Steam throttle

[Maletrain]

I had heard that ProtoThrottle is considering making a steam version.  Then I saw this posted to the B&O group: https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/an-operating-steam-throttle-you-can-customize-12548356 .

At this point, this is a DIY electronics project.  But, I am posting it here to get more eyes on the concept.  I think it is quite interesting, and would buy one (or more) if they become available commercially.  But, my todo list has already exceeded my life expectancy, so I am not about to start building one for myself.

If this generates a lot of electronics discussion, I suggest that the mods move it to the DCC/Electronics subsection.

[btrain]

This is pretty clever. I enjoy reading about having to use the injector and stoker to help balance and maintain pressure, along with using the Johnson bar to help regulate it. I’m not sure if you can quill the whistle on it, but that may be the major selling point (for me at least). With sound decoders becoming smart enough to change bass and volume depending on speed and load, this is a perfect time to release it.

While most of my modeling is switching based, if I had long mountain runs like the UP over Sherman Hill, I would highly consider one of these throttles.

[drgw0579]

I built one.  But I ended up doing a couple of things differently, like using a different ESP32 board so I could use a lipo battery.   And a higher resolution round display.   But I don't regularly use it and it is back in the shop to get some upgrades.  In the long term, I want to build a fixed-location cab-sized simulator that would take a fireman and engineer to run.  Like Colorado Model Railroad Museum's LocoCab, 

/>But the way things are going, it will be quite a while.

Bill Kepner

[reinhardtjh]

I thought this seemed familiar... 

Posted back in January in the DCC/Electronics sub-forum.  Maybe the Moderators want to patch together these two threads.

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=55414.msg761277#msg761277

On my to-do list for one of these days.

[reinhardtjh]

I built one.  But I ended up doing a couple of things differently, like using a different ESP32 board so I could use a lipo battery.   And a higher resolution round display.   

@drgw0579
Bill, I would be interested, if possible, to know the alternative ESP32 board and display that you substituted.

[drgw0579]

The ESP32 board I used is Adafruit HUZZAH32. It doesn't have as many pins so I dropped some of the "fireman functions".

https://www.adafruit.com/product/3405

Round display is the GC9A01 but it takes some tricks to be able to make it work.  I haven't messed with it since last summer and the libraries have probably changed for using it.

[garethashenden]

Well I’m going to try making one. I think the idea is really cool. I got the case printed, other parts are printing, and I’ve ordered some parts. Maybe I can figure it out.