ERR DC Commander for an Atlas Turntable

Cool idea!  I imagine this could be done with other turntables and even transfer tables, as well. 

Andy

Cool idea, and an innovative use of the technology.   Makes it easy to automate something.

You could probably do the same thing with one of the Mini-Commander models, depending on how much current the motor draws.  The DC Commander has a pretty hefty output, so it should handle most any motor.

That IS a cool idea.  And very timely.  I have a Millhouse turntable due to land here any day now.  I was thinking of trying to use an AMC controller to give me handheld control.  Your idea makes a lot more sense.  The Millhouse instructions say to use  a 12VDC transformer to power motor-do not hook up AC power or use a DC converter.  What are using for power?  Can you shed any light on your hookups.  I have the ERR DC Commander instructions, but it's a little fuzzy right now.  How does it get the serial data?  Thanks for sharing. 

You connect it to the track voltage just like any other TMCC device, then add an antenna to the antenna terminal.  The motor leads go to your motor, and you'll need a switch to program it's engine ID. 

There is no such thing as a DC transformer, so those instructions a bogus!  A transformer by definition is an AC device!  You need true DC +/- to drive the motor obviously, and the DC Commander will give that to you.

As a bonus, you can wire lights to the forward/back outputs to indicate the direction of travel.  If you really want to get fancy, you can also use the smoke output to turn something else on/off, say a strobe light?  One of the options is to program that output for a strobe.

IF you wired LED's for work lights on the overhead gantry you can use the Cab1/2 to turn them on and off and have a strobe light too.
You have speed control and indexing will be a snap.
Now if you really want a no touch set up put a tortoise switch machine on each roundhouse door to open and close it.

Neat idea.

David

Just make sure to add resistors and diodes, the lamp outputs will eat LED's.

David

I know the Millhouse TT has a light that turns on when the cab rotates.  I may find some other creative use for the other outputs.  The 2 lights for a direction indicator isn't a bad idea... This looks irresistible.

grj-what do you mean it uses track power like any other TMCC device?  Power from the rails?-all my TMCC devices are powered from an accessory transformer.  I noticed that in the directions from ERR and I think that is my major question.

Edit-I think I know.  These TMCC devices are used in an engine and are powered by the track.  So I don't need a DC transformer-is that correct?

What about using the gantry crane ERR device?  That swivels the crane with the red knob.  I'm going to check out that scenario as well.   

While your TMCC devices are powered from an accessory transformer, they have the common tied to the rail common, or they wouldn't work.

No "DC transformer" required, all you need is the DC Commander and some wiring. 

The gantry crane application is one of the Mini-Commander models.  You could use it if the motor doesn't require more current than it puts out.  I'm guessing it would probably work.  That would use plain accessory power as well, the DC is generated on the board for the motors.

I like the DC commander as it has more capacity and it also has the extra outputs that you could program for direction lights and strobes.

grj-I agree with you.  The crane commander is designed to run 2 motors, which I don't have, and it's more expensive.  Makes sense to use the DC commander for those reasons and your's as well.  I'm going to try to make this happen.  I need to sell this idea first.

Given the price and capability, I'd do the DC Commander as well.  AAMMF, drop me an email and I'll make you a good deal on one, I have a used one that I am not going to use, I'm going with a Cruise Commander.

I don't know what AAMMF means, but I certainly will if this is a go, which is most likely.  The cost and convenience outweigh buying and rigging up a seperate DC transformer.  Thanks. 

FWIW I just tapped AC power from the nearest track feed.  In this case it was the track feed for the turntable bridge.  Just let the DC commander do the rest.  My flashing LEDs indicate table direction.  If they ever get annoying when I'm not using the TT, a simple press of the AUX 2 shuts off the headlights (here it would be the flashing LEDs)  I installed them on the top of a LIFE LIKE electrical cabinet that I got in a blister pack a while ago.

AF

I like it!  Your timing is impeccable.  

As A Matter Of Fact.   I just slipped a digit, it was supposed to be AAMOF.

I sent a couple of emails to Ken@ERR with questions about how the ACC commander might work with the Atlas O Turntable.  Dead silence.  If this the type of pre-sale support they give I can only imagine their post sale support. 

This looks like a great idea. Too bad the company isn't up to it.

Disappointed.

Ralph

Interesting.  I've always experienced a good turnaround with ERR.  I've used errsupport@lionel.com for any inquiries.

Good luck

AF

That's unusual Ralph.  I'm somewhat of a PITA to them at times, but they've always answered my queries.

Exactly what questions do you have?  We may be able to answer them here, I've got about 20 ERR installations of various types under my belt, I've learned quite a bit about the product line.

  You would think a company like ERR would work 24/7, but even they need a vacation. He will probably answer your email next week when he returns.

Bill

I'm giving this a go with a Millhouse turntable.   I don't understand the query to ERR.  The purpose of this thread was to show it can be done.  And has been done successfully.  All my questions were answered.  Why not just do it?  You can get the DC Commander board from Boxcar Bill for $ 50.  If he answers your emails.... Love you Bill, couldn't resist.  Cheers   

  $60.00 not $50.00, $60.00

Bill

I was going to ask why the AC Commander, I thought it was a DC motor as well.   Just think, you could use the Cruise Commander and have a constant speed wheel!

To be honest, the Title of the thread is:

 ERR DC Commander for an Atlas turntable 

I may have hijacked the original intent, and for that I apologize.

It is tough when answers are hard to come by.  I can dig that. 

I'm still don't understand the rant, if you email MTH about parts, you hardly ever get an answer.  Why don't we complain about that?

I'm sure they'll get back to you, and I certainly recommend their product.  Besides, for TMCC add-ons, it's currently the only game in town.

FWIW, I used the DC commander because I had one on the shelf for another project.  It's been working fine so far.

AF

Just thought I'd let you know that I just got a Millhouse TT hooked up with a DC Commander and it works like a charm.  Thanks Artie Frank.  The timing of your post was impeccable. I Like It!

Hi David

Appreciate your perspective. I'm thinking thru what I want to do and after a little more analysis I'll give them a call.  I do prefer the human touch via the phone calls. Sometimes the questions and thoughts go out as emails to vendors during my night-owl period at 3AM. 

This is too good an idea to let go by, even if it comes to an outright purchase with questions to the forum guru's like yourself and gunrunner.

I like to call it 'el momente de la verdad'

or- the moment of truth

that is the moment when a bullfighter has to stick the sword into the bull's heart or he will be gored and lose the fight-  sometimes you've just got to go for it and know in the end you'll be a winner

if you research the ERR website you can download & print all the manuals.  they are a big help in figuring this stuff out. 

William, 

Doing just that. I'm about half way thru things now.

I am a Caveat Emptor person myself with a touch of devil may care.

ralph

Hey John's the Guru. I'm more like a last resort.
I think these are nothing short of a fantastic idea. The one for the gantry crane is also full of possibility's. If you run a wire down 2 of the legs of your gantry crane and put a wiper at the wheels so it will rub the rail you can power those rails and have no wires attached to your crane

If you use the all thread rod to move the crane up and down the rails It'd be fully animated and no wires.

David

William1,

I know the Atlas TT indexes through a gear arrangement but (I'm not familiar with this Millhouse you speak of) I'll bet the DC commander sure makes it easy to line up your tracks.

AF

Next: an AC commander to a what would be a basket case BUDD PW 404 RDC

With a manual, a little help from your OGR forumite friends, and a couple of skinny wires, good things can happen.  Installing this pig tomorrow. I wish me luck.

I'm diving in to a full TMCC conversion on a Wabash FT next.  I have a little bit of a clue what to expect, but not much really.  I'll figure it out.  Onward towards the fog... 

The ERR stuff is pretty easy to install.  The basic installation is dirt simple.

A few things that always consume the most installation time for me in order of time.

• Custom lighting (you can spend hours on this one!)
• Mounting the tether if one is necessary, this sometimes requires surgery on one or both parts. (easier if you have one already and just need to expand)
• Mounting the chuff switch.

Another area that I can see taking time is getting a fan driven smoke unit synchronized with the chuff switch.  I'm going to attempt that with my RailKing SP GS-4 conversion.

So I guess they kicked you off of L.I.--When will you be booted out of W.V.??? What was that you said? ASAP ?

Neil

P.S. Looks like you got a winner this time!

I'm looking to do the same exact thing with the 34" Millhouse River TT. So all I need is the DC Commander?

Connect AC power to the DC Commander, it outputs DC power to the TT motor, and I have TMCC control over the bridge movement??

Sounds to easy to be true lol

Sometimes things are really just that easy.

Yes, both projects were really easy and turned out great.