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| American
Models
RS-3
narrow
hood
and
drive
towers
presents
a
challenge
to
convert
to
TMCC. |
The
Electric
RR
Co.'s
Mini
Commander
TMCC
board
is
a
slick
fit. |
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 |
| A
custom
made
heat
sink
for
the
HC-1
and
HC-2
triacs
also
serves
as
the
mount
for
the
board.
The
heat
sink
must
be
isolated
from
the
chassis. |
The Triacs run very cool with the DC can motor. Two external diodes (1n4004) are used for the motor. One on each HC output. HC-1 is forward and the HC-2 is reverse. The antenna is just piece of solid wire (orange in the picture). |
 |
The
Mini
is
a
new
product
from
the
Electric
RR
Co.
Designed
as
a
multi
purpose
unit.
It
is
designed
as
an
Accessory
and
Switch
control
unit.
I
will
be
using
these
neat
things
all
over
may
layout
soon.
The LC-1 an LC- 2 outputs are used for the headlight control. |
| The
Mini's
small
size
(.9
x
1.9")
makes
it
practical
to
install
in
most
anything.
This picture shows the 2-56 Triac mounting screw. The HC-2 connector is a close fit but it will clear the screw head.
|
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Here is how the insulator is mounted under the heatsink. The insulator is just a piece of cardboard cut to with a 1/8" hole punched in it and a fold at on end to prevent the heatsink from touching the frame if it is turned. One could use a piece of silicone heat sink rubber insulator if one has it. A 7/64" hole is drilled through the loco frame and countersunk on the bottom side. Remove the plastic fuel tank first. |
| The Mini straddles the motors drive coupling. |  |
 |
Here
are
the
parts
to
mount
the
Mini.
6-32x1"
nylon
flathead
screw |
| The
heatsink
is
made
from
1/32
aluminum
sheet
metal.
The triac screw hole is drilled with a #52 drills and tapped 2-56 through both holes. The heatsink base is drilled for a 6-32 tap. |
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 |
The Software used in this Mini is a custom written version. |
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Here is one of my American Models FM Trainmaster Engines with the Mini Commander conversion too. The red wire is the added external antenna |
| A little more room in the FM Trainmaster than the RS-3 but it still needs the small size of the Mini to do a TMCC conversion. I have a pair of these also that will run in a MU lashup |  |
| The American Model's Baldwin Switcher presented more of a challenge to fit in the limited space of the Baldwin's chassis. I made a slightly different heatsink mount for the mini in the Baldwin that I used on the RS2 and FM units. It is shorter and mounts at 90 degrees from the other version heat sinks. |  |
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The connectors on the end of the Mini were removed and the motor diodes were soldered directly on the board where the HC-1 and HC-2 connectors were. The other connections for power and headlight were also soldered directly to the board . |
| The red wire is the antenna. I removed the Mini's onboard antenna |  |
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This unit also has the low speed gearing offered by American Models. It really can crawl a drag through the yards. |