A tethered throttle on a CW-80 question.

Probably the easiest way is to buy an old CAB1 remote and Powermaster. You can find them used on ebay for under $50 each.

(I will probably have mine up for sale soon)

If you want to do the DIY route, you would have to completely disassemble your CW80 (not recommended).

But if you did, you could remove the throttle control lever and the potentiometer that the lever is attached to. Extend the wires from the pot to whatever length you like to make your tether. Mount the pot and lever in a small box and now you would have a walk-a-round tethered throttle for your layout. It would be throttle only with no bell or whistle control.

Flash,

I had thought of that very scenario, but it SHOULD be as easy as going to Radio Shack or equivalent and buying a rated pot and build/adapt an enclosure for same. Then install between the CW-80 and the track! But if it were that simple why has it not been done/marketed?

Rick

If it were that simple, someone would have done it and you could search the internet for how-to articles and videos.

Its just not.

The layout is described as small and point to point.  Given that description why not use a radio shack project box and toggle switch to cycle power on and off?  That switch can be placed between the CW-80 and the layout.  If the layout is only switching then you lose speed control.  I would set the loco at a fixed speed and simply use the toggle for cycling the e unit.  I do this with my small (8 feet long) 2 rail switching layout although this is DC.  The powerpack is set to provide power at a fixed rate keeping the speed slow.  A DPDT center off toggle allows me to move side to side controlling the direction.

If all you want is speed and direction control, you can use a tethered rheostat connected to the output of the CW-80.

necrails,,,

Now that is a thought I also had but put the toggle in a hand held unit. Maybe add a thermistor to slowly apply power? This method would allow two locomotives to operate at the same time...at each end of the layout!

This may be a BINGO moment!

Rick

Ricky-baby,

I was looking into this for you and how about just getting an MRC Throttlepack AC 100 and their available plug-in remote?

Their old power packs had a tethered throttle, too; in the gold case (I can't remember).

Thanks,

- Mario

I just did this same thing!

CAB1, TMCC base and Powermaster...

Thanks,

- Mario