Battery Power....Revolution ?

[mudhen]

Has anyone tried hooking one of the Aristocraft revolutions decoders into a K-27 yet ?
If so what where the results ?

[Kevin Strong]

Yes. I had issues with how it was controlling (or not controlling) the headlight, so I ended up gutting the socket board and wiring everything directly to the Revolution board. With all the wires labeled as they are attached to the board, it's no trouble figuring out what goes where. Note: The headlight issue may have been a fault with the Revolution board, as it was squirrelly when wired direct, too. Ultimately, I hooked the headlight and markers up to the accessory controls instead. That way I can turn the headlight and markers on and off at will, regardless of direction. (The back-up light is still running off the directional controls.)

Other than the headlight issues, the Revolution does a fantastic job with the K.

Later,

K

[StanAmes]

The current version of the revolution asumes that DC power is provided by the locomotive.  The K27 assumes that DC power is provided by the device in the socket. 

In addition the revolution only uses the pins on the first set of pins (J1) while the K27 uses pins on both sets of pons (j1 and J2).

These differences have no effect on motor control but does effect lighting and sound control.

To get around this you will likely have to install a simple rectifier in the K27 and also to use the extra functions you will need to hook them up to the revolution manually.

Hope that helps.

Stan Ames

[armorsmith]

Stan, Mr. Bachmann,

It appears to me that all the necessary information to publish a 'How to' is known and available.  Can soemone tell me why it is not being provided by those 'in the know' are not doing so? The Aristo Revolution Train Engineer is next to the most popular retrofit to the K27, why does it have to be so painful to the modeler to make it work as it is intended?

Bob C.

[mudhen]

Now that's what I'm talking about and have been meaning to say for so long.  Maybe now someone can give the answer we long for. A simple way to install with step by step, and maybe pictures too of the revolution into the K-27.
Thank's  Bob C.

[Doneldon]

I suspect Bachmann doesn't want to ruffle anyone's feathers by appearing to endorse the Revolution system or say how to install, it and Aristo doesn't want to tell people how to modify Bachmann equipment because of warranty issues.  At the modelers' level this is frustrating but is probably a pretty good business decision.

          --D

[armorsmith]

I don't see supplying a document explaining how to accomplish a task as an endorsement.  Does that mean that every modeler who mentions he uses a particular product therefore endorse that product?  I don't think so.

Speaking for myself, I am electronically challenged.  If there is a possibility of connecting the wrong wire, without a step by step 'How to', I will.  I find it sad that manufacturers must be so competitive that they become a detriment to the hobbiest they are supposed to be serving.

Quite honestly, all of my prime motive poser is Bachmann, and I have not gone to the Revolution for the very reason stated above.  I am disappointed that Bachmann chose to use a different approach, rather than using the socket that already existed.  Had I known when I purchased my engines that the installation of the Revolution would be so difficult, I may have chosen other manufacturers.  If Bachmann can not/will not find some means to resolve the incompatibility issues, I may go elsewhere for future purchases.

By the by, good business is making your customer happy. Not doing ones best to make life difficult.

Bob C.

[Tony Walsham]

Actually Bachmann got the PnP socket specs correct, based on the original design criteria from DigiTrax.
It was AristoCraft who screwed up, and came out with a mirror image of the pinouts.

[Doneldon]

Armorsmith-

Interestingly, I agree with you.  But please notice that I said "appearing to endorse."  I realize that providing such information isn't an endorsement; the issue is whether some people would infer an endorsement.  And I think they would, based on personal experience with similar situations and what has been found to be true by communications specialists.  It would be great if everyone could be taken at his/her word with neither implication nor inference attached, but that doesn't seem to be the way people operate.

                             --D

[armorsmith]

Tony,

Thanks for the correction, it appears I was mis-led elsewhere.  And apologies to Stan and Mr. Bachmann.  That being said  , is there a way to possibly make a conversion board that will plug into the Bachmann socket with a socket to receive the Revolution module?  I would think it is doable, but can it be done in a cost effective manner.  I don't have the electronics background to tell.

Doneldon,

I fully understand your appearance and inference concerns.  I work for a government sub, need I say more.  However, there are still great sites available such as Greg Elmasian's <sp> and George Schreir's where this kind of information is always available.

Bob C.