[Dave O]

Everyone : I would like to know if the SCP analog controller works for HO scale cars. I have a new 90 foot Brad Bowman track (negative common/ground wiring). I will be running BSRT G-Jets (12 volts), plus higher voltage cars like Tomy Mega Gs, and BSRT G3s. If the SCP will work, how well ? Are all the features and functions fully operational ?

The track is nearly complete, and it is time to buy 4 modern PWM controllers. Thanks for your advice.

Dave O.

 

[MrFlippant]

The controller is rated for 9-24V. The standard analog cartridge is 6AMP peak, and I think 3 amp continuous. So long as your cars and power don't exceed that, it should work just fine. All features and functions should work with HO as well as they do with 1/32 and 1/24 cars.

 

[RichD]

I do not know anyone that uses a Slot.it controller with HO cars or has even tried one. With high end HO cars a coast control is a good thing to have. With coast the voltage will not be zero when the controller is in the off position, which makes it easier to drive cars with a lot of downforce smoothly. The Slot.it controller has an almost infinate number of adjustments and something that works like a coast control may be possible. If you do go with a Slot.it controller be sure and post something on your experience with it.

 

[MrFlippant]

I remember this from another post, but I forget what the differences are between coast and brakes. To me, it sounds like coast is no brakes, but I'm sure it's not that simple.
The SCP1 also has some additional buttons that modify the "dynamic brakes" (when you let up the trigger), such as a button that when you hold it, you'll always get 100% brakes when you release the trigger (regardless of the brake pot setting), and another that will make the NEXT time you let up have full brakes, but after that brakes will be according to the brake pot. There's also the big round brake button, which activates brakes according to the brake pot setting, regardless of trigger position (thumb activated brakes).

 

[Slot.it]

Hi.

You can set brake to zero, and set the minimum speed that you get when you are off the brake position easily, but when the trigger is released, you can only get to 'no brake'. No voltage is applied in 'braking' and there is no way of doing it.

Regards
Maurizio

 

[RichD]

HO cars have little mass, when they also have a great deal of downforce they tend to come to an instant stop when you get off the power, even if you leave the brakes disconnected. If you use a controller that does not have coast with that sort of car you need to always apply a little power in order to drive smoothly and that can be difficult at the speeds that these cars move at. For that reason many high end HO controllers have a coast control. As I said before with coast the voltage will not be zero when the controller is in the off position. The driver has to fiddle with the coast control to get the right amount of coast, if he overdoes it the car will not stop when the controller is in the off position. If you stick with set type cars you can easily live without the coast feature. With aftermarket cars, especially the ones with polymer and/or neodymium magnets, coast is a good thing to have.

 

[MrFlippant]

Ah! I get it now. Coast is like an "always on" throttle setting. Interesting. Well, you learn something new every day, eh?

I guess that's why the SCP isn't used in HO much.