jhb171achill Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 A blast from the past. I found an old Relco thing, intended at the time it was sold as so etching that would improve current pick-up for 2-rail layouts. It's about 1976-80 origin, if I remember correctly. With a layout using older equipment (locos all 1980s), is there any advantage in connecting it up, or would a modern control system be better? The locos are narrow gauge and (I am told) unsuitable for conversion to DCC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Broithe Posted September 1, 2015 Share Posted September 1, 2015 Relco seem to be capable of bigger stuff these days.... http://www.relcolocomotives.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Mayner Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Came across this explains what a Relco is supposed to do. Definitely not suitable for DCC but recommended for 009 http://www.mrol.com.au/Articles/DCC/Relcos.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Broithe Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Gaugemaster still supply similar units - http://www.gaugemaster.com/modules.html . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 leslie10646 Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Came across this explains what a Relco is supposed to do. Definitely not suitable for DCC but recommended for 009 http://www.mrol.com.au/Articles/DCC/Relcos.aspx Thanks for pointing to this, John. I must admit that I bought mine (for an early German-based layout) as a "Track Cleaner". There was anecdotal evidence that they did the opposite - but in fact dirtied the track! If anyone wants to try one, they can have mine! Now DCC! Leslie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 jhb171achill Posted September 2, 2015 Author Share Posted September 2, 2015 Excellent information, gents, many thanks. It is indeed 009 that I'm looking at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Mayner Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 I found the CMX Clean Machine very effective in N gauge, should do the job in 009 Used to run the car around the layout in the consist of a train once or twice a month. Used isopropyl as a cleaning fluid in the car, and to clean loco/stock wheels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 jhb171achill Posted September 2, 2015 Author Share Posted September 2, 2015 Any idea where I'd get one, John? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Garfield Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 JB, are you entirely certain your locos can't be converted to DCC? Most older locos can still have a decoder manually 'hardwired' by someone with a snips and a soldering iron... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 jhb171achill Posted September 2, 2015 Author Share Posted September 2, 2015 I'm not, Garfield; all the electronic wizardry is beyond the wit of a simpleton like me - clockwork might be more suitable.... I was simply told by someone (possibly here, though I can't remember) that conversion of 1980s H0e / 009 stuff to DCC was at best problematical, and probably not feasible. Further thoughts or theories on that would, of course, be very welcome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Broithe Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 If it has pick-ups from the rails and it has a DC motor (which it will have), then it can be DCCed, subject to the practicalities of breaking into the wiring and hiding the extra gubbins successfully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Junctionmad Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 If it has pick-ups from the rails and it has a DC motor (which it will have), then it can be DCCed, subject to the practicalities of breaking into the wiring and hiding the extra gubbins successfully. The main issue can be insulating the motor from the frames if any of the frame is live Had a relco some years ago never found it much use Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 DartStation Posted September 2, 2015 Share Posted September 2, 2015 Any idea where I'd get one, John? John, I got a 00 version of said cleaner via DCC supplies online It works well for me Thanks Paul R. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 Mayner Posted September 4, 2015 Share Posted September 4, 2015 (edited) Any idea where I'd get one, John? I got mine from Tonys Trains Exchange in the USA a long-long time ago, Digitrains in the UK seem to stock them expensive though http://www.digitrains.co.uk/ecommerce/search/?loc=1&q=&c=1&m=17. Converting your Liliput HOe locos to DCC is probably more trouble than its worth and won't help the re-sale value or improve the running quality of your locos. DCC works best in N or 009 /HOe with bogie diesels or electrics with 8-12 wheel pick up. I converted my Irish narrow gauge locos back to analogue as I could not get reliable operation with 4 or 6 wheel pick up and found analogue more forgiving. Edited September 4, 2015 by Mayner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0 jhb171achill Posted September 4, 2015 Author Share Posted September 4, 2015 Thanks, Mayner - I think I'll remain as is! Certainly, installing DCC would at best be fiddly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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Question
jhb171achill
A blast from the past.
I found an old Relco thing, intended at the time it was sold as so etching that would improve current pick-up for 2-rail layouts.
It's about 1976-80 origin, if I remember correctly.
With a layout using older equipment (locos all 1980s), is there any advantage in connecting it up, or would a modern control system be better?
The locos are narrow gauge and (I am told) unsuitable for conversion to DCC.
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