Seaboard Central - ProtoThrottle Settings

[@CM-ARM]

I think they found the right guy to demonstrate the throttle. I have been wanting one for a while now and I think it is time to possibly invest in one. Thanks again for the demonstration, Chris

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks Chris! I’ have plans to make another video later this summer to show how to operate it like a pro. Stay tuned!

[@RFMCabooseNP1713]

Nice presentation.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks Robert!

[@ThisWorks4Me]

Great video. I keep looking at the ProtoThrottle for my layout.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! I love mine. Never even bother with the old controllers now. The ProtoThrottle adds a whole new level of fun when it comes to operations.

[@ThisWorks4Me]

@@SeaboardCentral I love the interface. My problem is with DCC. It's just old tech. I've been working on decoders that don't need a command station.

[@HumancityJunction]

Thanks for this video. I really need to setup my Proto Throttle, but for some reason I find it overwhelming to try it. I like the Scotty's Model Shop dials and push button for the bell.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! Hopefully this video helps with getting yours set up. Be sure to check out some of my earlier programming videos as well. Tim

[@Sr.OBrien]

Thank you for this (and your other) fantastic videos!! I have closely followed your suggestions on many of the topics you covered and appreciate the time you dedicate to sharing your insight. Do you have any documentation or videos on how you set up your consists for your ProtoThrottle?

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! I use an NCE system and set up Advanced Consists for all my locomotives. I have a couple of videos on how I program my decoders with a LokProgrammer. I only use ESU LokSound decoders in all my locomotives. I like how easy they are to work with and how you can get real prototypical performance out of them.

[@MyFingerLakesRailwayLayout]

Nice video. I love my ProtoThrottle. And the guys in the ProtoThrottle IO group are always very helpful. Take care - Bill.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks Bill! Good to know I have a fellow PT member out there. :)

[@hoosiersub47167]

Another great video

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks!

[@kevinbohnenblust5844]

Thanks Tim. I just jumped into DCC and sound this week and the timing of your video couldn't have better from my perspective!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thats great Kevin! If you haven’t purchased a DCC system yet I would recommend using NCE. And I would also suggest using ESU LokSound decoders in your locomotives. You can’t go wrong. They are the best in my opinion.

[@kevinbohnenblust5844]

@@SeaboardCentral I'm really glad to hear you say that, Tim! A friend had a "spare" NCE Power Pro wireless starter set, minus the wireless Pro Cab (a long story). He kindly gave it to me, and for the cost of the power transformer and a regular PRO Cab, I'm in business! Because of your use of NCE, as well as some "local" friends who also use it, I was leaning hard toward NCE, but a "free" system (at least most of one) sealed the deal. Now I'm exploring wireless options, so your video couldn't have been better timed!

[@mikewoodbury7248]

Thanks Tim ! I love my proto throttle I’ve been operating with it for 2 years now and you just helped me out huge with a lot of unexplained things that I wasn’t sure of ? thinking I might mess up a locomotive decoder. Thank you more lessons would be helpful because I got a switching layout and proto throttle makes it’s way more realistic and fun.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks Mike! Glad I could help. I’ve also got a couple of decoder programming videos on the channel if you haven’t seen them.

[@mikewoodbury7248]

I’m going go back and watch those again. I got my proto throttle 2 years ago when I first started watching your videos and had to have one!!

[@saberistheway]

That’s really cool! It adds a whole different level to the realism and experience.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thank you! Yes the ProtoThrottle is a game changer when it comes to operations.

[@houseofrandomness]

Great info in this video. I definitely be "borrowing" some of the info you put out.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Glad this video helped you out!

[@Trains-With-Shane]

I really need to get off of my butt and set my protothrottle up. Are you going to have a video about setting up the decoder on a locomotive to give us an idea on the basics?

[@SeaboardCentral]

Check this out: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2mvkqRtjahroJY

[@Trains-With-Shane]

@@SeaboardCentral Thank ya, Tim!

[@paulkirkmanMYTRAINS]

Very fascinating controller !!!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks!

[@kinnywolf2862]

Great video

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks!

[@rjl110919581]

THANKS YOU GREAT VIDEO

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mikedeberg6326]

Tim, So glad you shared this content with us in this video format. I know I've seen various posts from you across several forums around actual decoder settings for your ESU decoders. I m curious if you've thought about sharing an esux project file for one of your locos that supports the content covered in this video? Might help put a couple of the other pieces together without going numerous other places or finding your posts in the forums. Regardless on your decision to share further content super video, and thanks again f

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks Mike. I made a couple of videos on programming a locomotive that goes along with this. Here’s a link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2mvkqRtjahroJY

[@mikedeberg6326]

@@SeaboardCentral Tim, I remember that episode. I was just thinking a project might help wrap everything together. Great walkthough of the decoder settings.

[@ThomasKlimoski]

Nice overview of the ProtoThrottle. It is hard to cover all the settings and operation configurations in one video. The after market knobs from Scott are a great addition and I added them to my ProtoThrottle. -Tom

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks Tom! I tried to hit the highlights.

[@BPSDMRR]

Great Video, I am going to be using these on my layout, when i manage to save the cash

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! One option is to sell some items from your collection that is never used. The ProtoThrottle is a great investment for your layout that makes operations so much more fun than the traditional controllers. Tim

[@Crookedriverandeasternrr]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks for watching!

[@rhoobarb773]

Great Video, Tim! Just heard Michael from ISE on the AML podcast and I am going to pull the trigger this Spring. Question: Can a 2nd operator use my NCE Power Cab controller as a (2nd) independent throttle or will it now be disabled when I use the PT? Thanks.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! Yes, you can still use your other controllers at the same time. No issues.

[@rhoobarb773]

Good to know! Thanks!

[@wsor4050]

Hi Tim What’s the light engine setting that comes when you toggle through the settings? Thanks

[@SeaboardCentral]

It was a feature that was talked about when the project was first started. The idea behind it was that it would create a different speed curve to simulate a light load verses a heavy tonnage train. I don’t use it and am really unsure if it ever was perfected.

[@davestrains6816]

Pretty cool!

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks Dave!

[@matthewharris2092]

Really cool Tim. Great video. Does the Proto throttle only work when all the decoders are all of the same make and manufacturer? Reason being I have locos that use both ESU and Tsunami Sound Traxx.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks! The ProtoThrottle will work with ESU, Soundtraxx and TCS decoders. The only thing is that the Function Table needs to be the same for each brand. For me, I settled on one brand of decoder for all my units. Personally, I think the ESU decoders are a perfect fit for the ProtoThrottle. I think the Tsunami 2 decoders with their digital dynamic exhaust is a great fit for those Railfan model railroaders who just want to sit back and let their trains run. Just a suggestion, I would use your ESU decoder equipped engines with the ProtoThrottle for your yard and local service trains and your Tsunami decoder units with your regular controllers for your Road trains.

[@matthewharris2092]

@@SeaboardCentral Thank Tim 👍.

[@coutov8]

Good afternoon, what is the value of a controller like this?

[@SeaboardCentral]

They are about the same price as two sound equipped locomotives.

[@brownie8235]

How long donthe batteries last? Thanks.

[@SeaboardCentral]

Depends on how much you use it. I use rechargeable batteries and I can get mine to last a couple of months between charging. That’s probably operating a total of an hour or two a week though. If I was retired an ran the layout every day then I probably would have to replace them every three weeks.

[@HumancityJunction]

Question about the notches. I have changed my speed settings in the decoder, so 100% on the throttle is only about 50% of the max speed. I am assuming the notch settings are based on your decoder settings. Also, do I setup the F__ and the notches for each and every locomotive, or is there a default that you set that applies to all locos and then you match the decoder settings to the PT default settings. Thanks

[@SeaboardCentral]

I actually limit the speeds on my locomotives depending on what service they are assigned. For example, all of my yard service locomotives are maxed out at 12 mph. I achieve this at notch 5. All of my road units are maxed out at 18 mph which I achieve at notch 8. For me personally I don’t like to see model trains sprinting around tight curves because it destroys the realism I am after. On the prototype, I have to follow speed limits just like people do on the streets. Yard and Industrial trackage is limited to 10 mph. Depending on the degree of curve or limitations of the track, speeds are reduced on the mainline. So the settings on the ProtoThrottle which would restrict the models speed are actually a plus for me. On programming side, I program all my units with the same function table so it will correspond to the settings on the ProtoThrottle. To see more of how I program my locomotives to operate like the prototype be sure to see some of my earlier programming videos. It may answer a lot of questions. Tim

[@Bardwell_Junction]

@@SeaboardCentral On a real SD40-2 or GP38-2, RUNNING LIGHT, approximately what speeds correspond with each throttle notch? I realize that adding tonnage is going to change that, but for sake of comparison... Thanx, Rick

[@SeaboardCentral]

@@Bardwell_Junction on a real GP38-2 or SD40-2 moving around by themselves you can get up to speed pretty quickly. You can be doing 10+ mph in notch two in a few seconds. Now if you add about 2,000 tons behind a single GP38-2 then you might not even get it to budge until notch three or four.

[@Bardwell_Junction]

@@SeaboardCentral Thank you, that really helps to understand it all a little better

[@coutov8]

With shipping to Brazil, do you know how much it costs? in dollar.

[@SeaboardCentral]

There are some online dealers in the US that will ship to Brazil. I am not sure what the shipping charges would be. What kind of DCC System do you have? You will need to also get the adapter for your DCC system and that is separate. For example, I use NCE DCC system.

[@elsdp-4560]

Thank you for sharing. Enjoyed the video. I really like the Proto Throttle but can't justify the price especially after investing in my Digitrax throttles. If they can only get the price down, I would definitely buy one.👍

[@SeaboardCentral]

Thanks for watching! You should find someone who owns one to try out so you can compare it to your current throttles. I don’t see the price dropping due to the cost of manufacturing but then we never know.

[@coutov8]

can you inform me?

[@SeaboardCentral]

www.iascaled.com/store/ProtoThrottle $499.00 US

[@tommyhunter1817]

You got it made. Get to play with BIG trains and get paid to do it!

[@SeaboardCentral]

I always say my day job is research for my model railroad.

[@tommyhunter1817]

@@SeaboardCentral Absolutely. When my son was young we got to ride along with a CSX crew numerous times. Talk about FUN!!

[@alextherailfan2269]

Hello

[@SeaboardCentral]

Hello There!