RCS - BELTROL R/C into an AristoCraft Lil Critter..............

[Tony Walsham]

..........on track power. With battery back up of course.
Today I finished installing an RCS - BELTROL ECL-3r into an AC Lil Critter.
This is the first track powered conversion I have done using the new ECL-3r.
The job came about because the loco was too small to install a REVOLUTION and the necessary extra parts for powering from constant track voltage.
https://www.rcs-rc.com/store/image/ESC-ECLIPSE/ECL-3r-HK.jpg < Link To

These are normally designed for battery power only.
Even though I don't like doing it I accepted the commission just to prove to those Doubting Thomases track power can be done.
For track power I simply added a bridge rectifier, a suitable cap and Polyswitch fuse.
There are only four (not very new) wheels are available for track voltage pick up. So, to be on the safe side I added a diode and rear mounted connector into the circuit so that an automatic battery back up could be plugged in.

The cap can be seen mounted just in front of the motor driver part.
I removed the stock pcb and rewired the track pick ups and motor leads .
The track pick ups were fed through the existing motor ON - OFF switch so that the system can snap on when track voltage is applied. Then into the bridge rectifier and thus to the ESC pcb.
The ESC output was fed directly to the motor block.
I mounted the Decoder part and plug in Hobby King RX under the top of the hood.
I re-wired the cab and number board lights to the + & - supply.
The front and rear head light were wired to the ECL-3r lighting outputs.

http://www.beltrol-rc.com/Pics/Installations/Lil-Critter/02-RX-in-hood.jpg < Link To

I am sorry the pic is out of focus. I would normally simply take it again but I had buttoned up the loco before I downloaded the pics from my camera.
I think it gives the general idea of how simple the installation is.
There is a 4 x way cable between the decoder and ESC parts.

http://www.beltrol-rc.com/Pics/Installations/Lil-Critter/03-RTR.jpg < Link To

All buttoned up and raring to go.
As usual I am impressed by how nicely the two axle AC motor blocks perform.
This little sucker is smooth.
My test track is perfectly clean as are the wheels. So pick up is great. For now anyway.
It remains to be seen how long the pick stays good. Hence a connector out the back for a back up battery if needed.
The change over is automatic.

 

[spike]

Neat job Tony

 

[gregh]

Sorry Tony I just don't understand what you've done.

So the track voltage feeds the RC - does the track voltage vary? If so doesn't that vary the speed? Or is the owner using a constant voltage on the rails a bit like DCC?

 

[Tony Walsham]

Greg.
The last two lines of text before the first pic says that it is using a constant track voltage as the power source.

The ECL-3r ESC does not require a huge amount of capacitance as an energy storage. Just enough to make sure the supply is nice and clean.
Because the loco only has four wheel pick ups I added a battery back facility in case of poor pick up.

 

[gregh]

the loco was too small to install a REVOLUTION and the necessary extra parts for powering from constant track voltage.

Sorry Tony. I read (past tense) that it was too small for the extra parts for powering from constant track voltage. That's why I couldn't get it.

Clear now.
Does you customer have other locos powered from constant track voltage? ie is this his 'standard' arrangement?
From the pics it looks like there might be room for a small LiPo battery in there as well. Those motor blocks run with 7V OK.

 

[Tony Walsham]

1. Yes he does have all his locos track powered with on board REVOLUTION ESC's fitted. This thing was simply too small to fit everything required for a REVOLUTION installation. The REVOLUTION is not exactly small when all the necessary extras are added to it.

2. Yes there would be room for a small Li-Ion battery battry only operation. Plus the R/C RX, ESC and probably a sound system as well.

As an aside, I have managed to fit all that under the hood of an LGB # 50 D&RGW two axle diesel. Although the RX and decoder part have to sit on the floor of the # 50 cab.