Remote Uncoupler for Kadee / Conversion Kit for DCC control

Keystoned Ed posted:

I just found a remote control Kadee "kit" listed on eBay from an outfit in Switzerland.  The actuator is quite small and is listed for DCC HO use.  Has anyone tried this product?    I ordered a pair to test with Kadee O scale couplers.  My first install will be on the tender of a steam locomotive I'd like to use as a front end helper.  My staging tracks are hidden so having remote control uncoupling would be a big plus for dropping helpers.  

@marker also got one!  These are so cool. 

There was a fairly extensive thread somewhere about this design, it's a small servo motor with a thread that activates the coupler.  No reason I can see it wouldn't work for O-scale DCC.

CRJ - I do recall several posts using servo motors on a B&O 2-10-2  and caboose - possibly on the 3rs forum.  The posts included video and they seemed to work well.  The interesting thing to me about the Swiss kit is the miniature servo, and how it has the potential to simplify mounting and linkage.  A test will be if the servo will be string enough to pull open the Kadee's O scale  knuckle when coupled to a train.    Here is a link to instructions for the kit:  DCC Kadee uncoupler     I'll post results/lessons learned after testing on the layout. 

Dear Ed,

I installed one into the tender of my UP 9000 and control the little motor that winds up the cord with my Loksound 4L AUX function, works great! Make sure you limit the activation time to save the motor from overheating. I think I remember that you are a QSI fan, ESU decoders can be programmed that way. www.precinodels.com

The HO kit can handle an O scale coupler but it is crucial the thread moves totally free through the draft gear box. I used a little styrene shim to gain a bit of space between box and motor which I simply glued into position with CA. I also limited the coupler shank movement to prevent tension on the thread.

Thanks for the post Sarah.  Looking forward to playing around with them in several installations.  Haven't given too much thought about which decoder to use.  Several years ago my preferred sound decoder for aftermarket installation was QSI.  That no longer is the case but I still have over 20 locomotives running nicely with QSI's.  I now install a mix of Soundtraxx, TCS WOW, and ESU decoders - depending on the application.  For powering the electronic Kadee servo I will want a decoder with either time limited, or momentary (like the horn - on as long as you press the button)  function output so as not to burn out the servo.  Recommendations?? 

Ed, I really like the way you do model railroading. You always incorporate new techniques and keep going. Thanks for inspiring me.

If you have the ESU Lok programmer, you can configure the decoder‘s output sources to do all the light effects and the like. You can define a certain time to be activated after pressing the corresponding function key. There is a special setting for uncoupling that oscillates the current and as far as I understood it, that‘s meant not to harm the uncoupling device. I would guess that this is useful for European uncouplers where they use magnets. I didn‘t use that setting , just restricted the active time and it works great.

It really took me some time to get used to the program, esoecially how to combine function and sound. 

I also find it hard to get the right sound files into a project but it‘s totally worth the effort. The only thing I don‘t like so much about ESU is the lack of a brake like TCS has it. The WOW sound brake whith a steady increase of braking force per function hit is brilliant.

Does anyone know if ESU (or any other DCC decoder) offer a relatively low cost (HO?) decoder with a 150 ma output function that can be momentary or set for time limiting?  At present the locomotive I plan to use as a head end helper has a Soundtraxx TSU4400 installed that does not have a momentary or timed output.  If the cost is reasonable I'll consider retaining the Soundtraxx decoder and install a second decoder in the tender to actuate the uncoupling servo motor.  

Ed, go for a LokPilot V 4.0

That should play the trick. 

Thanks Sarah  - I've read the Lokpilot V4.0 documentation and I'm going to order one.