.

Walt

20

walt
they have a real helpfull book at aristos site CRE90001 BOOK “HOW TO GUIDE TO TRAIN ENGINEER” hope this helps!