CC-Lite... first install success!

Aloha Ed,

Can't answer your questions, but I'd like to know how well that Beep handles at slow speeds. I do see your "I LIKE IT" comment, but how would you compare your Beep  to MTH or Odyssey slow speed running?

I installed a CC-Lite in a K-line switcher and slow speeds were terrible, very jerky.

Thanks - Alan

I had a thread on this very subject (trigger a relay with the pin #3) a week ago. Right now it appears it will work but I haven't had the time to try it. I was interested in using the relay to put the DC offset onto the track this way to trigger the trainsounds tenders. I hope to try this by the weekend.

Ron

Alan,

No jerky movement even at slow speed.  Slowest visually looks to be about the same as a MTH loco at 3 or 4 smph.

I did read a recent post that said some type motors are prone to jerky movements with CC Lite. 

Ron, 

I will have to experiment a bit... Just don't want to fry something in the process!

ed

That's what I intend to do. I have those relays and some CC lites. I intend to put one in a locomotive and hook up the relay and try it. I doubt you (or me) will fry anything as long as we hook it up right. If the relay fires then all you have to do is hook the power and output device to the relay contacts and it should work. The relays on these boards are independent of the trigger circuits.

Ron 

FWIW, the CC-Lite commons are connected directly to the frame ground.  The issue with the lights is probably the part of the frame was not properly grounded.  If you measure continuity from the frame power connection to the commons on the I/O connection side, you'll find the two commons are directly connected to the frame ground connection.

The correct feature code for the diesel with a strobe is usually 5, one would assume you are using RailSounds and not SignalSounds.  Even with no sound board I always use 5, I've never used any of the signal sounds settings.

The blinking is done by the R4LC for strobe settings.

Yes, the 5V logic output can trigger one of the aforementioned boards if desired.

My BEEP conversion with the CC-Lite runs like a top at low speeds. 

The reason the K-Line probably didn't is the same reason that the RMT RDC I tried with the CC-Lite didn't work, it has a motor type that doesn't work with any back-EMF cruise.  Many of the K-Line products have the same motor style.  If you slowly rotate the motor by hand and feel strong "detent" positions, that one will not run smoothly with cruise at low speeds.

Thanks guys.  Of course John, I had the light ungrounded!  The bracket it is mounted on is grounded but neither of the wires goes to it... duh!

The finished product

The motion is very smooth and slow (cell phone video may make it look slightly pulsed), the sound is a bit choppy, but I'm guessing that's the sound of the motors being pulsed by PWM from the CC Lite board.  With a bunch of trains running, it won't be noticed at all.

Ed

Nice. We should try using a Bang. Can that be done?

There is no sound board, right?  That's an interesting sound, with the audio off on mine, you hear something similar, but it's a very low volume.

Here's a brief test of mine without the sound and then masked by the sound.  It seems yours makes a louder grinding sound, mine is barely audible.

The BANG would be easy, if I can fit the CC-Lite and a sound board into a BEEP, it can certainly fit into the BANG.

One issue with the BANG that I haven't checked, if it has the wrong type motors in the trucks, it may not work well with cruise control.  I know the RMT RDC doesn't function at all well with a Cruise Commander Lite.

Thank you

John,

It's not so much a grinding sound as a mechanical chatter that I figured is in sync with the pulses from the board.

The Bang does have a different motor setup than the Beep.  When you push a Bang along the track, it rolls freely and the light on top lights.  The motor is working like a generator and provides power to the light.

Ed

Any permanent magnet DC motor will generate power if you spin it, it's how the lights are connected that decides if you'll get that effect.  I'm concerned that the truck mounted motors in the BANG are like the truck mounted motors in the RDC, that may make cruise in that one a moot point.  The RDC was like a galloping goose when I tried the CC-Lite in it, it was unusable unless you get it running at a very fast clip.

The PWM from the board would be at a much higher frequency I would expect.

Yes, the motor-as-a-generator thing is what's happening, but on a Beep you can't push it along the track like a Bang.  Leads me to believe that the way the motor meets the wheels is different.  Wondering if an RDC works like a Bang (push-wise)...time to experiment!

Time to lube up the Beep!

Don, we'll have to crack open a Bang and see what's what!

The RDC and the BANG have similar motor designs, and you are correct, they don't use a worm gear like the BEEP.  They use the K-Line design truck embedded motor, I think some of the molds still even say K-Line on them.

I dug out my BANG that has the MiniCommander 2 in it, and it's not a candidate for cruise as it does indeed have the same motors as the RDT and would suffer horrible low speed control.

PS: The trucks say K-Line K-2100-2 on them, obviously the K-Line molds still in use.

Thanks for posting this, I have seen the name of the Beep posted but never knew what it was, nice little engine. We don't know these in S.

Ray