Handheld Throttle

[harrym]

I have a DC layout with two MRC 9500 Tech 3 power packs. I'm not certain where the best place for my control board would be in my new around the wall [10'x11'] layout. Is there such a thing as a tethered throttle that could be used with these units? How do they operate? Do you hook them between the variable DC and the wiring and then turn the power pack on full power? And lastly, who makes them?

[wcfn100]

I think back in the 80's there was a annual article in MR about making handheld trottles.  It's all a matter of how many bells and whistles you would like.

IIRC, you could build one for < $10 if you just wanted speed and direction and they were no mare difficult than soldering feeder wires to your track.

Jason

[asciibaron]

typically a hand held throttle will run off the AC output of a base throttle.  they typically have Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) and some type of momentum setting (capacitor discharge rate).  my favorite hand held throttle was purchased from a website in 2000 - very reliable and worked like a charm with my switching layout...

http://www3.sympatico.ca/kstapleton3/851.HTM

change a part and it's good to 3 amps!

i had built a throttle from MR in the mid 80's and it worked, but it got very hot since it used the case as a heat sink for the voltage regulator.  i also had a Troller?  that was a piece of junk...

-Steve

[TiVoPrince]

Off
to hunt for my Troller tethered handheld.  Loved that throttle, but lost the wiring diagram 20 yers ago and just put it away 'somewhere' without thinking it through.  Never had a better DC throttle, great control and excellent ergonomics for nineteen seventy something...

[3rdrail]

I've got an MRC Controlmaster 20 with three plugs along my around the wall layout. I'm real happy with it, even that fact that the fan noise is discernable. That makes a good reminder to shut the power off. Got it cheap from a member at the Trading Post here on The Railwire.

[Glenn Poole]

I use radio control throttles by Crest called "Train Engineer".  They are kinda pricey, but work very well and you don't have to plug the throttle in.  The "Receiver" is inserted between the transformer and the track, and I set my transformer at full throttle.

Your dealer can get it at Walthers part number 227-55470.

[Walkercolt]

MRC still shows their hand-held throttle as available, but it doesn't set any standards for performance. I guess there may be 3-4 dozen easy to build hand-held throttle designs out-there on various model train electronics sites, and another dozen more advanced ones, and a half dozen super-advanced DC throttle designs out there. I have one I built years ago from a MR article that can put 256 speed step DCC control to shame at crawling speeds, but the "IC brain" is no longer made. Google "model trains electronics, throttles" and you'll get 10,000 or more hits. There was one site where the guy had a handheld throttle you could add more and more "features" to. Cheap, easy to find parts and you could add a "memory" feature to it, so you could unplug it, and the train would keep running(for several hours if you want).

[harrym]

3rdRail: My LHS has a ControlMaster 20 [or did have last time I was there].  I never really checked it out.  How long is the cord?  Is the fan in the base unit for cooling?  What functions are on the handheld unit?  What is involved in wiring up other remote plug-ins?  Thanks for any information.

[wm3798]

A thousand years ago I had a home brew "throttle" that I used for yard switching only.  Basically I set the power pack (an old Troller) at a low speed setting, and ran two wires to a phone jack.  The hand held was a Radio Shack project box with a DPDT on it for changing directions, and a SPST for an on/off.  The low speed setting allowed me to shunt cars back and forth without worrying much about speed control, and the on/off switch allowed me to stop and start at will.  Definitely not a main line throttle!


My A/D track, along the back was a separate block, so I'd bring the train in on the main line throttle, then throw the switch to break the train down into the class tracks using my Polish throttle.  A simple low-tech solution easily grasped by a simple, low tech brain.

Lee

[Mark5]

I still have my walk around throttle from Cama that I bought in the mid 70s for the last layout I had while I had use of my parents' basement.

These days on the web you can find DIY throttles as well as stuff like this:

http://www3.sympatico.ca/kstapleton3/851.HTM

[3rdrail]

3rdRail: My LHS has a ControlMaster 20 [or did have last time I was there].  I never really checked it out.  How long is the cord?  Is the fan in the base unit for cooling?  What functions are on the handheld unit?  What is involved in wiring up other remote plug-ins?  Thanks for any information.

I have not measured the cord, but expect it is 6 to ten feet extended. It is a six wire telephone cord. Yes the fan is in the base unit for cooling. The handheld unit has a throttle knob, direction switch, momentum switch, and brake switch.  The train continues to move when the handheld is moved to the next plug in point. It uses a standard six wire telephone receptacle, BUT the wires need to be reversed (flipped left to right).

Here's a cheap throttle hanging idea.:

[DKS]

I created a "hang 'em anywhere" system for my throttles (as well as test meters and similar devices). I ran a strip of the "fuzzy-side" of Velcro all the way around the fascia. Then I applied pieces of the "hooky-side" to the backs of my throttles/test meter/whatever.

[Glenn Poole]

I created a "hang 'em anywhere" system for my throttles (as well as test meters and similar devices). I ran a strip of the "fuzzy-side" of Velcro all the way around the fascia. Then I applied pieces of the "hooky-side" to the backs of my throttles/test meter/whatever.

Cool Idea!

[Walkercolt]

Someone mentioned the Crest/Arstiocraft Wireless Throttles. Our N-TRAK club uses them at shows, and they have their own set of querks. The have very long "momentum" curve(which is adjustable) and they tend to "over-shoot" the speed you'd like and you have to slow them back down. I have two of the "Catnip" IR throttles from Australia from years back, and they're very good, except they are almost "straight-line-of-sight" operation. There are optical ways to help this, and I have, but you still have to point the remote at the control box from any distance. On some home layouts, the Catnips would be great; on others, they'd be nearly useless. Try the Crest/Arstiocraft before commiting. You might not want to live with the way they work. You are a bit "disconnected" feeling with them, but they aren't bad units. I passed over this on the B-mann steam thread, but many older "cranky-wanky" N-scale DC engines run quite decently on DCC sytems at address "00". They buzz and so-on, but I left an old MRC engine on the DCC line stopped for about 3 hours at the shop, and the motor was only warm to my lip, so I don't believe it'll hurt 'em. And if it does, do you really care? Now remember, the "old" stuff I usually pay a buck for, if I like the paint job.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I know for a long time the Aristo wireless throttles were all the rage for large NTRAK layouts (I'd say between 1996 and 2000ish), before everyone just went with wireless Digitrax stuff.

They weren't great for switching, but for being able to walk around with a mainline train, they did just fine.