Motor Controllers for 1" 24V locos

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kcameron
Posts: 266
Joined: Wed Aug 17, 2011 4:23 pm
Location: Syracuse New York

Motor Controllers for 1" 24V locos

Post by kcameron »

Two of the names I've worked with are the 4QD and Syren boards. The 4QD was easy to adjust for smooth starts and stops. The Syren, not so easy to get the right settings plus that loco was 'center stop' for the throttle. That last feature made it unfriendly for new folk as it tended to take a problem going forward and turn it into a bigger problem going reverse quickly. The Syren also is hard to get a reasonable dead band for stop in the middle of travel. I've got a big flat spot in the curve but it still wants to creep easily. It was difficult to get a easy starting and stopping out of it, the knob always feels too sensitive to me.

Key desire is a controller that will consist easily. The docs from 4QD point to wanting to parallel the batteries between all the locos. Easy if you were running multiple motors in one unit, not so easy for simple MU operation from time to time. Ideal would be something as easy as the old circuits in the RS3 from Railroad Supply.

But goal of something modern with dynamic braking is another need. Easy integration with sound would be another. Those old sound units are really just noise makers. The last is something easy to add a radio control. In 1" operations most of your car capacity is taken by the weight of the brakeman/conductor. A good remote would make one man switching more practical, but I'd still rather have the 2nd person most of the time.

I'm looking for ideas and comments. What is out there and available on the market? I'm looking at replacing controls in 2 RS units and a F unit if I can find a solution I'm comfortable with. These Railroad Supply units are getting 20-30 years old and one is already dead, another is acting up, and while the circuits are simple enough, you can't get at the boards when it is working in the unit.
-ken cameron
Syracuse Model Railroad Club http://www.SyracuseModelRr.org/
CNY Modelers http://www.cnymod.com/
Finger Lakes Live Steamers http://www.fingerlakeslivesteamers.org/
Member JMRI Developer Team http://www.jmri.org/
mailto: kcameron@twcny.rr.com
In the Upstate New York US area of the world
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SPSteam2491
Posts: 271
Joined: Tue Feb 21, 2017 2:30 pm
Location: Mukwonago, WI

Re: Motor Controllers for 1" 24V locos

Post by SPSteam2491 »

The SyRen controller (at least the SyRen50 version) has multiple options for throttle settings. I agree a center stop throttle is difficult to operate but they have an option for a more standard FWD/REV selector switch and then the throttle knob working as standard. See the picture below from the User Guide.
Syren Option 3.png
The SyRen controllers are also easy to parallel and all that is needed is 4 wires (if you are going with option 3 for the throttle settings) and they also have an option for radio control. I don't know how well they would work with sound systems but I think other members have done that with a SyRen. I plan on using the SyRen50 for my GE 23 Tonner project while using option 3 for the throttle settings. Maybe down the road I will radio control it but for now, I just needs something that runs.
Thanks
John LaFavor
Pacific Design Shops
rrnut-2
Posts: 691
Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2011 7:40 pm
Location: Bennington, NH

Re: Motor Controllers for 1" 24V locos

Post by rrnut-2 »

The new units from RRSC. Talk to Mike about them.

Jim B
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