Re: Test message; no content

[M. Paterson]

Received
--- Kevin O'Connor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Test message
>  


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Re: Test message; no content

[SaltyChief]

<< Test message >>  

 So where are the questions??  Did I pass? 

RE: Test message; no content

[Charles W. Walters]

Message received Kevin!

Chuck Walters - President
Central New York Large Scale Railway Society
http://home.twcny.rr.com/cnylsrs
"Ten-foot modelers rule"

-Original Message-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On
Behalf Of Kevin O'Connor
Sent: Saturday, April 14, 2001 2:29 PM
To: Multiple recipients of sslivesteam
Subject: Test message; no content


Test message
 
 

Test message; no content

[Kevin O'Connor]

Test message
 

Re: RCS/PCM (Long).

[Tony]

Hello Tom and Listers.

If I might be permitted to explain why,  in some instances,  having
insulated wheels on a live steam loco assists RCS to achieve maximum
range.  It is not mandatory and other options are available.

On Sat, 14 Apr 2001 05:27:23 -0700, you wrote:
>
>Good morning, in the last week or so someone made a comment about the 
>successful use of the RCS/PCM control system, but I cannot seem to find the 
>posting. I was considering the installation of this system in my aster 
>climax but one of the requirements stated in the website is insulation of 
>the wheels, I don't think this is possible in the climax, anyone have any 
>suggestions?. Currently running with FM, but there is a lot of glitching 
>due to the zillions of metal parts all spinning and jerking everywhich way 
>on the loco, I'm thinking of training a hamster to ride in the cab and take 
>verbal commands. Tom

Radio control is at the best of times a black art.

Trying to use any form of radio control in our often low to the ground
hot and wet metal locomotives is probably the worst possible situation
in which R/C is expected to work reliably.

AM R/C is especially prone to RF interference which can be caused by a
number of factors.  Included are atmospheric,  reflection off metal
objects. flailing valve gear, metal wheels on metal rails and the
servos themselves.  This can happen despite a regular 2 ch R/C having
about 500 mw of power output.
FM radio is less susceptible and PCM R/C is the best of the lot.

However whilst FM and PCM are generally quite good they can still
misfunction when some of the above situations come together.

There available small "De-Glitching" devices that will smooth out most
of the problems associated with interference.  They can be quite slow
in their reaction times and do not permit the use of any electronic
accessories such as lights and sound triggers.

I designed the µP based RCS system to overcome the results of the RF
interference and the RCS servo driver system is guaranteed not to
"Glitch" at all.   However the interference may still there, and if it
is, will make itself evident by some operators experiencing short
range. 
As the RCS TX handpiece has only 30 mw of output it is necessary to
maximise the signal getting through by making the antenna as big as
possible. 
I have discovered one way of doing this is to install a wiper contact
that rubs on an insulated wheel so that the signal inducted into the
rail can be transferred up into the loco.
In some cases it is possible to simply connect the antenna to the
metal body itself as long as the wheels are not insulated.  The
flailing motion can still possibly cause interference.

It is necessary to experiment with individual locos to get the best
results and in the worse cases install a range booster pcb that
electrically isolates the RF receiver from the servos and µP and
transfers the incoming data by opto coupler.  This works extremely
well but does require a small 9 volt battery to power the receiver.
Current drain is very low and the 9 volt battery will last for months.
Although I originally had the antenna connected to the rails via an
insulated wiper on my Liberty Belle I now have just a simple 6" long
dummy coal rake sitting on top of the coal load in the tender.  I can
quite reliably control the 'Belle from at least 70' away.

The RCS system is not for everyone as it does not permit fast reaction
times of the regulator and valve gear servos except in an emergency
stop.  Start up and slow down are deliberately slow to simulate the
way real locos work.  An operator needs to anticipate what the loco
will do and driving on grades can be challenging although programmable
specific functions are built in to assist. 

The transmitter handpiece is quite small and now uses "Clicky Feel"
metal push buttons.  Something that many long time users of stick
control R/C do not like.

The RCS system can reliably operate valve gear and regulator.  It also
has directional lighting outputs and programmable accessory functions.
It is in effect the equivalent of an expensive 7 channel R/C.  

The system does require a smooth running steam mechanism in the first
place.  It cannot turn a sows ear into a silk purse.

I hope this is of help and please forgive for the rather long
commercial.

Best wishes,

Tony Walsham. 

Remote Control Systems.
P.O. Box 1118 Bayswater,
Vic 3153 Australia.

www.rcs-rc.com

Tel - North America: 1 800 490 6945
Tel - Elsewhere:   ++ 613 9762 7785  

Re: RCS/PCM

[David M. Cole]

At 8:54 AM -0400 4/14/01, Ferdinand wrote:
>I take it the RCS system requires powered rails - doesn't this defeat the
>purpose of Live Steaming.

actually, the rail is used as the antennae, not as the power source ...

\dmc

-- 
^^^
Dave Cole
Gen'l Sup't:  Grand Teton & Everglades Steam Excursion Co.
   Pacifica, Calif. USA  
List Mom: sslivesteam, the list of small-scale live steamers
   
Editor:   TRELLIS & TRESTLE, the newsletter of the
   Bay Area Garden Railway Society 
   
Webconductor: Pacific Coast Live Steamers 
   
^^^ 

Re: RCS/PCM

[WaltSwartz]

If you are currently using an AM or FM system with the loco, have you tried 
one of the 'de-glitchers' on the market? I've found them to work quite well 
and have the side benefit of allowing me to start a train rolling with seldom 
having the loco loose traction. By selecting the proper rate on the 
deglitcher, the servo then opens the steam valve more uniformly and the loco 
moves out very realistically.
I have not tried this with present RCS systems because of my previous 
experience with them.
Keep your steam up!
Walt & Lunk 

Re: RCS/PCM

[Charles Brumbelow]

An untried method of insulating one-piece drivers . . .

This is a variation of a method I read about years ago which one could use
to replace burned out insulation without dismantling the locomotive, FWIW.

Using an appropriate size drill bit, drill two holes on opposite sided of
the wheel at the [hypothetical] junction of the tire (tyre) and wheel
center.  Then use a jewelers saw whose blade will fit the holes you just
drilled to make two saw cuts along the junction line.  Each cut will cover
about one-fourth of the circumference of the junction line.  Be sure the
cuts are clean and free from metal filings and fill with a strong epoxy [not
metal filled].  Once the epoxy is thoroughly set, repeat the drilling/sawing
process, ending the cuts slightly into the epoxy, so that no metal is left.
Then fill these cuts with epoxy.

Quite a tedious process, especially when one is thinking of eight or twelve
wheels.  An ample stock of drill bits and jewelers saw blades should be
obtained before beginning . . .

One alternative, of course, is to disassemble the trucks, turn the wheels
for one side of the loco to remove the tires, turn replacement tires, and
reassemble everything with insulation pressed between the wheel centers and
the new tires.

Or (and this may be the best choice all things considered), since no
side/drive rods and quartering are involved in the Climax, disassemble the
wheel sets, bore out one wheel of each set, and reassemble with an
insulating material bushing at the axle/wheel interface.

Charles

- Original Message -
From: "Thomas Pekarna" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Multiple recipients of sslivesteam" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Saturday, April 14, 2001 7:27 AM
Subject: RCS/PCM


>
>
> Good morning, in the last week or so someone made a comment about the
> successful use of the RCS/PCM control system, but I cannot seem to find
the
> posting. I was considering the installation of this system in my aster
> climax but one of the requirements stated in the website is insulation of
> the wheels, I don't think this is possible in the climax, anyone have any
> suggestions?. Currently running with FM, but there is a lot of glitching
> due to the zillions of metal parts all spinning and jerking everywhich way
> on the loco, I'm thinking of training a hamster to ride in the cab and
take
> verbal commands. Tom
>
 

Re: RCS/PCM

[Ferdinand]

Hi Tom

I  think the Hamster is a great idea - here in northern Ontario
we have a ton of squirrels that seem to learn fast. The only problem I
see is they're bushy tails.
I take it the RCS system requires powered rails - doesn't this defeat the
purpose of Live Steaming.
Cheers Ferdinand.

Thomas Pekarna wrote:

> Good morning, in the last week or so someone made a comment about the
> successful use of the RCS/PCM control system, but I cannot seem to find the
> posting. I was considering the installation of this system in my aster
> climax but one of the requirements stated in the website is insulation of
> the wheels, I don't think this is possible in the climax, anyone have any
> suggestions?. Currently running with FM, but there is a lot of glitching
> due to the zillions of metal parts all spinning and jerking everywhich way
> on the loco, I'm thinking of training a hamster to ride in the cab and take
> verbal commands. Tom
>
 

RCS/PCM

[Thomas Pekarna]

Good morning, in the last week or so someone made a comment about the 
successful use of the RCS/PCM control system, but I cannot seem to find the 
posting. I was considering the installation of this system in my aster 
climax but one of the requirements stated in the website is insulation of 
the wheels, I don't think this is possible in the climax, anyone have any 
suggestions?. Currently running with FM, but there is a lot of glitching 
due to the zillions of metal parts all spinning and jerking everywhich way 
on the loco, I'm thinking of training a hamster to ride in the cab and take 
verbal commands. Tom