Conversion to radio control

F

Fairlie

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Because of knee problems (I am in my eighties), I can no longer get down clean the track on my railway, so it has remained unused for several years. I would like to convert at least one loco to radio control so I can run a train again. The likeliest candidate is my Bachmann "Lyn". My idea is to house a battery and the radio gear in a coach. I imagine this has been done, but I need advice, and suggestions as to what to buy. There is a fairly sharp gradient, so I imagine I would need something giving close to full voltage (presumably 18-20v.)
HELP!
 
For me, the solution was to use components made by G Scale Graphics. Rather than go into more detail on my own, I'll let his website give you all of the information. By the way, Del Tapparo is second to none when it comes to technical support.

G-Scale Graphics
 
I'm using RC Trains components for my rewiring. I doubt Phil will toot his own horn, as it were, so Ill do it for him. My first set of parts from him should be here tomorrow and Im very excited to get my Forney wired up!
 
I had my Bachmann Lyn converted to battery and r/c. It was done here in the US and we used AirWire which isn’t available in the UK, however I think the principal is the same. The loco was already DCC and sound using a Zimo decoder, so the AirWire was able to use this. The battery fits nicely in the cab, allowing driver/fireman figures to remain, although cut off at the waist!

It didn’t require a following truck for the battery, everything fits nicely in the loco.
 
Teresa so an example of how to do this on the Internet, just type in Bachmann Lynn radio control, unfortunately it looks quite complicated though
 
BakerJohn said:
I'm using RC Trains components for my rewiring. I doubt Phil will toot his own horn, as it were, so Ill do it for him. My first set of parts from him should be here tomorrow and Im very excited to get my Forney wired up!
Click to expand...
Yep, this is my plan too. Super straightforward and fewer components. I’ll just bypass the dcc board altogether.
 
Fairlie said:
Because of knee problems (I am in my eighties), I can no longer get down clean the track on my railway, so it has remained unused for several years. I would like to convert at least one loco to radio control so I can run a train again. The likeliest candidate is my Bachmann "Lyn". My idea is to house a battery and the radio gear in a coach. I imagine this has been done, but I need advice, and suggestions as to what to buy. There is a fairly sharp gradient, so I imagine I would need something giving close to full voltage (presumably 18-20v.)
HELP!
Click to expand...
Look at some of my threads on the Battery Power.

My smallst have been an LGB 0-4-0 and a Essell Steam Tram both with Fosworks Gear and all on board the Locomotive. Battery Coaches are ok if you want to convert just more than 1 Loco. Full power not essential, most will run quite happily on 12 Volts at the Battery source.

I find the best thing to do is work out what sort of Battery you will be able to fit in, tape up 8-10 AA cells the fit them in the body to see if it works for fit. Do not forget that you can have made up sets of 4-5 in two groups to fit linked. Mail a Picture to Steve then chat about what else you will need. Very helpful guy. Costs depending in what you need with perhaps a Smart Charger as well will bea lot more than £100.

Fosworks Product List
 
If you can put the weight (batteries) in the loco, then do so.. - Aids traction.

Are we talking an older 'Lyn', or one of the newer models? - It will make a great difference to how easy the conversion will be.
 
Greg Elmassian said:
Somewhat tangential, but the Fosworks transmitters seem to have 6 functions max, but on the site he references DCC functions 1-12 or 12 total, not sure which.

Is there a shift button somewhere on the transmitter to go above 6 functions?

Greg
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Greg I think you may be a little confused. Not sure where you get the 12 functions from?
EDIT appologies Greg, have just read Steve’s comments on another thread, looks like he may have updated the Handset as I intimated below.. Have asked him to clarify, things move fast in the world of Battery Power! End of EDIT.

Fosworks DCC currently has access to 6 functions via 3 buttons on Top of the DCC Handset (Omni 4) and a Shift Button at the side. This may change in the future but not sure. Omni 4 with 6 functions is the setup that I reviewed.

For ordinary non DCC Radio (Omni 2 or 3) setup using say a My Loco Sound Card the 3 buttons only can control a selection of the varying sound options. Hope that makes things clear.

On both types of Handset the Re Button Top Right is the Power On/Off button.
 
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I've just taken the body off my "Lyn" (straightforward track-powered, no DCC) with a view to seeing what's involved in a conversion to radio, and there is an electronics card mounted on top of the motor block. What does this do?
 
A picture would help..
Is it one of these?

DSC01793.JPG
A little bit of electronics for regulating supply for lights etc.
Red's and Black's are track pickup.
Orange and Grey are motor.
Violet and Black, Blue and Black are to do with a speaker. - Which may well already be fitted. :)

The two multi-way connectors go to the switches in the smokebox.
 
Fairlie said:
Yes, that's it exactly.
Thank you.
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Just double-check my (from memory) naming of the purple/black and blue/black leads with what is in the paperwork.. - That is, if you intend to use those connections.
PhilP.
 
I haven't a clue where the paperwork is, but it's OK, I shall just disconnect all the track pick-up wires (red & black), and connect in the power feed from the receiver there, leaving everything else as it is. I imagine that would be OK?
 
Fairlie said:
I haven't a clue where the paperwork is, but it's OK, I shall just disconnect all the track pick-up wires (red & black), and connect in the power feed from the receiver there, leaving everything else as it is. I imagine that would be OK?
Click to expand...

Yep, that should work..
Obviously, the pickup connections are all 'commoned' on the board, so you only need to connect-in once..
 
All my locos are RC by means of Deltang receivers and a transmitter that works with all the locos. Very effective. All items purchased from RC Trains. Battery power is provided by Lithium Polymer (LiPo) batteries and associated smart charger. The receivers can control lights and trigger a sound card.
I hope this helps.
 
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