Recently, I brought a Phil Sharples SM32 Estate Loco kit and a Loco Remote kit especially designed to fit inside this tiny loco.
The Loco Remote generates a WiFi network that allows you to control the model via a browser interface.
Electrics aren’t my strong point. Fortunately the Loco Remote comes with really clear instructions 🙂 Click on an image for a larger version.
Here’s a short video of the motor running, controlled by the Loco Remote.
Amazingly, because I followed the instructions, the Loco Remote worked first go !
That doesn’t happen often when I do electrics 🙂
The system gives very good control of the motor and has some interesting features such as the ‘Coast to a Stop’ option.
Subsequently, I’ve wired in a resettable polyfuse to protect the Loco Remote unit. It will be located inside the control panel, covered up by the plastic cover.
I’m looking forward to getting some wheels on this !
Steve's Narrow Gauge Railway Adventure 
The Loco Remote is great isn’t it. I’ve got three in locos now, and need to buy a fourth at some point. I’ve been using traditional glass fuses in mine, but they can be a bit big. Any recommendation on the resettable polyfuse?
LikeLike
Hi Mark, I’m glad you like the Loco Remote and keep buying them. It makes me feel I’ve made a good choice.
I’m not as experienced as you, so I followed the Loco Remote advice to use a ‘RGEF 16V-200 16V 2A resettable polyfuse’ and I ordered these : https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/404459085637?var=674416204258 . 5 for £3 or so seemed like a good buy.
I trimmed some of the wire from the ‘legs’ so that it took up less space and soldered wire directly to the ‘legs’. I must confess the circuit works with it soldered in but I haven’t done a ‘large current’ test to see if it does offer the protection.
Definitely compact though 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks; I think the original instructions didn’t give such a detailed part suggestion. I’ve ordered a few to hopefully replace the bulky glass fuses I’ve been using in the past; even with the smallest holder I could find they are huge and difficult to fit in most of the models.
LikeLike
Gulp! HiFi controlled loco, poly resettable what’s it, coast to beach option! Just what is railway modelling becoming! Thunderbirds never predicted all this back in their day!
On a more serious note Steve, an interestIng project which I guess is an early rendering of where model railways will be in 20 years which is about when the half life of Mrs. Woodys job list for me will occur!
Woody
LikeLike
Sorry, Woody. I was speaking gobbledegook 🙂
I am wondering how it will compare with power from the rails (which I use for all my smaller scales). Let’s see….
For some strange reason I still don’t understand I always preferred Joe90 to Thunderbirds. I think it was the Jet Air Car.
LikeLike
Interesting. I like the idea, but the Luddite in me (I don’t own a smartphone for example) is wary, and I like simple. Perhaps I need to build something with LocoRemote and try it.
LikeLike
Hi Paul, Could be worth a try for your garden line…. But you’ll need something that can connect to WiFi and open the loco control in a browser… May not be suitable for a ‘Luddite’ 🙂
LikeLike
You can connect to it from a laptop as well, although that’s not particularly great for chasing a loco around the garden!
LikeLike