Features of the LCRC100 Locomotive Controller

The LCRC100 Locomotive Controller is the only control system designed from the ground up for the 1” scale and 1.5” scale market to give you a simple to use interface with advanced features to make your locomotive operate just like the real thing. Here are a list of features you’ll find in this system, and we’ll start with AUTOMATIC MULTILPLE UNIT OPERATION as that effects many of the other features.

  • AUTOMATIC MU (Multiple Unit) OPERATION - The automatic MU functionality on the LCRC100 allows you to MU locomotives equipped with the system together in just 3 steps. Couple them up, attach safety chains or coupler locks, and plug in the MU jumper cable. That’s it! No complicated programming to get you underway. The system will automatically recognize locomotives in the consist and the direction they’re pointing. Connecting 2 or more locomotives together will also automatically adjust lighting features and sound effects (horn and bell specifically) for the consist. With AUTO MU, you can connect up to 14 locomotives from various manufacturers together to pull longer trains. This will also work with electrically powered steam outline locomotives.

  • SPEED MATCHING - When in MU mode, the system automatically talks to the other units in the consist and uses speed and power management monitors to match speeds with the other locomotives in the consist. This prevents a situation where one unit is pulling harder that the others or spinning it’s wheels because it’s speed tables are higher than the other locomotives.

  • SPEED LIMITING - With a single unit, speed limiting allows you to set the maximum speed of the locomotive. This can be useful for railroads with strict speed limits or when young or new engineers are learning to operate trains. In MU mode, automatic speed limiting limits the speed of the consist to the maximum speed of the slowest locomotive. This saves wear and tear and possible damage to locomotives.

  • WORKS WITH MAJOR MOTOR CONTROLLER SYSTEMS - The LCRC100 has been tested with the common live steam motor controllers. This includes the full line of 4QD controllers, Dimension Engineering products such as the Syren and Sabretooth, Navitus, and many others. It can also work with other motor controllers. Contact us to see if it works with yours if you’re not sure.

  • BUILT IN ESU LOKSOUND 5FX SOUNDCARD AND AMPLIFIER - The Controller includes the ESU Loksound FX5 sound card which can be programmed with any sounds from ESU’s massive sound library. It can also be loaded with custom sounds using their sound programmer. The controller will be factory loaded with the sound profile of your choice . The controller also has a choice of an onboard amplifier (30 watt at 4 ohm) or line level out if you’d prefer to use an automotive amplifier for your sound system.

  • MULTIFUNCTION LIGHTING SYSTEM WITH PWM - The Controller has multiple individual lighting outputs that feature PWM, or “Pulse Width Modulation”, which allows LED lighting to act like incandescent lighting with the “fade in and out” effects. The Controller has independent front and rear headlight control with Bright/Dim/Off selections, ditch light circuits, and 3 auxiliary outputs for things like mars lights, marker lights, class lights, track lights, step lights, etc. Lighting functions can be set up as simple “on/off” or linked with other activities (such as ditch lights flash with horn blow command) in the onboard setup screen, giving you custom control of the lighting on your locomotive. In MU Mode with other locomotives, the lighting will function correctly automatically with either end of the consist headlights responding to handset commands and intermediate headlights off. Other lighting settings can be changed for MU actions by selecting them on or off in the setup screen.

  • BATTERY MONITORING - The Controller features both group battery monitoring and individual battery status shown directly on the hand held unit. This allows you to monitor the entire system as a group and also to see the status of individual batteries to monitor the health of individual batteries. In a MU Consist, you will also be able to see the battery status of all units in the consist along with their reporting mark and number.

  • HIGH POWER RADIO SETS - Higher power radios allow larger range for your locomotives. Using either 2.4 mhz or 900 mhz high power, multi-channel radios means up to 500’ of range without the need for massive antennas on your locomotives. The handset has a 3.5” “Rubber ducky” antenna built onto the unit and there are several options for your locomotives, most commonly a 3/4” round dome antenna (best range) or other better looking antennas are in the works.

  • REAL OR SCALE MPH & ODOMETER - The handset will display either real or scale miles per hour along with an odometer, so you can keep your train within speed limits and know how far you’ve gone with your locomotive since installation.

  • BUILT IN LITHIUM BATTERY - The handset features a built in lithium battery that charges off a USB cable from any USB source. Testing has shown an up-time of more than 10 hours without recharging. If the battery gets low, it can be recharged from any USB plug including external battery banks, even when in operation!

  • DROP SENSOR - The unit has a built in drop sensor. This impact sensor will stop the train if the handset is dropped or if the handset is jarred abruptly. Not only is this good for if the handset falls, but is also useful in an emergency as a quick way to stop the train.

  • AIR BRAKE CONTROL - They system also has air brake controls with pressure maintaining features. Control your air brakes directly from the handset. When set to the desired pressure, the system will maintain that pressure as long as there is pressure from the compressor. This is useful for long hills and also for parking your train at the station.

  • KSI INTERFACE - KSI (or Key Switch Interface) interfaces with the system and the motor controller to prevent runaway locomotives. Some motor controllers will throw your locomotive into reverse if power is lost to the handset or control module. Use of KSI interface prevents that from happening as any power loss to the LCRC100 causes the motor controller to shut down also.