CWN Back Shops

It turns out that I was overly cautious when installing my Aristo Train Engineer System. Note this applies only to the 5470 system. I have no experience with the on board 5490 units. Here's where I got messed up and lost a couple of operating days. When connected properly in series with your power supply which takes all of 5 minutes to do, you will find that powering everything up, but not adding a load, such as a locomotive or at least a lamp will result in seeing full voltage across the track. Varying the output of the Train Engineer will not alter this voltage. This worried me so I didn't immediately try to run a locomotive. After getting no immediate response from Aristo, (one eventually came, I am not bashing the company here. I am very happy with the product) I began inquiring about other people's TE experience. No one had tested the system unloaded before, but it was pointed out that the worst thing that would happen would be a run away engine. I therefore setup a test loop with a more expendable N scale diesel. The smaller, N scale test setup experienced no change in the unloaded condition, but low and behold the engine did not run away when placed on the tracks. Further it responded properly to the TE commands. I reconnected the Aristo to the garden railroad and sure enough I've been in remote control heaven ever since. Hence I learned that once a load is applied, all is well. This is normal and OK. Obviously the Aristo Unit is varying current not voltage.

A second learning about installing a TE system involves understanding the load it puts on the power supply. I had failed to consider the load of the Aristo unit. I currently operate one locomotive at a time on fairly level grade with no problem, but I suspect that adding track powered sound and or steeper grades may put my starter set LGB transformer on the sidelines. Just remember to consider that when budgeting for your upgrade to a Train Engineer system. Special thanks to Jon Foster for clarifying this for me.

A good place to go for additional information about Aristo TEs, including the on board units, is the famous website of George Schreyer. Of course, once you visit his site, you may never return to this one!

Last Modified July 17, 2001