SYSTEM OVERVIEW.
THE WORLD’S SMALLEST RADIO CONTROLLER FOR ON BOARD BATTERY POWER.
TWO ELECTRONIC SPEED CONTROLLER (ESC) SYSTEMS AVAILABLE.
BASIC SERIES LOW COST ON BOARD BATTERY R/C.
ELITE SERIES WHICH INCLUDES P’n’P ESC’s FOR ARISTOCRAFT® & BACHMANN® LOCOS FITTED WITH A P’n’P SOCKET.
SAVE MONEY OVER TRACK POWER. USE ANY LOW COST RAIL. NO SPECIAL TRACK JOINERS.
NO COMPLICATED WIRING, SIMPLIFY Y’s & REVERSE LOOPS, NEVER CLEAN RAIL AGAIN.
FEATURING OUR LONG RANGE FM/PCM “TX-24” HANDPIECE.
l MICRO PROCESSOR CONTROLLED ESC. Small enough for some “H0”, many “0” & most “LS” locos.
l SUB-MINIATURE METAL CASED RF RECEIVER. Mount away from other electronics and magnetic fields.
l SMOOTH 18 Khz DC OUTPUT. SAFE FOR CAN & CORELESS MOTORS. MOTOR SUPPRESSION SUPPLIED.
l MEMORY MOMENTUM OPERATION. SET THE SPEED & “CRUISE” UNTIL A NEW COMMAND IS SENT.
l OVER TEMP & OVERLOAD PROTECTION. Fan cooling may be needed when operating at higher voltages.
l EASY SCREW TERMINALS FOR POWER IN, MOTOR OUT. SIMPLE MODS TO LOCOS ARE NEEDED.
l 4 x ONE TOUCH RUN FUNCTIONS. SPEED UP & SLOW DOWN IN EITHER DIRECTION + EMERGENCY STOP.
l 3 x MANUAL SOUND SYSTEM FUNCTION TRIGGERS.
l NO COMPLICATED PROGRAMMING TO GET RUNNING. EASY TO ADJUST ACCEL & BRAKING RATES
l GUARANTEED “GLITCH FREE”. A BUILT IN SOFTWARE LOCKOUT PREVENTS ACCIDENTAL REVERSING.
l GREAT FOR CHILDREN. PROGRAM MAXIMUM SPEED OF LOCOS TO HELP PREVENT CRASHES.
l RCS PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOOLPROOF RELIABLE INSTALLATIONS.
l FAST AIRMAIL SHIPPING WORLDWIDE or SEE YOUR LOCAL DEALER.
l CONDITIONAL FIVE YEAR SATISFACTION GUARANTEE ON RCS PRODUCTS.
SEE SPECIFIC MODELS FOR DETAILS ON CONSTANT DIRECTIONAL LIGHTING & SOUND OPTIONS.
THE RCS TX-24 TRANSMITTER HANDPIECE.
The RCS TX handpiece is available in three different frequencies.
For most RR’s one frequency is enough. System separation within each frequency is by settable discreet address codes. There are 256 available. Any TX handpiece can control as many same frequency locos as you wish. It is quite easy to swap locos between TX’s.
The RCS TX-24 is all you will need for basic speed & direction control of an ELITE ESC.
Multiple Unit operation of same frequency performance matched locos is possible with either TX handpiece.
If you intend to have a lot of operators you may need a different frequency.
You need to decide which one you want before purchase. Below are a few guidelines.
HOW TO CHOOSE AN RCS SYSTEM WHICH WILL BEST SUIT YOUR NEEDS.
RCS systems are mix’n’match. To help you decide which is the best system for your requirements please read the information & suggestions on these pages. You can also contact RCS or an authorised RCS reseller for assistance.
SOME INSTALLATION OPTIONS.
1. TRAIL CARS. The simplest form of installation is where the batteries & R/C are carried in a trail car. The ESC output is fed through a connecting cable to the loco. This means the loco always has a trail car attached which is fine for basic running, but can be a problem when switching operations are envisaged. If this is what you want to do the simplest method of installation is to use either of the BASIC ESC’s & a BIK-TC-5/10 kit. Most trail car installs don’t use sound.
Use the RCS-ELITE-3 for a small single engine loco. Such as the LGB Stainz or an 0-4-0 Porter etc.
Use the RCS-ELITE-6 for a bigger single loco or smaller dual motor locos like the USAT GP-38.
Use the RCS-B10 for two or more large locos.
2. INTEGRAL TRAIL CARS. The tender of a loco is in reality an INTEGRAL TRAIL CAR. The ELITE-3 are suitable for small or low current draw tender locos such as the Bachmann Big Hauler series.
Bigger locos such as the AC Mallet & USAT Big Boy that can haul a lot of cars, will require the ELITE-6 ESC’s.
Whether you want sound or not will determine which is the best system for your needs.
3. ALL ON BOARD. When space permits the most desirable way of installing battery R/C is with all the equipment fitted on board a loco. This can be either a tank type loco or a diesel. As a rough guide use a 3 amp ESC for small two truck diesels up to say a GP38 or the RS-3. For bigger 3 truck diesels such as the Dash-9 or SD40-2 use a 6 amp ESC.
If you want to have two big sized locos in tandem running off one ESC onboard the ELITE-9 is the system you need.
Whether you want sound or not will determine which is the best system for your needs.
4. PLUG’N’PLAY ON-BOARD. The RCS PnP series are designed for the AristoCraft® (AC) & Bachmann® locos that have been fitted with a PnP socket. They are rated at 3 amps. This is ideal for Bachmann® & most AC 4 axle locos.
It should be possible to use them with the AC -9, E-8 & SD-45. Fan cooling may be needed. Lighting outputs are built in.
WHAT BATTERY VOLTAGE SHOULD YOU USE?
Do not use a greater voltage than is needed for a realistic top speed. Excess voltage is wasted as in the form of heat.
N.B. All freshly charged battery packs measure more voltage than stated on the pack. See price lists for voltage ranges.
Min Minimum, N Nominal maximum voltage stated on battery which = Max, The absolute maximum you can use.
SEPARATING SYSTEMS FOR MULTIPLE OPERATORS.
Each frequency has 256 address codes which permit easy system separation. This is sufficient in most cases.
If intensive operation such as yard switching is envisaged with multiple operators, a different frequency might be advisable for subsequent system purchases. A different frequency must be specified at time of purchase.
The RX-8 is connected to the ESC with a flexible cable to enable placement away from other components. Experimentation for the best antenna location in a particular loco may be required.
MAXIMISING RANGE.
The RX-8 metal cased receiver is connected to the ESC with a flexible cable to enable placement away from other components such as speaker magnets. It may be necessary to experiment with antenna location to maximise range.
The antenna must be able to “see” outside the loco. Locos made of metal will shield the antenna and reduce range.
For best signal reception the antenna needs to be stretched out as straight as possible and mounted as high as possible.
Where the RX-8 can be kept away from the other components we use & recommend the short AZARR antennas from E-Cubed R/C. For some smaller locos it may be desirable to connect the antenna to the track via insulated pick ups.
In all installations it is most important that proper motor “noise” suppression be used. Otherwise short range will result.
OPERATING PROGRAM.
Each RCS ESC has the EL-102 operating program.
The “FULL CENTER-OFF” for two button centre off operation plus a one touch emergency stop.
OR:
The “POSI CHANGE” sequential direction change button.
INSTALLATION KITS.
All battery R/C installations require roughly the same sort of equipment.
As well as the receivers, ESC’s & batteries, you will need an ON-OFF switch, charging jack & fuse etc.
RCS offers a range of installation kits with the above features. They make life very easy and eliminate a lot of wiring.
RCS installation kits such as the BIK-U3/6 feature a built in charge jack for charging batteries in situ.
Use the same jack to extend run times by plugging in extra batteries carried in a trail car. Multiple sets for all day running.
THE PWM OUTPUT OF THESE MOTOR DRIVERS SHOULD NOT BE USED WITH ANY DCC DECODER EQUIPPED LOCOS.
IN THE USA, UNDER SECTION 95.603B OF THE ACT, FORMAL FCC APPROVAL OF THIS LOW POWER R/C EQUIPMENT IS NOT NECESSARY.
THE RCS FIVE YEAR GUARANTEE IS CONDITIONAL ON THE MODULAR DEVICE BEING INSTALLED AS PER THE RCS INSTRUCTIONS. DAMAGE CAUSED BY MISUSE WILL BE OBVIOUS TO US & IS NOT GUARANTEED.
IF YOU BLOW IT UP & TELL US HOW YOU DID IT, WE MAY WARRANT THE ITEM ANYWAY.
RCS “ELITE” SERIES ESC’s.
WHICH ELITE SYSTEM WILL BEST SUIT YOUR NEEDS?
INSTALLATION. All connections on the ELITE series ESC’s are by screw terminals. Except the ELITE-PnPxx.
The ELITE-33 is the most popular ESC we make. It is ideal for small to medium current draw locos up to a Bachmann “Annie” or similar up to USAT/AC four axle diesels.
Use ELITE-6 for heavy duty use. Use ELITE-9 for ultra high power requirements.
ELITE-PnPxx series ESC’s are designed specifically for AristoCraft® & Bachmann® locos equipped with a PnP socket.
The Bachmann® socket is wired back to front to the AristoCraft® socket so we offer two different versions of PnP ESC’s.
The PnPAC is designed for most AristoCraft® locos.
The PnPBK is for Bachmann® locos. Although, it can also be used effectively with AC® steam outline locos as they are wired back to front to the AC® diesel locos.
The battery supply of all systems should be protected by a suitable fuse. These are provided on all our installation kits.
ELITE LIGHTING OPTIONS.
LIGHTING. All the ELITE series ESC’s have directional constant brightness lighting outputs.
ELITE SOUND OPTIONS.
SOUND. ELITE series can be easily wired to the Phoenix P5 & PB9, Sierra, Dallee & MyLocosound sound systems. You will have manual control of a Whistle/Horn + automatic bell + automatic notch 8.
Sierra will require an # SSI-12v5 opto coupler interface to handle the pwm signal.
ELITE INSTALLATION KIT OPTIONS.
Whichever installation type you choose you will also need to install the batteries, ON-OFF switch & charger access point.
RCS offers various optional extra installation kits for various locomotives
BIK-U3 Battery Installation Kit – Universal 3 amps. ON-OFF switch, 2 x 3 amp Polyswitches®, screw terminals on small PCB & pre-wired 2.5 mm jack for Charger/AUX-BAT.
BIK-U6 Battery Installation Kit – Universal 6 amps. Same as BIK-U3. Rated 6 amps.
BIK-U+VC An ON-OFF switch, 2 x 3 amp auto reset Polyswitch® fuses, a volume control for Sierra®/Phoenix® sound & screw terminals. With a pre-wired jack for Charge/AUX-BAT.
CHG-JACK A simple pcb mounted charge jack, fuse & screw terminals for a basic on board battery installation.
RCS offers various optional extra kits specifically for the BACHMANN® K-27 to do this as simply as possible.
# ILC-2. A set of four in line plugs & sockets. One set is required for a trail car battery to supply power the K-27.
# BIK-K27 Pre-drilled styrene mounting plate, ON-OFF switch, volume control & Charge jack with cable.
# CHG-JACK Pcb mounted charge jack, fuse & screw terminals for a basic on board battery installation.
# BIK-U3 Battery Installation Kit – Universal 3 amps. Small PCB, ON-OFF switch, Polyswitch® fuses, screw terminals & pre-wired 2.5 mm jack for Charger/AUX-BAT. Can be wired up as an auxiliary battery supply port.
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CLICK HERE FOR A PDF FILE OF THE RCS OVERVIEW.
