LIVE STEAM SERVO DRIVER.            Jan 1st 2008

SD-10 SERVO DRIVER KITS FOR LIVE STEAM LOCOS

l LONG RANGE 24 FUNCTION TX HANDPIECE SUPPLIED.
l USE STANDARD SERVOS & 4.8 volt NI-Cd or NiMh BATTERIES.
l TOTALLY SELF CONTAINED.                       l   REALISTIC & VERY SMOOTH.
l GUARANTEED “GLITCH FREE”.                 l   SIMPLE INSTALLATION.
l PROGRAM THE SERVO POSITIONS.         l   2 BUTTON CONTROL.
l EXTRA SERVO FUNCTIONS.                        l   NEW “NUDGE” UP & DOWN.

FEATURES OF THE RCS SERVO DRIVER SYSTEM.

The RCS LIVE STEAM SERVO DRIVER system does away with bulky, old fashioned 2 CH TX and RX systems that are in common use today.  Simply remove your old 2 Channel R/C and save the servo(s) or start from scratch.

SUPER SMALL RX & DECODER.  Each part is about the size of a matchbox & connected to each other by a cable.

24 FUNCTION TX HANDPIECE.  RCS uses a new longer range TX-24 PCM R/C system.  
The TX-24 handpiece is the size of a cigarette pack & uses an Alkaline 9 volt transistor battery that will last for months. 
The SD-10 is the equivalent of a 5 channel stick R/C and uses two servos in run mode.  
One servo sets the valve gear.  The other is for opening & closing the regulator.  It is possible to run with regulator only.
The default servo directions & extremes of movement can be programmed from the TX handpiece to suit individual locos.  Each decoder has lighting & accessory functions built in.

 60’ - 100’ FEET RANGE .  The long range TX handpiece is now standard.  We consistently achieve 60’ - 100’ range. 

 MULTIPLE OPERATORS - MULTIPLE TRAINS.  The system is available in 3 frequencies and each frequency has 16 discreet encodeable side bands.  No changing crystals.  Two operators on the same frequency can easily change the address codes for each TX/RX combination to allow side by side operation. 
You can have 3 - 4 separate engineers simultaneously driving locomotives on each frequency.

ONE TX CAN CONTROL AS MANY LOCOS AS YOU WISH.  Use the same TX and save money on extra purchases.

NUDGE FUNCTION.  Exclusive to RCS is our new “Shot of Steam” NUDGE function.  This will help baulky locos move off smoothly at start up and assist climbing gradients without varying the “Cruise” setting of the steam regulator.
OPEN REGULATOR.  At any given regulator setting snap the regulator open an extra 50% of whatever is left to open.
CLOSE REGULATOR.  Also featured is 100% snap closing & snap re-opening to assist control going downgrade. .

NO “GLITCHING” OR “RUSTY BOLT EFFECT”.  The RCS R/C system transmits signals that are digitally encoded and Pulse Code modulated.  Once set, speed and direction servo(s) stay put.
It is IMPOSSIBLE for RF interference to cause “GLITCHING” or the “RUSTY BOLT EFFECT”.  

SMOOTH ACCELERATION AND BRAKING.  Each TX has eight moulded plastic “CLICKY FEEL” push button functions which are used to control the locomotive.  The buttons set the valve gear & smoothly open & close the steam regulator. 
There is an Emergency STOP button for fast regulator closure and selection of neutral.   

BATTERY LIGHTS WITH AUTO REVERSE.  You can have electric head & tail lights that automatically follow direction & can be switched ON-OFF from the TX handpiece.  Increase battery capacity to cater for the extra current consumption.

TRIGGERS FOR ELECTRONIC SOUND.  The system default is for Electronic triggers enabled.  This will give you two electronic trigger functions for Whistle and Bell plus an extra auxiliary function.
Larger capacity batteries are recommended when powering a sound system with the same batteries as the servos.  

USE SERVO FOR WHISTLE & UNCOUPLE.  Instead of electronic triggers, program system for extra servo functions. Two extra high speed servo functions are provided.
Servo #1 has two halves and permits two functions such as a whistle and perhaps an uncoupler.
Servo #2 provides sequential & settable backwards and forwards travel.  Use to open/close drain cocks?

 For many years now owners of live steam locomotives who wished to operate with Radio Control have only had the option of using R/C equipment that was designed for another purpose such as model cars and boats.
 It is very difficult to get low cost AM model car and boat R/C equipment to work well in the confined spaces of enclosed metal locomotives.  With most R/C equipment the Radio Receiver (RX) antenna is designed to be of a particular length for tuning, and mounted vertically to maximise the signal reception.  Low cost 2 Channel AM R/C suffers “Glitching” which can cause very erratic operation.  Inexpensive servos and flailing motion may also create RF interference.

 Remote Control Systems (RCS) has been manufacturing Battery R/C throttles for electric locomotives for many years and to remain competitive in the market place we have had to devise a better system of signal reception. 
For most situations we recommend an antenna that is external to metal bodywork & mounted high to maximise range.
It is possible to simply connect the antenna to the loco body & thus the rails.  Superior range is achieved when the loco is completely isolated from the track.  The antenna wire is then connected to an insulated wiper rubbing on insulated wheels & thus to the track.  Or you can use an existing insulated body mounted antenna.  Please experiment.  

RCS was pleased to offer the first Microprocessor (µP) controlled Multi function R/C system for live steam locomotives.  The system was designed so that our own miniature R/C equipment could be combined with commonly available servos to operate the regulator and valve gear. This latest model µp programme is a big advance for live steam locos.
The servo variables such as default direction, extremes of travel and electronic or servo accessories are programmable.

The RCS LIVE STEAM SERVO DRIVER system is designed for locomotives that use two servos for setting the valve gear and operating the steam regulator.  The system has numerous advantages over existing types of control & they are listed on the back of this flyer.  All you need to supply are the servos, NiCd or NiMh RX batteries and an ON-OFF switch.

The RCS LIVE STEAM SERVO DRIVER system works best with locos that have low steam pressure going to the cylinders.   It has fairly slow reaction times & may not be suitable for live steam locos that are very sensitive to regulator settings.  The emergency brake works quickly but slowing down does take time using just the regulator.  Care is needed when operating on grades.  Operators need to anticipate, just like the real ones.

This project came to fruition as a direct result of the invaluable assistance given in the USA by Michael Zemek, along with Steam in the Garden magazine editor Ron Brown, and in Australia by that of Adrian Hoad and Peter Stuart.

RUN AS MANY LOCOS AS YOU LIKE WITH ONE TX.

Save the cost of a TX hand piece by simply adding an RF-RX/Motor Driver combo on the same frequency, to a new loco.

Specifications

 
PART # FREQUENCY FUNCTIONS SIZE BATTERY
27.145 Mhz
8 button 24 functions.
100 x 60 x 25
9 volt Alkaline
To suit TX-24
Servo & electronic
55 x 33 x 15
4.8v NiCd or NiMh
PLUS-4
Small pcb that plugs into RX-7 & provides 4 extra functions. 3 x Mom, 1 x Latch On-Off
DIFF-FREQ
Optional different frequencies available:
27.045 Mhz
27.195 Mhz

 Each SD-10 includes one 42 x 25 x 14 mm RX-8 receiver & 0.connector cable. 

OPTIONAL EXTRAS ( Australia only)

BAT-HOL

Battery holder for 4 x “AA” Ni-Cads.  Plugs into BAT-SW.

BAT-SW

ON-OFF switch with flying leads plus a charge harness

SVO-LD

Plug in 3 way servo lead.  Can be used for lights, sound triggers etc.

SVO-LD-EX

Extension servo lead.  Used where the R/C decoder is separated from the servos.

TX-LP

Genuine leather belt pouch for RCS Radio TX.  Protects TX from bumps.

HS-81MG

Hi-Tec micro servo with metal gears for long life.


For full information on prices and instructions click on the following list of PDF clickable links.

Adobe 6+

System programming for servo idle positions is now done from the TX-24 handpiece.  No need to open the back of the TX case except to initially set address codes and replace the battery when needed.

Ask RCS about one servo version to control locos using just the Johnson bar to control steam admission and direction,

IN THE USA , UNDER SECTION 95.603B OF THE ACT, FORMAL FCC APPROVAL OF THIS LOW POWER R/C EQUIPMENT IS NOT NECESSARY.

Please note: A small allowance has been included in the above USA prices.
This is to cover the cost of freight, insurance and foreign currency transaction fees incurred by the USA importers.