Compatible ERR driver boards for Weaver Gold Edition Steam

These are brass engines, no? How did you run the antenna wire? Also check your headlight for flickering assuming you are driving the headlight from the new electronics which could point to poor signal. Can you take a picture of the motor? Most all large can motors will work OK with cruise but you still need to make sure the antenna is not shielded by what is located in, engine or tender. There are different techniques depending on where you put the electronics.

Pete

I've probably done at least 20-30 brass engine upgrades, I've stopped counting.  I've yet to run across a motor in any brass steamer, be it 3rd Rail, Weaver, or Williams that doesn't handle cruise.  The DC commander should handle virtually any motor, even the ones that "cog" and cause issues with back-EMF cruise control.  I have installed exactly two DC Commanders in the last several years, a handful of AC Commanders, and a ton of Cruise Commanders in everything imaginable.  I own at least five Weaver brass steamers, all have ERR Cruise and run great.  I've upgraded a number of Williams diesels, and a couple of Williams steam, no issues there either.

I'm truthfully a bit surprised that Ken would tell you that, I have no idea why.  I can only imagine that he figured if you were having issues with the DC Commander, you would likely have similar issues with the Cruise Commander.

So these ran fine on there original system?  I have seen brass engines with mechanical issues that need to be resolved first.  The Early stuff normally.

Also, most of those early engine have Mabuchi knock offs or just 3 pole motors (540).  You can make the switch to the 545 series 5 pole motor.  G

540 motors run fine with ERR Cruise. 545 would be better but if this engine has a 540 thats not the problem.

Pete

I'm with Pete, there's no issue in keeping the 540, they work just fine with the ERR Cruise Commander.

Hi John, Although seeing this five years after the fact I found your post searching for Weaver brass conversions to err.   I have some Weaver brass Mikado and Pacifics that I would like to install TMCC from ERR.  How do/did you handle the antenna?  Based on the frequency of the command signal from the rail the hand rails would be ideal but that seems difficult to do after the fact.  Does ERR supply something to use?

Any advice to help update any project or order to ERR?

Thanks!

I install the ERR boards in the tender and float the tender shell, that's the antenna.  That's the classic way of handling the antenna for TMCC upgrades.

I have two weaver gold addition steam locos and the inrush amperage is to much for the ERR DC commander. the locos jerked on and off when starting but once moving would run ok. I replaced the motor in one  and need to do the second one. pyymans are getting hard to find , at least ones that would fit these to locos.

I rewired a Weaver gold edition Daylight GS a fellow club member had. It had the 3.4 version of the cruise commander in it. Once I had the wires properly run and a new tether, it is as smooth as glass and starts as slowly as any locomotive I have run, MTH DCS, TMCC, Legacy.

Thank you John, yes the tender makes perfect sense!

Thanks Rick and Ron, I will need to pay attention to the motors in the Weavers.  I do not know all the history of what was used but will at least try to figure out the stall current as I have read on other posts that the Williams locos can have fairly high stall.  I am hoping the Weaver brass locos do not but I have not tested yet.  I really like the brass Weavers and have been able to get a couple for not a lot of money which is a very good thing.  I am fairly cheap but love working on stuff (like my 15 sailboats to date).

I am very new to O and do not have the motor vocabulary/experience that most or some of you do.  And I can imagine that the current supply crush has messed up AC and DC precision motor availability as well.  It is amazing how long it takes to get what were pedestrian chips due to the impact of the pandemic.

Thanks!

It depends on the Weaver (and Williams) locomotives.  Some of them had some really crappy motors that draw way too much current even running and stall currents off the chart!

After reading through this thread, I'm curious about the term "floating the tender shell."  Does that mean isolating the shell from the frame?  If so, how is that done?  If not, can someone describe what floating entails?

Chuck

Typically. "floating" the tender shell involves using nylon screws to replace the metallic screws and I use Kapton tape to insulate the tender shell from the frame.

Some Weaver and I believe 3rd Rail locomotives actually insulated the trucks, coupler, and drawbar to provide the antanna.

Another way to install an the antenna if the tender is a coal tender is simply drill a hole in the corner under the coal pile and run a insulated wire up and around the coal load, then cover with more coal and glue down. 3rd Rail uses this method on their coal powered steam.

Pete