Hi Guys
Back again with another question, getting sick of them yet?,lol. Anyways I was wondering is anybody aware of a company that makes a walkaround throttle that can be added to a standard DC MRC power pack? Years ago there was a guy at my local hobby shop that made one that connected to the AC and DC terminals. I had it for only a year or so and it would get really hot really fast. So I took it back to him. But was wondering if any company commercially makes them?
Thanks
Jeremy
Try these:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/kstapleton3/851.HTM
It’s not an MRC add-on, but it’s a good handheld. The MRC Controlmaster 20 is my personal brand of DC controller.
I’ve seen online from time to time a handheld controller that is supposed to go with one of the Tech 4 controllers. It was for one specific model, but I can’t recall offhand which one.
Jim
Not that hard to build one for yourself. I built a transistorized one from plans given in February 1973 Model Railroader. Sorry don’t remember the page number. It is a very simple circuit.
Jeremy:
Like Jim, I use the ControlMaster 20 with a walk-around throttle. I really like it. You can also add up to 15 feet of telephone cord to the controller without loss of power. My Yuba River Sub is a 24x24’ garage layout with a center aisle, and I can get to anywhere I want with the controller. It’s also dual-voltage (12 volts DC for HO and N, 16 volts for larger scales) and has plenty of power, plus Nudge and Momentum switches.
It really does the trick for me.
And don’t worry about all of your questions–there are NO ‘dumb’ questions in this hobby, IMO. [:P]
Tom [:D]
Thanks Guys
Does anybody still have the controlmaster 20? I knew I should have got one a few years ago, Im kicking myself now that I didn’t.
If connected to both AC and DC terminals of a power pack, I can understand why it got hot…
Seriously, a handheld uses either the DC or AC terminals of a power pack for input. Advantage goes to including a rectifier in the handheld on the input to allow use of the AC terminals. This also prevents using the direction switch on the power pack/power supply to supply the wrong polarity to the handheld throttle.
Output of the handheld goes to the track, via the block control system (if any).
More sophisticated handhelds have a base station to avoid full track current going through the tether. This also puts the heat-sinked components under the layout in the base station.
Another option to consider is “memory”. Memory allows the train to continue to run while you unplug and plug the tether. I have never wanted memory on my throttles on my small layouts. I always felt at risk with no way to stop the train until I was plugged back in, and full electrical contact made at the plug.
Building your own handheld throttle is quite easy. Or you can order commercial models.
my thoughts, your choices
Fred W
Do a Google search. I found plans and am going to make one.
The MRC ControlMaster 20 seems to be available still. Try Google.
Here’s one I found on eBay: Handheld for Controlmaster 20
Can the Controlmaster 20 be made wireless.
A pair of scissors or wire cutters should do the trick… [swg]
Well G__ D__ D___ H___ could have thought of that.
No, but Aristo Craft makes a nice wireless DC throttle - The 10 channel Train Engineer.
Sheldon
Thanks Sheldon.
While I have a Controlmaster 20 with walk-around, I also bought one of the PWM throttles from Ken. They’ll handle the same heavy trains and multiple locos as the CM20, but with much finer speed control. You can adjust the momentum feature and it can be powered from either the fixed DC or the AC terminals of your power pack. It also has memory, so the train will keep running if you unplug to walk to the next connection point.
Wayne
This is the one I use:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/kstapleton3/851.HTM
It’s great. Amazing low speeds, variable momentum, and a good price.
I have two MRC Tech 4 350’s. They have memory, momentum, several other features and a plug for a Tech 4 Walkaround throttle. The walkaround has stop, direction and brake, as well as speed control. I haven’t done it yet, but have read that I can install a remote plug to plug, to give me even more distance from the power pack. Can only use one hand held per power pack. With the memory, can unplug from one location and move to the next, while the train keeps moving.
I don’t think MRC is making these any more, but I have seen them quite often on ebay.
Good luck,
Richard
JeremyB: Yes there is a company that make a radio controled DC throttle that is hand held. The company was called Aristo Craft, but i do not know if they are still in business or if they were taken over by someone else. It is a very good system.
JeremyB: I looked up Aristo-Craft on the internet. They are still in business.I do not know if they still sell the walkaround DC throttle though. Get in touch with them to find out.
Here is a pair of old MRC model 55’s that I have been using for about 30 years…I use 4 wire phone cable with no problems
Jerry