Loco Remote

Buying a Loco Remote All Loco Remote versions are available. If you would like a Loco Remote please email us at locoremote@gmail.com stating which version(s) you would like and any lights, sound and holder options and we can send you an invoice and confirm a shipping date. Please also mention if you are outside the UK. Thank you. UK customers Prices include free postage to the UK only. Customers outside the UK There is a postage charge of £5 for standard non-tracked air mail for up to two Loco Remotes if you are OUTSIDE THE UK. Tracked and insured air mail is also available for an additional sum dependant upon country. You may have to pay VAT and/or import duty to your local mail provider before they will deliver your package. The amounts vary in every country and it is your responsibility to check this in advance with your local customs agency. EUROPEAN UNION customers will almost always have to pay a VAT and handling charge to the local post office before delivery. Loco Remote will not refund any payments to customers who decline to pay any import fees in their country.
Loco Remote Guide The Loco Remote system is made up of a very small electronic module that fits in the loco, and a controller interface that the module generates on a Wi-Fi device such as an Apple or Android smartphone. There are two families of modules. The Mini B is for 3V to 6V motors. The Maxi and Mega are for 6V to 12V motors. Click on the links to view or download the installation and setup guide for each type of module, advice on battery selection, and the Wi-Fi connection and controller operation guide common to all modules. Mini B setup guide Maxi and Mega setup guide Mega 4 supplemental setup guide Wi-Fi connection and controller operation guide Battery selection and wiring guide LED lights guide Quick start guide to connecting to a Loco Remote
The Mini B is suitable for 3V to 6V motors The Mini B can be powered by any type of battery with a suitable voltage including NiMH, NiCd, Alkaline, Li-ion and Lipo. The absolute maximum battery voltage for the Mini B is 6V. The Mini B is able to supply up to 1.6A current to the motor at the full battery voltage. The Mini B is supplied with a cable for a 3.7V (1s) Lipo battery of this type. Search eBay for "Syma X5C battery". 4 x 600mAh batteries and a mini charger are available from UK sellers for under £12 and ideal for many small 3V locos. 1200mAh batteries give twice the run time.

Loco Remote Mini B 26mm wide, 43mm long, 10mm high 3V to 6V battery 1.6A max current £40 inc UK p&p	Loco Remote Mini B with lights 26mm wide, 43mm long, 18mm high 3V to 6V battery 1.6A max current £45 inc UK p&p	Loco Remote Mini B with external sound triggers & lights 26mm wide, 43mm long, 18mm high 3V to 6V battery 1.6A max current £50 inc UK p&p	Loco Remote Mini B with internal sound card & lights 26mm wide, 43mm long, 25mm high 3V to 6V battery 1.6A max current £55 inc UK p&p Remember to specify sound samples required - see below
The Maxi is suitable for 6V to 12V motors The Maxi can be powered by any type of battery with a suitable voltage including NiMH, NiCd, Alkaline, Lead Acid, Li-ion and Lipo. The absolute maximum battery voltage is 15V. Note that a fully charged nominal 1.2V NiMH battery has an initial output voltage of up to 1.45V so do not use more than 10 AA NiMH batteries or equivalent in series. Nominal 7.4V (2s) or 11.1V (3s) Lipos are suitable. Do not use 14.8V (4s) Lipos as they have a fully charged voltage of 16.8V. A 12V Lead Acid battery is also fine and has an initial output voltage of up to a 14.7V. The Maxi is able to supply up to 2A current to the motor at the full battery voltage.

Loco Remote Maxi 26mm wide, 43mm long, 13mm high 6V to 12V battery 2A max current £44 inc UK p&p	Loco Remote Maxi with lights 26mm wide, 43mm long, 21mm high 6V to 12V battery 2A max current £49 inc UK p&p	Loco Remote Maxi with external sound triggers & lights 26mm wide, 43mm long, 21mm high 6V to 12V battery 2A max current £54 inc UK p&p	Loco Remote Maxi with internal sound card & lights 26mm wide, 43mm long, 30mm high 6V to 12V battery 2A max current £59 inc UK p&p Remember to specify sound samples required - see below
The Mega 2 is a 2 motor driver version of the Maxi and is suitable for 6V to 12V motors The Mega uses the same batteries as the Maxi. Each of its 2 outputs is capable of supplying up to 2A current. The outputs of the Mega must be connected to separate motors. They must not be put in parallel in an attempt to provide more current to a single motor as this will damage the module. Versions of the Mega 2 with all the same options as the Maxi are available for £20 more than the equivalent Maxi. A standard Mega 2 is £64. Contact us by email for a quote for a Mega or to place an order.
LED light and sound options The Loco Remote Mini B and Maxi 2 are available in 4 different versions The Standard module drives either a 3V to 6V or 6V to 12V motor. Lights adds 2 directionally switched outputs each capable of providing 150mA at 3.3V for LEDs at the front and rear of the loco. The module has user changeable built in current limiting resistors to work directly with clear white or red LEDs. These can be bypassed so the user can use external resistors to customise the brightness further. The high output current can power up to 8 LEDs simultaneously, making it easy to have 2 or 3 white LEDs on at the front and 2 or 3 red LEDs on at the rear at the same time. The lights can be turned on and off from the phone controller. External sound triggers adds support for common external sound cards from manufacturers including Mtroniks and MyLocoSound. The Loco Remote provides a signal to the motor input of the sound card for variable engine speed noise and 4 buttons on the phone controller to trigger horn and whistle sounds as well as turning the engine on and off if the sound card supports this. The same battery can be used for the Loco Remote Maxi and sound card. As most sound cards require over 6V, a separate higher voltage battery will be needed for the sound card when operated with the Mini B. The Internal sound card provides 4 horn and/or whistle sounds recorded from full size locos that can be triggered from the phone controller. Just connect a small 8 ohm speaker directly to the module. It does not provide continuous engine noise. If you want engine noise choose the external sound option with a separate sound card. When you order a Loco Remote with internal sound card & lights please contact us by email to specify which loco samples you want loaded on your card. Click on the links below to hear the currently available sound samples. Steam loco sound samples Bala Lake Railway Quarry Hunslet "George B" (Hunslet Engine Co.) - Wales Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway "Melior" (Kerr, Stuart & Co.) - Kent Talylln Railway No. 1 "Talyllyn" (Fletcher, Jennings & Co.) - Wales Talylln Railway No. 2 "Dolgoch" (Fletcher, Jennings & Co.) - Wales Talylln Railway No. 3 "Sir Haydn" (Hughes' Loco & Tramway Eng. Works Ltd.) - Wales Talylln Railway No. 6 "Douglas" (Andrew Barclay & Co.) - Wales Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway No. 2 "Countess" (Beyer, Peacock & Co. Ltd.) - Wales Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway No. 12 "Joan" (Kerr, Stuart & Co.) - Wales Roaring Camp & Big Trees Railroad No. 7 "Sonora" (3-truck Lima Shay) - California Diesel loco sound samples Generic industrial diesel horns 1 (Hunslet, Baguley Drewry, Ruston, air horn) Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway "Victor" & "Barton Hall" (Hunslet) - Kent Talylln Railway No. 11 "Trecwn" & No. 12 "St Cadfan" (Baguley Drewry) - Wales If you would like a customised set of 4 samples, either from a combination of the locos listed above or from your own video or audio recordings then contact us by email. There is a small £5 set up fee for this service added to the relevant Loco Remote module price.
Optional 3D printed Loco Remote holders There are 4 versions. All are 37mm long by 28mm wide. Their height depends on the module they are for - Mini B, Maxi, either module with lights/sound, and a 3.7V lipo holder for a Mini B. The photo shows the 4 versions as well as a lipo and Mini B holder together on the left. These can be kept separate or easily stuck together with dichloromethane or other plastic glue/solvent. The Loco Remote is held securely in the frame with a small 2mm screw. The holder has 3 flat sides so can be mounted in the loco in any orientation. Colours may vary. The price of each holder is £1.50. Postage is free when bought with a Loco Remote. If you buy any quantity without a Loco Remote then UK 1st class postage and packaging is an additional £1.50.
Battery, motor, lights and sound card cables are included as appropriate. Add 9mm to the length of the modules to accommodate connectors. The minimum length space on the loco is therefore 52mm.
Rechargeable batteries have a very low internal resistance and can easily pass tens of amps when shorted. Use a 2A resettable polyfuse or a 2.5A slow blow 20mm fuse in a suitable fuse holder in series with the battery to protect the Loco Remote module and battery. These can be found on eBay.
If you are trying to squeeze a Loco Remote module into a very small space, the Mini B and Maxi are both available with wires soldered directly to the board replacing the connectors. This is a special option. If you are interested please enquire before ordering. This is not available for modules with lights or sound.