Power, Sound, R/C
:
Remote Control
The Revolution in a Bachmann 4-6-0
Jul 8, 2009
By Ray Turner |
Author
Bio
In the past I have installed multiple Aristocraft Train Engineer and Locolinc radio control units (and several others in the early 90's who are no longer in business). I have eagerly looked forward to the new Aristocraft Revolution since hearing rumors about its development a year ago - and more recently reading Dave Bodnar's hands-on review.
|
In the past I have installed multiple Aristocraft Train Engineer and Locolinc radio control units (and several others in the early 90's who are no longer in business). I have eagerly looked forward to the new Aristocraft Revolution since hearing rumors about its development a year ago - and more recently reading Dave Bodnar's hands-on review. When it finally arrived on my doorstep, I quickly went to work. I decided to install it in place of a Locolinc system in one of my Bachmann 10-wheeler tenders. I already had a trailing battery car as well as batteries and a SoundTraxx Sierra unit mounted in the tender. And the engine's motor leads were already disconnected and routed back to the tender. So this wasn't a from-scratch installation.  The top of the tender is held on with four screws underneath the trucks. The Revolution fit in the same space as the Locolinc receiver, next to the SoundTraxx card. Using scraps of plastic I-beam and angle bracket, I made a mounting for it that allows removal but holds it securely when all closed up.
I could have installed the included linking push button in the tender floor, but I can reach the button on the Revolution easily enough, and linking is something you rarely have to do again, so I decided not to install the extra push button. The Revolution package comes with a card into which the Revolution plugs, and which has pigtail leads to connect it to the battery, motor, and headlights. I connected these except for the front headlight. Rather than run two more wires between engine and tender and make more changes to the engine wiring, I just left he engine headlight connected across the motor as it come from the factory. I took the opportunity to add my low battery warning lights (see separate article on LSOL) while I had the tender open. The interface between Locolinc and SoundTraxx required either an opto-isolator or logic IC. The Revolution auxiliary outputs can drive the SoundTraxx unit directly. After removing the interface board I had built before, I just directly connected the wires from the auxiliary connector that come with the Revolution to the inputs on the SoundTraxx unit. I didn't even have to re-program the SoundTraxx unit. Revolution buttons 1-4 now control whistle, bell (on/off), blowdown (on/off), and coupler clank.
The photos show the placement of components on the tender floor. You can also see how the top of the tender has been modified slightly to accept two 7.2 Volt batteries of the type used for racing model cars. These are hidden below the coal load. Bachmann used the water hatch on the back of the tender to hold a 9 Volt battery for their sound system. I used this hatch to hold two connectors for charging these batteries. 
A complete schematic (PDF) can be seen here.
By way of explanation, I have a 19.2 Volt battery set in a trailing refer, a 14.4 Volt battery set in the tender, and track power pickups as well (track powered with constant 22 Volts). The train is radio controlled running on track power as long as the track isn't dirty. When track power drops out, the 19.2 Volt batteries instantly take over. When they reach the end of their charge, the 14.4 Volt batteries take over. This gives me the best of both worlds. With clean track I can run all day for open houses. But I can also run on a moment's notice when guests drop in without worrying about track contact.
| Sierra max battery voltage |
| Hi Ray looks like a great install. My experience with the Sierra sound is to limit the battery input voltage to 12v. The board can only handle 18 maximum thru the track inputs. It will fail at that high voltage. First the sound will cut off and eventually stop. Don Sweet |
| Don Sweet - 07/08/2009 - 05:01 |
| Revolution in 4/6/0 |
| I have 4/6/0 Anniversery D&RG, Since you have installed lots of systems and I am new at this where would you suggest installing equipment, I have Revolution and getting Phonex Sound Card to replace one that came with Engine Jim |
| James Cerqui - 07/08/2009 - 07:49 |
| Sound with TE 75mhz with out Acc card |
| I have 2 TE 75 mhz installed in a Aristo pacific and a Bachmann 040t with caboose. I want to add sound to both of these locomotives and the TE accessory card is no longer available. What do i do now. Thanks |
| Barry Harris - 07/08/2009 - 20:48 |
| Revolution Instal In 4-6-0 |
| Jim, Ray's article covers the 4-6-0 installation. See the picture on page three for placement of components in the tender. Barry, You might call around to Aristo dealers to see if any of them have the accessory card. If not try e-bay. Chances are now that the Revolution is available there will be 75Mhz systems for sale. Or put a request for what you need in the LSOL For Sale/Wanted forum. |
| JD Miller - 07/09/2009 - 21:59 |
| Sound card interface |
| Barry, I could show you a circuit to interface a TE to a SoundTraxx Sierra with out without an accessory card -- but the Sierra isn't available anymore. I don't have experience with any other sound cards. However, the general principle is to drive an opto isolator or relay with the TE accessory output and use it to control the sound card. |
| Ray Turner - 07/09/2009 - 22:07 |
Top of Page
|
