ogaugeguy posted:It's fabulous Scott Mann has stepped in to fill the void for ERR products. However, since Scott Mann wants and needs us to buy those products as soon as he makes them available and considering ERR's Kenn will no longer be available to answer questions or give phone advice on which ERR components would be best-suited size-wise, current-wise, etc. for a particular locomotive, (eg., Mini Commander II or Commander M, Cruise-Lite or Cruise Commander, etc.), how will a novice like myself who'd like to attempt a self upgrade know which board(s) to purchase for their various locomotives? While in no way intending to diss Scott or his staff but who will fill that void of knowledge and expertise left by Kenn's retirement and correctly answer our questions and give sage advice on which ERR products would be best for any particular installation? I'm aware some will say contact GRJ, Alex M., etc. , but it's unfair asking and expecting gratus help and assistance from them when they have they own installation/repair businesses to run and manage. (In essencence that's like asking them to help eliminate potential installation jobs they might otherwise be paid to do.) So, who, other than ERR's Kenn will willingly be able and capable to knowledgeably advise us newbie novices on which ERR products will be best for our various needs and requirements?
I expect someone on staff will be able to assist with basic questions if needed. I think there was mention above of training staff and such before new product is available for sale.
That said, I don't think it's an unreasonable position to take that someone that does not have the day one, basic level of electrical knowledge to figure out how much current the new electronics will have to handle should probably hire someone else to do the install. The same goes for someone incapable of determining if a board will physically fit when given the dimensions of said board.
It would probably be helpful if there were some source of information providing the specs of various products and their typical uses... you know, like the ERR website, or most likely the website Scott has already mentioned is being made.
These are all simple devices, from the installation perspective, but if you're not capable of figuring it out, or learning the skills needed to figure out what you need, it would be best to leave it to a pro. To be clear, I'm not saying all installs should be done by pros, and I quite encourage people to learn to do it them selves, but I can't hold a parts supplier responsible for teaching basic electrical theory, or geometry.
JGL
